CAMBRIDGE, MA—Add Eli Lilly and Co. to the impressive list of biopharmaceutical and life science companies that do business in the Boston area.

The Indianapolis-based firm reports that it will establish The Lilly Cambridge Innovation Center in approximately 17,000 square feet of space at 450 Kendall St. in Kendall Square in Cambridge. Building owner BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. of San Diego, CA reports that Eli Lilly has signed a 10-year lease for 16,798 square feet of laboratory and office space on the third floor of the 63,000-square-foot building. The lease marks the company's entrance into the state of Massachusetts. Eli Lilly employs approximately 41,000 workers worldwide, including more than 8,000 in the field of research and development.

Eli Lilly reports that construction is expected to begin immediately on its new space with expected occupancy of its new facility by the end of this year. The firm is in control of the multi-million dollar build out of its space on the third floor of the building. Transwestern | RBJ represented BioMed Realty Trust in the lease transaction. MPM Capital is also a tenant at the building, occupying space on the fifth floor, according to a spokesman for BioMed Realty Trust.

“The Lilly Cambridge Innovation Center complements a deliberate push by the company to be an industry leader in providing convenient, reliable drug delivery and device innovation," states Eli Lilly chairman, president and CEO John C. Lechleiter, Ph.D. "Locating in Cambridge is an important strategic move for achieving this goal, as it provides us access to a concentration of high-caliber academic institutions, cutting-edge life science and technology companies, and some of the world's leading talent."

Over the next two years, Eli Lilly estimates it will hire approximately 30 scientists and engineers at the center. When fully operational, the center will increase the company's delivery and device research and development space by nearly 50%, while increasing its staff by 25%.

Lechleiter says the company decided to locate a portion of its delivery and device organization in Cambridge to take advantage of the area's “rich engineering talent base and life sciences ecosystem.”

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker as well as life sciences industry officials hailed the addition of Eli Lilly to the region's burgeoning life sciences sector.

“We welcome Eli Lilly's expansion here in the Commonwealth, and look forward to their ongoing contributions to our thriving life sciences community,” Gov. Baker states.

Susan Windham Bannister, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, says of the firm's investment in Cambridge, “Eli Lilly is joining a growing list of global leaders that recognize the value of our state's investment in strengthening the Massachusetts life sciences innovation ecosystem. We are extremely excited that Eli Lilly is joining our life sciences community and look forward to supporting the company's growth and success.”

Robert K. Coughlin, president and CEO of MassBio, a 650-member life sciences trade association, also welcomed Eli Lilly to Cambridge. “The company's focus on innovation in delivery and its long-time commitment to collaboration will be welcomed with open arms by our local, growing companies, institutions and organizations,” he says.