Project Spotlight: MBC BioLabs at 1030 Brittan Avenue

mbharch
2 hours ago
3 min read

Modern office building at dusk with large glass windows, illuminated interiors, and "MBC Biolabs" sign. Street and trees in foreground. — All Photography by Tyler Chartier Photography

Project Overview

Name: MBC BioLabs – 1030 Brittan Avenue

Location: 1030 Brittan Avenue, San Carlos, CA

Client: Dewey Land Co., Inc. / MBC BioLabs

MBH Role: Design Architect & Architect of Record

Size: 152,660 SF (Three stories plus basement)

Project Type: New Construction – Incubator Laboratory & Office

Design Start: 2021

Construction: June 2022 – April 2025

Opening: April 2025

In San Carlos, at the heart of the Bay Area’s life science corridor, MBC BioLabs’ newest and largest facility at 1030 Brittan Avenue expands a pioneering incubator model that has helped launch more than 500 biotech companies worldwide. MBH Architects partnered with Dewey Land Co. and MBC BioLabs to deliver a next-generation research and workplace environment—one that supports entrepreneurial scientists with move-in-ready laboratories, flexible workspaces, and a campus setting designed to foster collaboration and discovery.

Modern building with white, gray, and yellow accents. Glass windows, tree-lined street, and blue sky in the background. "MBC" sign visible.

An Incubator Model Designed for Innovation

Founded to remove the traditional barriers of long-term leases and capital-intensive lab buildouts, MBC BioLabs provides early-stage companies with immediate access to fully equipped laboratory and office space. The 1030 Brittan project extends this mission by significantly increasing capacity on the San Carlos campus, creating an environment capable of supporting more than 100 emerging life science companies under one roof.

MBH served as Design Architect and Architect of Record, shaping a facility that balances high-performance laboratory infrastructure with an elevated workplace experience. The design establishes a cohesive identity with the adjacent 930 Brittan building while introducing a more refined and elevated material palette that reflects the continued growth of the MBC BioLabs brand.

Designing the Scientist’s Journey

The building’s arrival sequence creates a strong architectural presence along Brittan Avenue, marked by custom GFRC cladding, expansive glazing, and a dramatic 45-foot-high open-air entry stair accented with wood fins and sculptural lighting. Elevated slightly above grade due to floodplain requirements, the structure engages both the street and the broader campus while signaling entry into a hub of scientific activity.

At the heart of the building, the second floor functions as a social and intellectual commons. A continuous sequence of shared spaces—including lobby, all-hands area, kitchen, lounges, and south-facing roof terraces—supports MBC BioLabs’ belief that innovation thrives where people connect. A large bifolding door extends the central kitchen and event space outdoors, creating a flexible indoor–outdoor environment for meetings, presentations, and informal collaboration.

On all three floors, fully equipped lab suites embody the organization’s turnkey model. Open laboratories with benching, fume hoods, and freezer capacity are paired with adjacent private labs and offices, allowing research teams to move seamlessly between experimentation and focused work. Phone booths, conference rooms, and intuitive circulation support a range of work styles, from concentrated individual research to team-based collaboration.

Materiality and Technical Precision

The architectural language balances an industrial laboratory aesthetic with warmth and comfort. Concrete structure and exposed systems are complemented by rift-sawn white oak, custom acoustical treatments, fabrics, graphic work, and carefully integrated lighting designed in collaboration with ALR. Throughout the building, lighting fixtures from Fluxworks, Bega, Delta Light, and Lumos accentuate key architectural moments while providing high-quality illumination for both lab and office environments.

Behind the scenes, the facility required sophisticated mechanical and electrical systems to support the demands of incubator laboratories. A design-build MEP approach was balanced with close coordination between MBH and contractors, resulting in high-efficiency HVAC systems, optimized ventilation for safety and performance, and infrastructure flexible enough to accommodate rapid tenant turnover and evolving research needs.

Modern white and gray building with glass windows. Two blurred cars, one orange and one gray, speed past. Clear blue sky in the background.

MBC BioLabs at 1030 Brittan, A New Anchor for a Growing Life Science Campus

The 1030 Brittan Avenue facility represents a significant milestone in the evolution of the MBC BioLabs San Carlos campus, establishing a foundation for future expansion and reinforcing the organization’s role as a catalyst for biomedical innovation. By integrating high-performance laboratories, collaboration-rich amenities, and contemporary architectural identity, the project creates an environment where entrepreneurial scientists can test ideas, scale their work, and ultimately bring life-changing therapies and technologies to market.

For MBH Architects, the project reflects a holistic approach to life science design—one that unites technical rigor, workplace experience, and campus vision to support the next generation of discovery.

Interested in creating a flexible, future-ready life science environment?

Connect with MBH Architects to learn how our integrated design approach supports innovation, accelerates occupancy, and delivers high-performance laboratory and workplace spaces that grow with your organization.