Gratton and Lien of Cushman & Wakefield handle 18,542 s/f lease

Watertown, MA Macrolide Pharmaceuticals, a preclinical-stage company developing antibiotic compounds to battle bacterial threats, will expand and relocate to 18,542 s/f of space within the LINX building, according to brokers Cushman & Wakefield and the building owner, Boylston Properties.

Located at 490 Arsenal Way, LINX is a 185,000 s/f creative office and lab building in the East End of the city, a neighborhood undergoing a renaissance. The two-story building opened in June and includes amenities highlighted by an acre of outdoor green and recreation space, a 33’ high lobby area with a café, bike storage for 78 bicycles and a shower and locker facility. LINX also offers free parking and a private shuttle bus to Harvard Sq. and the MBTA Red Line, a 10-12 minute ride.

It is Cushman & Wakefield’s second laboratory space lease in LINX, following C4 Therapeutics in July.

Duncan Gratton, executive director and Kate Lien, senior director of Cushman & Wakefield, represented Boylston Properties, while Macrolide Pharmaceuticals was represented by Don Domoretsky and Bryan Sparkes of JLL.

“LINX, with its proximity to Boston and Cambridge, continues to attract top-notch life science companies,” said Bill McQuillan, president of Boylston Properties. “Life sciences companies appreciate that this property is in a walkable, urban neighborhood with new housing, restaurants, retail and hotels.”

Macrolide Pharmaceuticals is a preclinical-stage company that develops and commercializes novel antibiotic compounds that are effective against some of today’s most dangerous bacterial threats. Founded in 2015 with the mission of improving the lives of patients suffering from serious antibiotic-resistant infections, Macrolide’s decision to remain in Watertown illustrates how life sciences and pharmaceutical companies are thriving outside of Kendall Sq.

“LINX is a spectacular building with first-rate laboratory space that allows us to expand in Watertown,” said Dr. Lawrence Miller, CEO of Macrolide. “We’ve grown up in Watertown, appreciate the proximity to other biotech and pharma companies, and we’re committed to being part of the growth and revitalization of the area in and around Arsenal Yards.” 

“We are very pleased to land another life science company at LINX,” said Gratton. “We continue to see strong demand from Cambridge and the surrounding area and we expect additional commitments to be announced very shortly.”

Cushman & Wakefield’s Boston office provides a complete suite of commercial real estate services for the entire lifecycle of properties and portfolios.

Boylston Properties is a 34-year old Boston-based developer of urban mixed-use projects including retail, residential, hotel, office, and research buildings. The company draws upon urban and suburban development experience on its own or with partners in the Northeast U.S. markets, many in the Greater Boston area. Boylston Properties has recently opened the 150 room Marriott Residence Inn Boston/Watertown and is redeveloping Arsenal Yards into an exciting mixed-use neighborhood in Watertown’s East End.

Macrolide Pharmaceuticals, based in Watertown, is developing novel antibiotics for the treatment of serious, multi-drug resistant Gram-negative infections. The company’s core discovery and development program leverages a groundbreaking synthetic chemistry platform developed by Dr. Andrew Myers at Harvard University.Macrolide Pharmaceuticals’ lead program is in late preclinical development, and the company’s chemistry platform has the potential to be used to develop therapeutics to treat multiple infections conditions.

Cushman & Wakefield is a leading global real estate services firm that helps clients transform the way people work, shop, and live. Our 45,000 employees in more than 70 countries help occupiers and investors optimize the value of their real estate by combining our global perspective and deep local knowledge with an impressive platform of real estate solutions. Cushman & Wakefield is among the largest commercial real estate services firms with revenue of $6 billion across core services of agency leasing, asset services, capital markets, facility services (C&W Services), global occupier services, investment & asset management (DTZ Investors), project & development services, tenant representation, and valuation & advisory. 2017 marks the 100-year anniversary of the Cushman & Wakefield brand. 100 years of taking our clients’ ideas and putting them into action.