Southern California Life Sciences Conference

Thu Apr 10, 2025

Only 20 days until the event.

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Southern California Life Sciences Conference

Name: Southern California Life Sciences Conference
Start: 2025-04-10T08:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-04-10T13:00:00-07:00
Location: Pacific Center

Maintaining Momentum Throughout San Diego, Orange County & Los Angeles

Hosting at Sterling Bay's Pacific Center

Thursday April 10 2025 @ 8:00 AM PDT

$229.00

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Event Host

Pacific Center

Pacific Center is a brand-new complex in Sorrento Mesa, the premier life sciences hub of San Diego. As one of the city’s only life science campuses with a curated amenity program, showcasing hospitality driven tenant spaces with a chef driven food and beverage program along with a state of the art fitness center, it’s purpose-built to enhance the tenant experience and meet the industry’s evolving needs. The space will inspire scientists, catalyzing the next generation of discovery.

Speakers and Panels

Innovations in Development, Construction & Design

Delivering Advanced Lab Space To Attract End-Users

Jonathan Parot

VP, Development, Breakthrough Properties

Marshall Wheel

Director of Development, Sterling Bay

Trevor Wells

Principal, HGA

Fernando Delgado

As a Senior Project Manager with 16+ years at Turner Construction Company, Fernando Delgado is a leader in delivering cutting-edge life sciences environments that drive innovation and research. With a background in electrical engineering and service in the U.S. Marine Corps, he brings a disciplined, solutions-driven approach to executing complex, high-performance lab, and research facilities. Fernando has played a pivotal role in shaping Southern California’s life sciences landscape, leading major projects such as the IQHQ Research and Development District (RaDD)—a 10+ acre waterfront biotech hub designed to accelerate discovery with state-of-the-art lab space, sustainability-driven design, and integrated public spaces. His expertise extends to the Campus at Horton, where he helped transform a historic urban core into a next-generation life sciences campus, integrating 300,000 SF of laboratory space alongside creative office and retail environments. Additionally, at the New Jersey Institute of Technology School of Architecture Lab, he led the renovation of outdated spaces into modern, high-tech computer labs, enhancing academic and research capabilities. Committed to advancing the future of life sciences construction, Fernando fosters a culture of collaboration and continuous learning, mentoring teams on sustainable building practices, LEED, and DBIA principles. Holding both DBIA and LEED AP BD+C certifications, he champions high-performance, energy-efficient research facilities that support scientific breakthroughs and operational excellence. With a track record of delivering mission-critical R&D spaces, Fernando is dedicated to partnering with life sciences clients to create environments that empower discovery, enhance sustainability, and attract top-tier talent. His leadership ensures that each project not only meets today’s needs but is also built for the future of biomedical innovation.

Turner Construction

Sr Project Manager

Fernando Delgado

Sr Project Manager, Turner Construction

Kavan Ranasinghe

Kavan Ranasinghe has more than 10 years of construction industry experience. He joined HITT Contracting shortly after graduating in 2015, working his way through the entry-level ranks in project management working with the firm’s base building and corporate interiors sectors. In 2018, Ranasinghe moved from HITT’s headquarters in the Washington, DC area to the West Coast to help grow HITT’s presence in Southern California. As a vice president and life sciences construction leader within HITT’s Los Angeles office, Ranasinghe specializes in the successful delivery of life sciences construction and renovation projects in the Southern California region, such as laboratory build-outs, research and development spaces, clean manufacturing facilities, cGMP spaces, speculative lab suites, and office-to-lab repositioning conversions. His expertise includes leading clients and design teams through complex due diligence efforts, helping provide hands-on constructability, estimating and feasibility feedback at the infancy stages of a project. In addition, he provides leadership to his project teams and plays a key role in building long-standing relationships with clients and subcontractors, ensuring client satisfaction and project success. Since relocating to Southern California and building meaningful relationships in the industry, Ranasinghe has formed a notable portfolio of life science clientele including HATCHSpaces, NexCore Group, Neogene, AbbVie, PHASE Scientific, Appia Bio, Graymark Capital, and Instil Bio Laboratories. Ranasinghe received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, and he is a member of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Biocom California, International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) Greater Los Angeles Area Chapter, Los Angeles Headquarters Association (LAHQ), and NAIOP Southern California Chapter.

