Mortenson has reached a major construction milestone on Serán Bioscience’s new pharmaceutical manufacturing campus in Bend, Oregon, topping out the third and largest building at the 100,000-square-foot commercial-scale development.
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The topping-out ceremony, held Jan. 8, marked the transition from structural work to interior construction, according to the Minneapolis-based contractor. The newly topped-out structure serves as the centerpiece of the campus and is expected to play a central role in positioning Central Oregon as a growing hub for advanced pharmaceutical development.
Serán Bioscience, a drug development company, has not publicly disclosed the total cost of the project. However, the buildout was supported by a $200 million strategic growth transaction with Bain Capital Life Sciences announced in 2024, which helped finance the expansion into commercial-scale manufacturing.
“Serán’s project reflects the level of technical complexity and quality standards we see driving growth in life sciences manufacturing today,” Pat Clemons, project executive with Mortenson, said in the release. “Our team is proud to support a facility that is purpose-built for advanced pharmaceutical production while contributing to the long-term economic strength of the Bend region.”
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The new manufacturing campus is located near Serán’s existing 90,000-square-foot clinical development and manufacturing facility and will operate as a direct extension of the company’s current operations. The expansion follows Serán’s completion last fall of two additional warehouse and light manufacturing buildings totaling approximately 50,000 square feet.
Once operational, the expanded campus will support critical materials handling, packaging, labeling and logistics functions that are essential for scaling pharmaceutical products from clinical development to commercial distribution.
“This is a significant life sciences project for Central Oregon,” Mike Clifford, vice president and general manager at Mortenson, said in the release. “By delivering flexible, science-driven facilities, we’re helping translate innovation into commercially viable therapies while contributing to the continued growth of the region’s life sciences market.”
Mortenson expects construction to continue through 2026, with the facility scheduled to begin operations in the second quarter of 2027, according to the contractor. The project reflects continued investment momentum in U.S. life sciences manufacturing, as pharmaceutical companies expand domestic capacity to support research, development and commercialization.
Originally reported by Sebastian Obando, Reporter in Construction Dive.
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