The lease marks a major step in expanding Rochester’s life sciences infrastructure and startup community
ROCHESTER, Minn., Nov. 6 , 2025 – BioLabs, the premier international innovation platform and operator of a network of shared laboratory spaces for life science startups, today announced its new 16,000-square-foot facility at Two Discovery Square in Rochester, Minnesota — a building JLL leases in partnership with Mortenson Properties. The lease marks a pivotal milestone in the city’s evolution as a regional hub for biomedical research and innovation, bringing a shared lab operator to Rochester.
Slated to open in late 2026, the Rochester site marks BioLabs’ first location in the Midwest and will offer flexible, turnkey lab and office space for early-stage biotech and HealthTech companies. The facility will be located in Discovery Square — an emerging innovation district within walking distance of Mayo Clinic’s flagship campus – offering more than 250,000 square feet of purpose-built space designed for groundbreaking research, cutting-edge technology, and specialized research cores.
The BioLabs location in Rochester will enable companies to scale efficiently without large upfront investments in lab infrastructure. Startups will gain access to state-of-the-art lab equipment, on-site support services, and a vibrant innovation community anchored by Mayo Clinic.
“This new BioLabs site will strengthen Minnesota’s position as a global leader in HealthTech,” said Governor Tim Walz. “Mayo Clinic is a magnet for top talent and innovation, and this project amplifies our state’s commitment to next-generation discovery.”
The project is expected to attract global innovators and investors looking to engage with Minnesota’s MedTech leadership, centred in Medical Alley, the world’s most concentrated cluster of medical device and health innovation companies.
JLL Executive Vice President Jessica Mogilka and Senior Associate William McArdle led the building leasing efforts.
“Supporting the continued growth of Rochester’s life sciences ecosystem means delivering highly specialized space that meets the evolving needs of emerging companies,” said Mogilka. “This lease reinforces Discovery Square’s position as a catalyst for research, collaboration, and innovation across the Midwest.”
One and Two Discovery Square offers features tailored to life sciences users. One Discovery Square includes shared lab infrastructure, collaboration spaces, and access to an on-site café. Two Discovery Square, Rochester’s first WiredScore-certified building, boasts cGMP capabilities and advanced connectivity infrastructure. As part of the larger Discovery Square master plan, Three Discovery Square is currently in development, in partnership with Mortenson Properties.
“Discovery Square has been a critical part of fulfilling the DMC vision by being a center of innovation and an economic engine that attracts new companies and entrepreneurs to Rochester,” said David Mortenson, Chairman of Mortenson. “The addition of BioLabs creates the opportunity to substantially accelerate that momentum.”
“This lease reflects a growing national trend in life sciences real estate — demand for flexible, high-performance lab space is expanding beyond coastal markets,” said Travis McCready, Head of Industries, Leasing Advisory and Chair, Global Life Sciences Advisory Board at JLL. “BioLabs’ move into Rochester highlights how innovation-rich cities anchored by institutions like Mayo Clinic are driving the next wave of growth in the sector.”
According to JLL’s 2025 Life Sciences Real Estate Perspective and Cluster Analysis, today’s lab market is the most tenant-friendly on record. Despite near-term challenges such as trade policy uncertainty, limited funding, and fewer exit opportunities, markets like Rochester —bolstered by strengths in AI integration, biomanufacturing, and talent —are well positioned for the next growth cycle.
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