While parts of the life sciences sector have cooled in recent years, investment in large-scale research and manufacturing facilities continues across the globe. From advanced biomanufacturing plants to integrated research campuses, projects that once measured in the hundreds of thousands of square feet are now pushing well beyond that.

The construction market in early 2026 was already being shaped by four compounding forces: a historic copper supply deficit, tariff-driven cost pressure on steel and MEP equipment, extended electrical and HVAC lead times, and growing subcontractor financial stress.

When it comes to deciding the best location for office space, ‘Stay or go?’ is quickly becoming one of the biggest decisions organisations are wrestling with.