A Sector Update by Jennie Taveras, Vice President, Life Sciences Sector Leader, STO Building Group
The life sciences industry has undergone significant transformation in recent years, driven by technological advancements, regulatory changes, and the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These shifts have not only reshaped operations across the sector but have also laid the foundation for the future of healthcare and life sciences facilities.
The Circumstances, Innovations, and Trends Driving Momentum
1. Speed to market. The rate of building must match the rate of innovation—and in the life sciences sector, keeping up can be a daunting task. The rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines showcased the sector’s ability to innovate at an unprecedented pace. Pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms harnessed cutting-edge technologies, such as mRNA platforms, to deliver vaccines at record speed, marking a significant milestone in vaccine technology.
Beyond vaccines, the pandemic accelerated the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, and machine learning in drug discovery and development. These technologies have become indispensable in identifying potential drug candidates, optimizing clinical trial designs, and predicting patient responses. The result has been shorter development timelines, improved efficiency, and greater precision in the research phase.
Meanwhile, cell and gene therapies have emerged as promising solutions for genetic disorders and are now being explored for more common conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and even neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Despite their transformative potential, challenges remain around the accessibility and affordability of these treatments, presenting a significant hurdle for the industry to address.
2. Regulatory changes have also played a critical role in shaping the landscape of life sciences. Regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) introduced expedited approval pathways, especially during the pandemic. The FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) program, for example, enabled faster access to vital treatments and vaccines. These regulatory innovations have set a precedent for how therapies may be accelerated in the future.
However, recent policy changes have significantly impacted FDA regulations in the life sciences sector. The current administration’s budget and staffing decisions have raised concerns about potential delays in drug development and approval processes, as pharmaceutical companies fear impacts to the FDA’s regulatory capabilities.
At STO Building Group, we recognize that regulatory changes play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of the life sciences industry—and by extension, the facilities that support it. Our teams stay abreast of evolving regulations through continuous engagement with industry stakeholders, active participation in professional organizations, and close collaboration with regulatory consultants and clients.
3. Digital delivery. Like other sectors, construction technology continues to play a major role in the delivery of life sciences projects—and the software available is becoming more and more sophisticated.
STO Building Group has been helping our clients, Fortune 500 Pharmaceutical and Biotech companies to achieve speed to market by leveraging digital capabilities. We are at the forefront of the industry, leveraging proven, deployable technology across the con-tech spectrum—from preconstruction platforms and VDC engagements to AI-driven schedule analytics and reality capture solutions. By integrating these platforms with our powerful, customized Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project management solution, we provide our teams and clients with real-time command and control, fostering seamless data sharing and transparency. This enables teams to make highly informed, strategic decisions with confidence.
For example, a client located in New Jersey, they leaned on BIM for a smooth design completion and clash detection process. Roughly two months before any equipment was set in place, the team held weekly coordination meetings with all trades to systematically address approximately 2,000 active clashes in the model—which ultimately resulted in a more efficient construction process.
4. Sustainability. Sustainability is no longer a value-add in life sciences—it’s an expectation. As pharmaceutical and biotech companies face growing pressure to decarbonize and increase operational resilience, sustainability is becoming a key driver in facility planning and delivery. Clients are seeking lab and manufacturing spaces that meet ambitious climate goals without compromising the rigor that these buildings demand. At STO Building Group, we help bridge the gap.
We partner early to integrate strategies that reduce embodied and operational carbon, reduce waste, and futureproof facilities against evolving regulations. From electrification-ready infrastructure to low-impact, healthy materials, our teams bring deep experience tailoring sustainability approaches to meet both certification targets, like LEED, WELL, and Fitwel, alongside real-world performance benchmarks. Our focus goes beyond checklists.
We’re building lab spaces that are efficient, adaptable, and aligned with our clients’ long-term ESG commitments.
The life science sector is also a driving force behind corporate climate action. As we support clients in meeting their sustainability goals, they are, in turn, pushing us to deepen our commitments. The expectation includes pursuit of science-based targets through SBTi and expanded participation in third-party ESG rating systems, like EcoVadis. This sector isn’t just shaping the future of healthcare – it understands that human health is intrinsically tied to climate change and is raising the bar for how the built environment approaches resilience.
What’s Next?
The life sciences sector is positioned for continued growth, driven by technological breakthroughs, personalized medicine, and a renewed focus on sustainability. Stakeholders across the industry—companies, researchers, and healthcare providers—must continue to adapt to these rapid changes by embracing innovation and collaboration. The future will see a greater integration of AI, mRNA technology, gene editing, and digital health, all of which will help create a more efficient, personalized, and sustainable healthcare system.
As the sector grows and evolves, STO Building Group is keeping pace with these changes, with strategic investments and proven capital project delivery methodologies to meet the needs of the life sciences industry in the years ahead. These plans leverage our proven track record, expertise in life science infrastructure, and a commitment to innovation and sustainability. We recognize the industry’s heavy reliance on continuous innovation and new technologies, and we are at the forefront of incorporating these advancements into our construction projects.
About Jennie Taveras
A chemical engineer by training—she earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from New York University—Jennie Taveras’s career includes several years working as an engineer and project manager for large pharmaceutical leaders such as Bristol Meyers Squibb and Sanofi Pasteur, as well as years in engineering consulting and business development. This depth of experience has armed her with a unique blend of insight into the owner’s perspective, understanding of the sector, and a record of building valued client relationships.
Interested in learning more about life sciences construction? Reach out to Jennie here.