But the trees do more than grow. Each tree pit is connected to a stormwater harvesting network,transforming the expansive hardscape plaza into a natural filter for rainfall. Rather than sending runoff into drains, rainwater percolates into the soil beneath the plaza, nourishing the trees while simultaneously reducing pollutant loads into nearby waterways.

In a region where protecting the Chesapeake Bay is a shared environmental priority, such bioretention strategies are both practical and symbolic. The modular Stratavault system was installed to create a continuous trench of tree-supporting soil beneath paved surfaces,allowing for maximum infiltration and root connectivity.This design helped the project meet Montgomery County’s stringent water quality requirements and contributed to its LEED Gold certification.

From the earliest planning phases, Alexandria envisioned the plaza as more than just a landscape feature. It would become a place to gather, reflect, and recharge. Wrapped by the new lab building and its garage, the open plaza offers a critical dose of daylight, greenery, and comfort for campus occupants.

Shaded seating areas invite researchers and staff to step outside during the day, while the young, but rapidly growing trees promise cooling relief during summer months in years to come. The design reflects a broader movement in urban development: to embed wellness into the core of the built environment.

That wellness mission was further amplified with the opening of the BioHub Maryland Training Center inside the building. Run by the Maryland Tech Council, the 8,200 square foot facility trains the next generation of life science professionals, including veterans and individuals without four-year degrees. This initiative provides an essential social service: giving Maryland residents the skills to access high-paying biopharma jobs while helping local companies fill urgent staffing needs.

The presence of this center in the heart of the biotech corridor brings opportunity to the doorstep of one of the state’s most important industries. The plaza outside complements this social mission, serving as both a workplace amenity and a symbol of the community’s investment in people.

The economic outcomes of the project are just as compelling. By delivering premium lab space in an amenity-rich setting, Alexandria responded to surging demand for high-quality biotech real estate. The project attracted early tenants, including Trillium Bio and STCube, with more leases signed soon after opening. But more than square footage, companies were drawn by what the campus represents: a resilient, future-ready hub with embedded wellness and environmental performance. The landscape design plays a quiet but vital role in that appeal.

Thanks to the Stratavault system, the trees in the plaza are more than decorative or token. With root paths directed safely below ground, the surrounding hardscape is protected from upheaval. The design also supports compliance with stormwater mandates, potentially

reducing utility fees and avoiding costly retrofits. These are not just aesthetic upgrades, they are operational strategies with measurable returns.

In parallel, the BioHub training center brings lasting economic uplift to the region. Supported by $4.25 million in public funding, the facility trains Maryland residents for careers in biomanufacturing, quality control, and lab operations, many of which do not require advanced degrees. Companies benefit from a local, skilled talent pool. Workers gain access to stable, high-paying jobs. The region cements its status as a national leader in biotech innovation. The project is a case study in how strategic design, green infrastructure, and workforce development can align to produce value for businesses, communities,and ecosystems alike.

A Blueprint for Resilient, Human-Centered Development

9808 Medical Center Drive illustrates how landscape,infrastructure, and building performance can work together to shape not just a campus, but a community.

The project leverages Citygreen technology to deliver outcomes that are environmental, social, and financial in equal measure. Its success rests not just in square footage or lab fitouts, but in the systems beneath the surface that manage water, nurture trees, and create space for people. As life science developers increasingly look to create places that serve people and planet, this project shows what’s possible when green infrastructure is embedded into the core of urban design.