Avison Young has launched a new national life science group, and San Diego is highlighted as one of the target markets for life science. The new group, as a result, will allow San Diego life science specialists to better serve expanding clients across the country and give them access to experts in other growing markets. Brian Cooper and Jerry Keeney lead the San Diego practice. The new group will span 10 markets across the US, Canada and Europe.

“We have had a strong background in the life sciences here for quite a while, and we have had a lot of collaboration between the brokers in different markets who had done laboratory work,” Cooper, a principal at Avison Young, tells GlobeSt.com. “We felt that given the energy in the sector across the country, it would make sense to expand into some markets where there is a robust life sciences presence but where we didn't have a formalized specialized group on the ground. The practice leads are centered around the Philly-Mid Atlantic area, Cambridge, San Francisco and San Diego.”

In general, San Diego has seen tremendous growth in the life science industry, which has fueled activity in the office and the industrial asset classes, thanks to the diverse needs of life science companies. “There is really an element of homegrown growth in San Diego,” says Cooper. “That has been truly tremendous. A lot of big companies have chosen to remain here and create a footprint. We hope to see that trend continue.”