HITT

Vice President

Kavan Ranasinghe

Vice President, HITT

Moderator

Kurt Lindorfer

Founding Principal, PARADIGM Structural Engineers

Fostering Innovation Through Partnerships

Collaboration, Optimizing Industry Relationships, P3s & Building Ecosystems

Rosalio Arellanes

VP & Market Executive, Wexford Science & Technology

Jenner Smith

Senior Director, Real Estate Acquisitions & P3, University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

Brian Kenworthy

Senior Principal, SmithGroup

Robert Fagnant

Associate Partner, Syska Hennessy Group

Moderator

Julie Kilpatrick

Senior Managing Director, Southwest Region, CBRE / Turner & Townsend

Case Study: Pacific Center

The Women Bringing the Campus to Life

Steph Smothers

Head of Design, Sterling Bay

Alessandra Lapadula

Project Executive, BNBuilders

Rachael Sampson

VP, EXP Engineers

Ramak Rahnemoon

Owner, Preconstruction Engineer, Pacific Rim Mechanical

Moderator

Luvelyn Benitez

Principal, Coffman Engineers

Helping Life Sciences Companies Grow & Scale

Supporting Emerging Talent & Propelling Startup Expansion

Allan Glass

Co-Founder, HATCHspaces

Taryn Goode

Head of Life Sciences, Connect

Kent Lee

As a father, husband, and first-generation Asian American, Kent’s life has been driven by a commitment to service and community. Kent’s parents and their families came to the United States in search of a better life. His father arrived with his family with just $20 between them, and launched an entrepreneurial career from which he learned as much from his failures as his successes. His mother was a lifelong garment worker who traveled hours each day to and from work -- often missing out on dinner with the family. Their challenges helped shape Kent’s belief that life has always been about more than what each of us can accomplish for ourselves. It’s about what we choose to do when we have the opportunity to serve and to give in return. At a young age, Kent became involved with an American Red Cross youth program, opening his eyes to the power of service and providing him his earliest leadership roles. Kent came to San Diego to study at UC San Diego, where he met his wife, Phuong, as part of Alpha Phi Omega, a national collegiate service organization. As a student, he volunteered weekly in support of organizations like Mama’s Kitchen and the San Diego Rescue Mission, and he established an ongoing partnership with the Boys and Girls Club in Clairemont. Upon graduation, Kent dedicated his life to serving his community. Starting with the local Boy Scouts of America, Kent quickly rose to serve as the chief financial and development executive, managing a budget of more than $5 million. In that time, Kent worked extensively with community volunteers, parents, families, and schools throughout San Diego, planning day camps, coordinating annual “Scouting for Food” drives, and working to foster meaningful leadership development for more than 20,000 youth throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties. Many of his years were dedicated to serving families in District 6. Today, Kent is the executive director of Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts), one of the largest media arts organizations in North America focusing on Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander cinema. Pac Arts is best known for presenting the San Diego Asian Film Festival, which celebrates its 22nd edition this fall. Pac Arts serves as a leading voice in multicultural storytelling through media arts, youth education, and culinary programs representing AAPI communities. Under Kent’s leadership, Pac Arts broadened its culinary programs to showcase many of the best Asian American chefs throughout San Diego. Kent’s extensive volunteer service includes deep involvement with the Asian Business Association of San Diego, supporting small businesses, and leading the effort to combat the alarming rise in anti-Asian hate through the San Diego Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, where he serves as co-chair. In light of many recent events, Kent has advocated fervently for action not only in support of API communities -- but for all marginalized communities who are impacted by racism, hate, and violence. Kent also serves in various capacities for organizations including the Mira Mesa Community Planning Group, advocating for the smart development of our neighborhoods, UCSD’s Chancellor’s Community Advisory Board, International Deaf Education, Advocacy and Leadership, and Alpha Phi Omega. Residents of Mira Mesa for nearly 15 years, Kent and his wife Phuong have two young children – Alynna and Oliver – as well as their dog Lucky.

