Cambridge's Irresistible Allure

Johannes Fruehauf (MD, PhD) came here from Germany in ’02 for a brief post-doc. But discovering the world’s leading creator of new life science companies, this doctor-turned-entrepreneur is still here. (So if you know anyone in Germany who's still looking for him, tell them they're on the wrong continent.)

Among the companies he's launched is 5-month-old LabCentral, a scientific co-working community that just embarked on its second expansion. At LabCentral’s ceremonial ribbon cutting last week, Governor Patrick announced a new $5M state grant that will help finance a 40k SF expansion of the 28k SF facility at 700 Main St. Demand among top tier scientists for space in LabCentral has outstripped supply. (There's more people than you could imagine who need to grow bacteria or test fungus or build lasers.) Setting up a research lab—even a small one—can cost millions, Johannes says. At LabCentral, it’s plug ‘n play for researchers.

Chance encounters can lead to ideas for new startups that may develop cures for disease, says Peter Parker (no relation to Spiderman), a co-founder of LabCentral and longtime life science investor. They’re sure to hear some bright ideas because LabCentral is choosy about its tenants, accepting less than 20% of applicants, Johannes tells us. It only wants “high-growth” prospects—and has filled up faster than expected, he says. The building owner, MITIMCO, retrofit the 1848 building with: specialized HVAC; purified water and waste water treatment; back-up generators, compressed air and vacuum systems. Fitting up raw shell space can cost $350/SF, followed by millions more for research equipment. 

121Bio’s Gijsbert Grotenberg, a Dutchman, is taking advantage of the café (with its free food and espresso). LabCentral also offers tenants lots of glass walls on shared labs, offices and conference rooms, and its private accommodations. The message: LabCentral wants researchers to see each other, talk, and build community. There are free seminars and professional services, including those of attorneys who might otherwise charge $600/hour. Like a hotel mini bar, refrigerators standing in the shared lab dispense research supplies on the spot. 

In the playroom, where “stairs to nowhere” double as seating for watching TV, a plaque commemorates the red brick building’s long history of innovation. Initially a railroad car manufacturing plant, by 1876 Alexander Graham Bell, who had his lab there, made the first long distance phone call to his assistant Thomas Watson on Beacon Hill. In the next century, it housed the office of Edwin Land who invented and commercialized the Polaroid camera. He established the Polaroid Innovation Lab in the building.