Groundbreaking Ceremony for First Building at Gateway Park

Photography by Rob Carlin

Ground was broken on June 27 for Worcester’s Gateway Park redevelopment project, which is turning a former industrial brownfield into an 11-acre, mixed-use, life sciences–based park where WPI will locate its life sciences and bioengineering facilities. The project’s first building, the WPI Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center, is scheduled to open in early 2007. The four-story facility, located at 60–68 Prescott Street, will consist of new construction to house modern laboratories and support facilities, and a renovated former industrial building to provide space for offices, meeting rooms, and other amenities. Construction is a joint development of WPI and the Worcester Business Development Corporation (WBDC).

Speakers at the ceremony included, from left, Senator Edward Kennedy and Worcester City Manager Michael O’Brien.

Prominent guests at the groundbreaking included U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, U.S. Representative James McGovern, EPA Deputy Regional Administrator Ira Leighton, Worcester City Manager Michael O’Brien, and Worcester Mayor Timothy Murray. “Initiating construction at Gateway Park signals our confidence in the ultimate success of this important component of downtown Worcester’s development,” said President Dennis Berkey at the groundbreaking. “It is a significant step forward for WPI, for the partnership with the WBDC, and for the city. Locating our life sciences and bioengineering research and graduate programs in state-of-the-art facilities will bring an important scientific core to this development, which will enrich WPI’s educa-tional efforts and attract potential collaborators to the site, both academic and corporate.”

Among the participants helping with the groundbreaking duties were, from left, Congressman James McGovern, WPI President Dennis Berkey, Worcester Business Development Corporation President David Forsberg, and Mayor Timothy Murray.

For more information, read the press release about Gateway Park.

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Last modified: Aug 23, 2005, 14:19 EDT