HGA Completes Phase One of Crinetics Pharmaceutical’s New San Diego Headquarters
National interdisciplinary design firm HGA recently partnered with Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to design and construct new lab and office spaces within Crinetics’ 94,230-square-foot headquarters in San Diego’s Sorrento Mesa neighborhood. Slated for delivery in multiple construction phases, the first of which was completed in January, HGA developed a total of 21,000 square feet of new chemistry and biology laboratories within the two-story building.
Crinetics leased the building at 6055 Lusk Boulevard in 2022 to deepen its world-class in-house R&D organization to fulfill their commitment to create important new therapeutic options for people living with endocrine diseases and endocrine-related tumors as well as accommodate its growing workforce, which had outgrown the 25,000-square-foot facility it formerly occupied. The new headquarters, which opened in January following the completion of the first construction phase, will include medical, analytical and formulation chemistry laboratories, as well as tissue/cell culture, radiochemistry and mass spectrometry support spaces, representing a 280 percent increase in lab square footage from its previous location.
“The scale of this project and its impact on Crinetics’ endocrine therapies is a point of pride for the HGA team,” said Trevor Wells, Science + Technology principal at HGA. “We enjoyed partnering with Crinetics’ in bringing their vision to life, with the goal of designing a collaborative, flexible and specialized lab facility to meet their multifaceted needs and evolve with their employees. Our designs ensure continuity and decrease disturbances to Crinetics’ life-changing pharmaceutical innovations as they adapt to market demands over time.”
During Phase I, HGA performed base tenant improvements. Phase II, scheduled for completion this summer, involves optimizing the layout to bring Crinetics’ office and R&D environments closer together. The design encourages more impromptu and informal collaboration by strategically placing meeting spaces between these areas to leverage the high foot traffic. Glazed glass panes were used to integrate the laboratory and office workspaces.
HGA is also undertaking specialized interior and infrastructure improvements, including the installation of a dedicated HVAC system and advanced controls for the biological and chemical laboratories, which requires a purpose-built design. The firm also established control areas to safely manage the labs’ hazardous materials. Another purpose-built room features multiple mass spectrometers and a radiochemistry lab for the handling of radioactive materials.
Engineered for energy efficiency, including its lab equipment, the building features solar panels and LEED Silver certification. It is poised to accommodate the company’s goal of hiring up to 100 new employees in 2024, supplementing its current staff of nearly 300. The facility also features more than 20 meeting rooms, a gym, outdoor amenities and a communal pub area offering draft beer and spirits.
Crinetics and HGA are in the process of planning Phases III and IV to support future drug therapies. These phases will emphasize laboratory enhancements and design modifications, including the repurposing of a set of existing flexible chemistry and biology labs located on the building’s first floor.
