Advance Realty Investors’ new Continuum campus will occupy more than 60 acres along Route 202/206, offering up to 1.1 million square feet of new life science and advanced manufacturing space. — Courtesy: Advance
By Joshua Burd
Advance Realty Investors has unveiled plans to build up to 1.1 million square feet of new life science and advanced manufacturing space in Bridgewater, part of a campus that will have shared amenities to create what it’s touting as a cohesive, end-to-end ecosystem.
Known as Continuum, the project will occupy more than 60 acres along Route 202/206 with the opportunity for build-to-suit facilities for research and development, production and logistics users. Advance is now marketing the site alongside leasing brokers with JLL, offering a location with direct access to one of the nation’s most concentrated hubs of scientific talent, capital and research institutions.
The developer added that, with an approved site plan and construction for its first phase underway, Continuum is shovel-ready and advancing toward delivery.
“Continuum reflects a fundamental shift in how research and development environments are conceived and delivered,” said Peter Cocoziello, CEO and president of Advance Realty Investors. “Rather than isolated facilities, today’s users require connected ecosystems that support the full lifecycle of innovation, from discovery through production and distribution. Continuum is designed to meet that need, bringing together R&D, advanced manufacturing and logistics within a single, newly constructed campus environment that enhances efficiency, accelerates timelines and supports collaboration at scale.”
To that end, the campus is slated to include up to 830,000 square feet of purpose-built life science facilities and 250,000 square feet dedicated to logistics and advanced manufacturing. Plans also call for more than 20,000 square feet of retail and amenity space, including a centrally located pavilion designed to foster interaction and community across the property, with dining options, fast-casual eateries, shared workspaces and conference and event space supporting collaboration and day-to-day tenant operations.
Advance has secured a long-term payment in lieu of taxes agreement with the Township of Bridgewater, the firm said, providing tenants with operational certainty and a clear path to occupancy. That bolsters the case for a site that’s in the heart of the New Jersey-New York biopharmaceutical corridor and, according to Choose New Jersey, a state that is home to seven of the top 10 global pharmaceutical companies and eight of the world’s top 10 R&D companies.
New Jersey also ranks first in the nation for concentration of scientists and engineers and second nationally for the share of residents with a college degree, the leasing team said. And, with more than 15,000 people employed in life sciences, Somerset County has the highest cluster of degree specialization in biopharma and medical devices in New Jersey.
“Continuum represents one of the most compelling build-to-suit life sciences and advanced manufacturing opportunities in the Northeast,” said Dan Loughlin, a vice chairman at JLL and head of the firm’s life sciences practice group. “The campus offers occupiers the rare ability to design and deliver a state-of-the-art headquarters or manufacturing facility within a fully integrated environment that supports R&D, production and logistics on a single site.
“Combined with its strategic location in northern New Jersey, exceptional regional connectivity and access to one of the most educated and highly trained life sciences workforces in the country, Continuum is uniquely positioned to meet the long-term needs of sophisticated users seeking scale, efficiency and speed to market with full site approval in place.”
The leasing team — which includes JLL’s Loughlin and Jason Benson and Advance’s Alex Cocoziello — added that the region’s deep and highly skilled talent base serves as a primary driver of tenant demand and long-term industry growth and is continually replenished via specialized programs at nearby Princeton University, Rutgers University, Lehigh University and Raritan Valley Community College. With new supply moderating across several major life science markets, the firms said New Jersey is positioned for continued near-term demand.
Tenants at Continuum will be minutes from interstates 287 and 78, giving them access to Newark Liberty International Airport and America’s largest East Coast port. The campus is also close to Bridgewater’s top-ranked school system and established retail and hospitality offerings, including shopping centers, restaurants, hotels and childcare services, supporting the day-to-day needs of a modern, globally interconnected workforce.
“Continuum is not just a name — it reflects how the campus is designed to function,” Peter Cocoziello said. “By bringing together research, production and logistics within a single ecosystem, we are redefining what a modern innovation campus can be and strengthening Bridgewater’s position as a key node within the region’s life sciences corridor.”
