Human Genome Sciences Plans Expansion

ROCKVILLE, MD—Human Genome Sciences has contracted to buy a 45-acre site southwest of Rockville to build a new headquarters. An initial build-out of about 450,000 sf at Shady Grove and Darnestown Roads west of Interstate 270 is planned, although the campus could grow to 0ne million sf.

First, the company has to close a deal with the owners, the Gudelsky family, and get approvals from county officials. The Montgomery County Planning Board was scheduled to review the concept plan on July 20. “We pretty much reached capacity, with 600 employees working in several buildings totaling about 200,000 sf,” says Steve Mayer, Human Genome’s CFO. The company expects to add 2,500 to the staff within several years. He would not comment on the cost of the project.