Swedish construction and development company Skanska recently announced that it had been contracted to build the new metro Seattle biomanufacturing facility for U.S. biotechnology company Seagen. Work on the $215 million project is reportedly already underway and expected to be completed in Q4 2024.

Seagen first announced plans to expand its Pacific Northwest biomanufacturing capacity in April 2022. The new property will incorporate nearly 270,000 square feet of Everett, Wash., industrial space and is located north of the company’s U.S. headquarters in Bothell, Wash., which is less than 30 miles north of Seattle.

According to the project announcement last year, the new biomanufacturing facility in Everett was intended to be a “greenfield” project that was to be constructed from the ground up into a modern production facility to make advanced medicines. Specifically, Seagen planned to make antibody-based medicines (also called biologics) for the commercial market and for use in clinical sites around the world.

The new, fully integrated plant adds to Seagen’s existing manufacturing capacity in the Bothell area and is expected to create up to 150 new jobs during the initial construction of the shell and core of the building. Upon completion, the plant will employ up to 200 highly skilled workers to produce medicines for commerce and clinical trials. The facility will include manufacturing, storage, shipping, office, and café space.

“In cancer research and development, Seagen must continue to be agile and flexible — especially in manufacturing — to advance our promising pipeline of medicines for people living with cancer and bring these medicines to patients as fast as possible,” said Clay Siegall, Ph.D., president and CEO of Seagen. “This new biomanufacturing facility is another way we are growing and expanding operations, while also positioning ourselves to attract top-flight talent to drive our business priorities.”