University of Maryland, Baltimore and Wexford Science & Technology Cut Ribbon on 4MLK Building

The new facility provides in-demand lab space for life science companies and delivers congregation spaces and programming for innovators and community members

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and Wexford Science & Technology, LLC, celebrated the grand opening of 4MLK, the newest addition to the University of Maryland BioPark, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event brought together distinguished guests, including Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller and Mayor Brandon Scott, alongside University and Wexford leaders, neighborhood representatives, innovation community members, economic development officials, and BioPark tenants.

“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."

The addition of the 8-story, 250,000 square foot multi-tenant lab and office building to the BioPark addresses the critical need for modern lab space in Baltimore, bolstering the growth of companies within Maryland's thriving life sciences sector. Beyond its cutting-edge facilities, 4MLK offers accessible innovation and collaboration spaces, along with dynamic programming designed to drive economic development and foster engagement of the innovation community and surrounding neighborhoods. Serving as a center of gravity and congregation destination for the regional innovation ecosystem, it creates opportunities for connection, creativity, and inclusion.

“Today’s grand opening of 4MLK is a transformative moment for Baltimore. 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,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott.

4MLK is the third multi-tenant lab and office building developed by Baltimore-based Wexford Science & Technology within the BioPark. Construction began in fall 2022, and the building features several of Wexford’s hallmark innovation elements, including thoughtfully curated collaboration spaces and programs, Connect Labs by Wexford -  flexible lab spaces designed for start-ups and scaling companies - public art installations, and opportunities for community engagement.

In addition to housing these cutting-edge features, 4MLK now serves as Wexford’s headquarters and stands as a flagship 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.

"We are proud to establish 4MLK as both our headquarters and a dynamic hub for Baltimore’s innovation ecosystem," said Ted Russell, CEO of Wexford Science & Technology. "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."

The BioPark, a cornerstone of Baltimore’s life science and technology industry for more than 20 years, facilitates collaboration between private companies and UMB’s leading researchers, encouraging the commercialization of new life science and health care innovations. Today, 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 are located in the BioPark, employing more than 1,000 people. Once it is 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.

“The BioPark plays a very important role for UMB. 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,” said UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS. “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.”

The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), an anchor tenant, will house its new Edward & Jennifer St. John Center for Translational Engineering and Medicine in 4MLK. The Center, a collaboration between UMSOM and the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering, 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, and expand experiential learning by creating joint degree programs and integrating multiple disciplines into a bench to bedside ecosystem.

“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. 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,” said Mark T. Gladwin, MD, the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean of UMSOM. “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 UMSOM and Wexford, 4MLK welcomes several tenants within Connect Labs, including UMB start-up Irazú Oncology, the Emerging Technology Center (ETC) Baltimore, and EPOCH Epigenetics, among others. Beyond the flexible lab and support spaces at Connect Labs, 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.

Strategically located at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and West Baltimore Street, the 8-story, 250,000-square-foot building serves as a key gateway to the expanding BioPark. This premier location not only enhances access to the University’s academic, research, and clinical expertise, but also fosters greater engagement with tenants, visitors, and the surrounding community.

4MLK’s Spaces

• 160,000 square feet of Class A wet lab-capable space is available to commercial partners for build-out.
• Connect Labs Baltimore, a 35,000 square foot flexible, scale-in-place lab and innovation infrastructure specifically designed to meet the rigorous 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 space 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 of the building, 4MLK delivers an adjacent public plaza and an activated streetscape with retail and food and beverage venues along West Baltimore Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.

For leasing inquiries, please visit www.4MLK.com, or contact Gregory Herlong, Vice President and Market Executive, with Wexford Science & Technology at 410-649-5629.

NOTE TO EDITORS/REPORTERS: Photos, b-roll and additional information will be available here following the ceremony.

About the University of Maryland BioPark

The University of Maryland BioPark offers high-quality lab and office space solutions for companies of all sizes, especially high-growth companies seeking connection with its academic partner, University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). Tenants include industry-leading global firms such as Catalent, Pharmaron, Illumina, and BD, next-gen ventures, university spinouts, UMB research centers, cutting-edge clinical care, and contemporary workforce training programs. More than 1,000 people are working in the BioPark today; future development is expected to double the workforce. For more information visit www.umbiopark.com. 

About the University of Maryland, Baltimore

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) was founded in 1807 as the Maryland College of Medicine, which now stands as the nation’s oldest public medical school. In response to growing social and cultural needs, UMB’s mission has evolved and grown tremendously. Widely recognized as a preeminent institution, UMB serves as the academic health, law, and social work university of the University System of Maryland, and is guided by a mission of excellence in education, research, clinical care, and public service.

UMB is a thriving academic health center combining cutting-edge biomedical research, exceptional patient care, and nationally ranked academic programs. With extramural funding totaling $638 million in Fiscal Year 2024, each tenured/tenure-track faculty member generates an average of $1.5 million in research grants each year. More than 3,100 faculty members conduct leading-edge research and develop solutions and technologies that impact human health locally and around the world. World-class facilities and cores, as well as interprofessional centers and institutes, allow faculty to investigate pressing questions in a highly collaborative fashion. As a result, the more than 7,000 students, postdocs, and trainees directly benefit from working and learning alongside leading experts as they push the boundaries of their fields. For a listing of the organized research centers and institutes, visit: https://www.umaryland.edu/research/umb- research-profile/research-centers-and-institutions/

About Wexford Science & Technology

Wexford Science & Technology, LLC, is a real estate company exclusively focused on partnering with universities, academic medical centers, and research institutions to develop vibrant, mixed-use, amenity-rich Knowledge Communities that are built on a foundation of research, discovery, innovation, entrepreneurial activity, corporate engagement, and community inclusion. These Knowledge Communities create visible outcomes in the form of substantial economic growth, new and diverse jobs, and community transformation. Wexford targets strategic opportunities with top-tier research universities that are seeking to create knowledge-led economic development impact for their campuses, cities, and regions. Presently Wexford has developed or is developing seventeen Knowledge Communities across North America. For more information about Wexford, visit www.wexfordscitech.com.

About Connect Labs by Wexford

Connect Labs by Wexford is a flexible, scale-in-place lab and innovation infrastructure located within Wexford’s dynamic and amenity-rich Knowledge Communities. Specifically created for emerging and growth companies in the life sciences, computational, engineering, and energy industries, Connect Labs offers pre-built and furnished lab, support, and office space with a purposefully curated set of amenities, services, and shared equipment that provides companies the space to grow and attract talent; specialized equipment to leverage and conserve capital; intentional proximity to peers, experts and potential strategic partners; and opportunities to conduct research to improve the human condition and drive economic impact. Connect Labs is currently in Phoenix, Arizona and Baltimore, Maryland, with additional locations coming soon, including Sacramento, California and Charlotte, North Carolina.

To learn more, please visit wexfordconnectlabs.com.