4510 and 4560 Horton Street

 

 

Location: Emeryville

Use: Life Sciences

Area: 168,000 sq. ft.

Type: New and Rehab

Completed: 1985, 1989 and 1994

 

This superb research center, situated in the heart of the East Bay Biotech Corridor, has been home to Chiron Corporation and then Novartis, Inc. since it was first rehabilitated in 1985. Architectural innovations here include a translucent "barrel vault" entrance, a sunny garden courtyard, and an exterior laboratory exhaust system which doubles as window shades. In 2000, a complete seismic retrofit was completed without having to displace the tenant during construction. A 30,000-square-foot research and development building on this site serves as a fully-validated FDA diagnostic manufacturing site for Chiron.   The sale to Novartis was the result of Novartis exercising a purchase option agreement included as part of a 20-year lease negotiated with then-Wareham tenant, Chiron Corporation. This sale is only the fifth out of 50 Bay Area properties developed by Wareham during the company’s 31-year history.