Construction has begun on a 111,000-square-foot microelectronics facility in Lowell, Massachusetts, designed to expand domestic chip production and support advanced technology manufacturing for Draper’s customers.
Shawmut joined Draper, real estate developer Wexford Science & Technology, and state and local leaders for the groundbreaking on Oct. 22, 2026. The IMPACT Center is scheduled to open in 2029 and will provide specialised space for microelectronics design, production and packaging.
The facility is part of the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINC), an initiative connecting research, industry and workforce development between the University of Massachusetts Lowell campus and downtown Lowell.
The IMPACT Center will provide manufacturing services spanning initial design through field-ready systems. Its operations are expected to support high-mix, low-volume production across microelectronics, advanced precision navigation and timing systems.
Shawmut’s work involves delivering infrastructure suited to the facility’s specialised manufacturing requirements, including controlled environments and technical building systems.
Draper is developing the project with Wexford Science & Technology, alongside GMH Communities and First Atlantic. The project is receiving state and local funding in partnership with the city of Lowell.
The completed centre is expected to create more than 100 skilled positions, including roles for technicians, engineers with advanced degrees and business executives. The development is also intended to expand U.S.-based microelectronics production and support the domestic supply chain for technologies used in national defence systems.
Its location within LINC is designed to strengthen connections between industry and UMass Lowell, creating opportunities for research collaboration, student career development and workforce training.
For the construction sector, the project reflects demand for specialised facilities that combine advanced manufacturing requirements with research and economic development objectives. The centre’s planned 2029 opening will mark the next stage of Lowell’s efforts to expand its innovation and technology infrastructure.
Source: Shawmut.
