Sanofi welcomed Gov. Phil Murphy and other public officials on Thursday to showcase its new 260,000-square-foot flagship office at Morristown’s M Station campus, the result of a $130 million investment to help the global health care company attract and retain talent. — Photo by Jake Hirsch/Governor’s Office
By Joshua Burd
Olivier Bogillot was the first of several Sanofi executives to take the podium Thursday as the health care giant unveiled its dynamic new office building in downtown Morristown.
It was a day three years in the making, he said, one that effectively began when he visited the company’s sprawling suburban campus along Route 202/206 in Bridgewater.
“From the day I landed in the U.S. and spent my first week in the office in Bridgewater, one thing was clear, very clear — that version of Sanofi was not our future,” said Bogillot, the company’s head of general medicines for North America. “We needed something different, a space that not only represents who we are, but who we are striving to be, a place that inspires innovation, fosters connection, where our people can do their best work and live their best lives.”
The Paris-based pharmaceutical company believes it has exactly that with its new flagship New Jersey office in Morristown, at 100 Morris St., the result of a $130 million investment to help it attract and retain talent. And it was on full display Thursday as it welcomed Gov. Phil Murphy and a host of other dignitaries, marking the opening of a ground-up, 260,000-square-foot building that brings together nearly 2,000 employees in one of the state’s most sought-after central business districts.
Located within M Station West, part of the transformative mixed-use project by SJP Properties, the Gensler-designed office places a premium on collaboration, comfort and flexibility. That’s evident from the long list of Zoom-enabled conference and meeting areas, eclectic furniture options and unassigned workstations, along with amenities such as meditation rooms, mother’s suites and what Sanofi touts as the largest outdoor terrace space in New Jersey.
There will also be two public-facing restaurants slated to open this summer.
“We have been in this state for more than 20 years, and we’ve seen the company go through major transformations before,” Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson said. “But nothing like this.”
He noted that officials in other states have frequently tried to lure the company out of New Jersey, but “there was never a chance. … We love this state. It’s been the scene of incredible innovation for the pharmaceutical industry. And it’s got its mojo back.”
The new Morristown office, Hudson added, is a “landmark” location for the state’s ongoing commitment to the life sciences sector, and it paves the way for Sanofi employees to respond with their own contributions and continued innovation.
“It’s amazing, by changing the building, we seemed to have changed the mindset. It was never too hard to get a desk in Bridgewater,” he joked. “Now there’s a fight, and people are coming in while it’s still dark.”
Murphy, for his part, also hailed the investment as a sign of New Jersey’s strength in the pharmaceutical industry and a vote of confidence from one of the leaders in treating diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease and many other conditions.
“I’ve always said and thought that if you want to tackle big challenges — obviously, I’m a little bit biased here — that New Jersey is the best place to plant roots,” Murphy said. “Because only here in New Jersey will you find that golden combination of talent, location and an innovation ecosystem that is second to none.
“Of course, I don’t need to tell the team here that that’s exactly why you are here and have been here for so long. And we wear … not just your presence, but your recommitment as a badge of honor. And I will say that we remain fully committed to investing in our culture of innovation to keep New Jersey at the forefront of life-changing breakthroughs in science and medicine.”
Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty, who also on hand alongside state Sen. Anthony Bucco and Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, echoed that theme: “It’s companies like yours that are saving lives and that are the future of Morristown, the future of our nation and the future of the world.” He also cheered Sanofi’s decision to move to the Morris County seat, providing a ringing endorsement for a company that could have gone anywhere.
“I couldn’t be more honored to stand up here and welcome you to Morristown,” Dougherty said, later adding: “We can’t wait to see what’s in store for this community and for what you’re going to bring to it.”
Sanofi arrives in Morristown alongside Deloitte LLP, which moved to M Station’s east building in summer 2022. The two structures have transformed what was a dated retail property just west of the Morristown train station, where SJP and partner Scotto Properties have captured the growing demand for top-tier office space in vibrant downtowns.
The interior of Sanofi’s building is equally vibrant, providing light-filled workspaces that use natural materials, wall coverings that evoke the intersection of health and nature and locally sourced artwork on display throughout its common areas. It also has a second floor that amounts to a coworking space for the company’s hundreds of daily visitors, such as colleagues from other offices, clients and vendors.
Other amenities include an on-site primary health care clinic, multiple active terraces and an expansive landscaped rooftop with a bar, grilling areas and wellness spaces for yoga and outdoor movement classes. Sanofi, meantime, cited the building’s commitment to sustainability with features such as fully subsidized and easily accessible public transportation and electric vehicle chargers on site, plus a design that uses roughly 28 percent less energy and reduces water usage by 37 percent through efficient fixtures and thoughtful design.
“Morristown exemplifies Sanofi’s long-term investment in creating an empowering and purposeful workplace experience,” said Natalie Bickford, executive vice president and chief people officer. “When you walk in the door, you immediately feel that it’s a different kind of workplace — digitally enabled, fully accessible and functional, but also beautiful and designed to make people feel connected and inspired. We look forward to welcoming Sanofians and visitors from around the world to our newest site.”
SJP breaks ground on 260,000 sq. ft. Sanofi office building at M Station in Morristown