The City of San Diego

Council Member, District 6

Kent Lee

Council Member, District 6, The City of San Diego

Why You Won't Want To Miss This Conference:

What We’ll Cover:

Innovations and Growth in a Leading Hub
- An overview of San Diego and Southern California’s expanding life sciences sector, highlighting key developments, innovations and opportunities driving growth in the region.
Biotech and Pharma: Pioneering the Future of Healthcare
- A deep dive into groundbreaking biotechnological and pharmaceutical advancements being developed in SoCal, and how these innovations are shaping the future of healthcare on a global scale.
Life Sciences Real Estate: Building for Innovation
- Exploring the growing demand for specialized life sciences real estate, including labs, research facilities and manufacturing spaces, and how developers are meeting the needs of life sciences companies.
The Role of Academia and Research Institutions
- A discussion on the critical role that San Diego’s leading research institutions and universities play in advancing life sciences, fostering collaboration between academia and the private sector.
Talent and Workforce Development in Life Sciences
- An exploration of how San Diego and surrounding regions are attracting and cultivating top talent for the life sciences industry, focusing on workforce development initiatives and educational programs that support innovation and growth.

Who You'll Network With At This Discussion: Owners, Developers, Investors, Architects, Construction, Designers, Brokers, Lawyers, Financial Institutions, Universities, Tenants, Biotech Firms & Government Officials.

How You'll Do More Business From Attending This CRE Event: San Diego remains a very strong market for life sciences and is one of North America’s largest hubs. The continued growth of the industry has been fueled by public, private and academic collaboration, incredibly strong anchor tenants, and a talented workforce. Join us to hear about the life science real estate market, the investment and development opportunities, and how owners are adjusting to meet the demand.

Why You Should Attend This Session: Bisnow events bring together the biggest power players in the industry to identify opportunities, build your network and expand your business. With the largest audience of commercial real estate professionals in the world, no one knows how to help your business more than us.

Notable Projects, Assets, Deals:

Pacific Center - A brand-new complex in Sorrento Mesa, the premier life sciences hub of San Diego. Link to VIDEO sitting down with some of the women whose leadership, expertise, and dedication have been instrumental in bringing Pacific Center to life!

Good Reads:

San Diego's vacant life science labs and offices continue to grow. Will the glut peak in 2025?

For questions, recommendations, comments or press inquiries please email our event producer, Samantha D'Angelo at samantha.dangelo@bisnow.com. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact thea.parkert@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event.

DON'T MISS OUR PREMIER LIFE SCIENCES & BIOTECH EVENT THIS FALL:

Announcing our third annual Bisnow International Life Sciences & Biotech Conference, September 10th and 11th in San Diego, CA. Learn more about our largest event of the year by clicking here.

Venue

Pacific Center
9955 Pacific Heights Blvd
San Diego CA 92121

Floor: 1st floor across from parking garage

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Agenda

Time	Activity
8:00 AM 9:00 AM	Networking, Coffee & Breakfast
9:00 AM 9:45 AM	Case Study: Pacific Center The Women Bringing the Campus to Life: Speakers discuss their roles in the development process and strategy behind creating a one-of-a-kind campus. These women are forging a path for leadership, creating strong partnerships, and achieving sustainability landmarks together.
9:45 AM 10:30 AM	Fostering Innovation Through Partnerships Collaboration, Optimizing Industry Relationships, P3s & Building Ecosystems
10:30 AM 10:45 AM	Quick Networking Break
10:45 AM 11:30 AM	Helping Life Sciences Companies Grow & Scale Supporting Emerging Talent & Propelling Startup Expansion
11:30 AM 12:15 PM	Innovations in Development, Construction & Design Delivering Advanced Lab Space To Attract End-Users
12:15 PM 1:00 PM	More Networking!

Interested in sponsorship?

Contact avery.warren@bisnow.com to get information on sponsorship, pricing and availability at this event.

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Want to get a recap of everything covered at the event?

Purchase the post-event summary and get the highlights sent to you in a post-event summary. Purchase here.

Call:	202-684-2034
Email:	eventregistration@bisnow.com