Baltimore gained a new hub for life science activity with the grand opening this week of an eight-story tower at the University of Maryland BioPark.4MLK is the name of the $180 million, 250,000-square-foot multi-tenant lab and office building that opened at 4 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. on what would have been the slain civil rights leader’s 96th birthday.Wexford Science & Technology constructed the building in collaboration with the University of Maryand, Baltimore (UMB). The goal was to address the need for modern lab space in Baltimore and bolster the growth of companies in Maryland’s life sciences sector.A lab space within the new 4MLK building overlooks West Baltimore. Photo credit: Ed Gunts.As designed by ZFG Architects, 4MLK provides in-demand lab space for life science companies; flexible lab spaces for start-up and growth companies, and meeting space and programming for innovators and community members.More than 250 people gathered on Wednesday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark completion of the tower, which already has occupants on half of its eight floors, and to take tours. UMB’s School of Medicine (UMSOM) has space on one floor, and Wexford’s global headquarters is on another. Once it’s fully leased, 4MLK will house the largest cluster of bioscience companies in the Greater Baltimore region, bringing an additional 1,000 jobs to the downtown Baltimore campus. A crowd gathers at the 4MLK ribbon cutting ceremony. Photo credit: Ed Gunts.“Today’s grand opening of 4MLK is a transformative moment for Baltimore,” said Mayor Brandon Scott. “This state-of-the-art facility meets the growing demand for life sciences infrastructure and reinforces our city’s position as a hub for innovation and inclusive growth. This investment by Wexford, in collaboration with our partners at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, highlights the power of teamwork in shaping a brighter and more equitable future for West Baltimore and beyond.”“This newest addition to the University of Maryland BioPark and to the MLK corridor, will bring a wave of innovation and opportunity to one of Baltimore’s proudest communities,” said Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller. “Maryland’s life science sector is second to none, and 4MLK will connect the community to modern and collaborative lab space, driving economic growth and creating real opportunities for Baltimore to thrive as a hub for entrepreneurs.”Officials from the state of Maryland, Baltimore City government, and the University of Maryland Baltimore cut a ceremonial ribbon at 4MLK, the newest addition to the University of Maryland BioPark. Photo credit: Ed Gunts.“We will have in this building College Park engineering faculty, along with their students, elbow-to-elbow with UMB physicians and other health science investigators and their students, dreaming up new ideas, creating new discoveries to improve human health,” said UMB President Bruce Jarrell. “The first researchers have already moved in. This is a reality already…We have needed bioengineering in Baltimore for a long time, so now we have it…This BioPark is a good example of another plate at the table to help make Baltimore great.” Third Baltimore building by Wexford4MLK is the third multi-tenant lab and office building that Wexford has developed at the University of Maryland BioPark. Construction began in fall 2022 and was substantially completed by the end of 2024.Spaces include:160,000 square feet of Class A wet lab-capable space that’s available to commercial partners for build-out. Connect Labs Baltimore, a 35,000-square-foot area containing a series of labs and other work spaces designed to meet the needs of growing life science companies. The flexible lab spaces are paired with full-service amenities such as shared lab equipment, weekly networking and educational programming, and flexible terms. A 16,000-square-foot civic lounge and assembly space to encourage community gathering events and networking. Wexford’s Knowledge Community offering will provide educational programming opportunities for tenants, UMB, and the greater Baltimore community. Outside the building, 4MLK has a public plaza and food and beverage venues along West Baltimore Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.A lab space within the new 4MLK building overlooks West Baltimore. Photo credit: Ed Gunts.Located on the building’s fifth floor, Wexford’s headquarters was designed to be an example of the company’s Knowledge Community model, showcasing its commitment to integrating researchers, corporate innovators, entrepreneurs, and community members to promote innovation, economic development, and community impact. OTJ Architects was the designer.“We are proud to establish 4MLK as both our headquarters and a dynamic hub for Baltimore’s innovation ecosystem,” said Ted Russell, Wexford’s CEO. “This building embodies our Knowledge Community model, bringing together cutting-edge research, entrepreneurial energy, and community engagement to create opportunities that drive economic growth and societal impact in Baltimore and beyond.” Edward & Jennifer St. John CenterThe university’s School of Medicine has its new Edward & Jennifer St. John Center for Translational Engineering and Medicine on the fourth floor. A collaboration between UMSOM and the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering, the St. John Center will optimize research collaborations and jointly develop cutting-edge innovations by bridging the gap between research and development in the lab and the use of technologies in clinical settings. It will also expand experiential learning by creating joint degree programs and integrating multiple disciplines into a bench-to-bedside ecosystem.A sign stands outside the 4MLK building at the University of Maryland BioPark. Photo credit: Ed Gunts.“This visionary new facility signifies how Baltimore and the surrounding region has rapidly emerged as a national ‘med-ed’ hub for biomedical technology, health sciences education, and disruptive innovation” said Mark T. Gladwin, M. D., the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean of UMSOM. “Our new Edward & Jennifer St. John Center for Translational Engineering and Medicine will create a dynamic ecosystem where engineers and medical professionals work hand-in-hand to solve some of the most pressing health challenges of our time.  We are realizing a future where physician-engineers leverage artificial intelligence, robotics, wearable technologies, and protein engineering to address generational challenges in medicine and advance regional economic growth in biotechnology.”In addition to Wexford and UMSOM, tenants within Connect Labs include: the UMB start-up Irazú Oncology; the Emerging Technology Center (ETC) Baltimore; and EPOCH Epigenetics. Beyond the flexible lab and support spaces at Connect Labs, planners say, 4MLK features customizable build-to-suit spaces designed to accommodate lab, office, and engineering space needs for companies at all stages of growth and innovation.A cornerstone of Baltimore’s life science and technology industry for more than 20 years, the BioPark encompasses 14 acres and nearly 1.2 million square feet of lab, office, health care, and community-oriented space across seven buildings. Nearly three dozen companies were located there, employing more than 1,000 people, before 4MLK was completed.“The BioPark plays a very important role for UMB,” Jerrell said. “When we bring private companies to UMB’s campus to partner with our experts and students, we create an environment for groundbreaking innovation and development to flourish. We have been eagerly awaiting 4MLK. It will enhance our ability to provide researchers and entrepreneurs with the tools they need to push the boundaries of biotechnology. It is a tangible product of our continued dedication to advancing life sciences, driving economic advancement in Baltimore, and creating a strong, vibrant West Baltimore.”