Shire, a global pharmaceutical and biotechnology leader, relocated more than 65,000 square feet of laboratory operations from Cambridge to Lexington, Massachusetts. This complex transition required significant planning, coordination, and documentation to ensure continuity of research activities and the safe, secure transport of specialized lab assets. STV provided comprehensive project oversight to support the multi‑phase relocation effort, ensuring that Shire’s staff, equipment and sensitive materials were transferred efficiently and with minimal disruption to ongoing scientific work.
What challenges did STV address?
Relocating a large laboratory environment – with thousands of pieces of equipment, cold‑chain materials and specialized research assets –required intense pre‑planning and meticulous inventory management. Shire’s transition needed to occur across 16 phases over five months, with nearly 3,000 items inventoried in the four months prior to the move. Managing more than 60 vendors and coordinating over 3,200 mover‑hours also added logistical complexity, demanding a high level of organization and oversight.
What solutions did STV deliver?
STV led the full relocation program, conducting a detailed preliminary inventory, coordinating vendor teams, sequencing the 16‑phase move plan and managing all lab, office and cold‑storage transfers. The team oversaw packing, transport, and installation of equipment while maintaining safety and compliance standards throughout the effort. STV’s project management ensured seamless execution and minimized operational downtime for Shire’s research teams.
How does this project benefit the region?
The completed relocation supports Shire’s long‑term growth within Massachusetts’ thriving life‑sciences cluster. The upgraded Lexington laboratory environment enhances research capabilities, accelerates scientific innovation, and strengthens the region’s role as a global hub for pharmaceutical development.
Key stats and accolades
- 65,000 sf of lab space relocated
- 3,000 items inventoried over four months
- 16 phased move sequence
- 3,200 mover hours
- Coordination of 60+ vendors
