University Place Associates (UPA) celebrated the groundbreaking of soon-to-be-constructed 3.0 University Place, a more than 250,000 square foot, technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable life science building in West Philadelphia that will provide innovative lab and office space for Wistar and other academic institutions and biotech companies.
The event kicked off with a performance by the West Powelton Steppers, before government officials, life science industry representatives and prominent members of the West Philadelphia business, arts and neighborhood community spoke to the importance of a much-needed life science space that will also create 400+ construction jobs and make a positive impact for generations to come.
Alongside speeches from UPA founder Scott Mazo and chairman and CEO Howard Lutnik of Cantor Fitzgerald Partner, a global finance firm investing in the project, Wistar’s president and CEO Dr. Dario Altieri made brief remarks on Wistar’s proud history of accomplishments and future innovations through the lens of the pandemic that has made this past year beyond compare.
“What’s really behind UPA 3.0 is a vision of innovative research, forward-looking entrepreneurship and productive public-private partnerships,” said Dr. Altieri. “If there is one thing that we learned from the despair caused by COVID-19 is that we need more science, more scientists and more innovation to find life-saving solutions to the world’s biggest health problems. Building on Scott’s vision, UPA 3.0 will be a critical catalyst to fulfill that promise and bring to life the medicines of the future. I could not be prouder and more eager to embrace the unique opportunities created by UPA 3.0 and expand innovation and creativity in the life sciences in our region and beyond.”
UPA partnered with major New York City development firm Silverstein Properties, responsible for the Hudson Research Center life science hub in Manhattan and behind the building of 7 World Trade Center in 2006. Chairman Larry Silverstein spoke to the excitement of this state-of-the-art space that will be developed sustainably and the impact it will bring to the local cell and gene therapy sector, but also to the community.
Of the many that spoke from their respective political, business, scientific, and community sectors, they all wished the same prosperity and community connection that made the project happen in the first place.