Boston, September 8, 2025
News Summary
Skanska has announced a landmark partnership with Simmons University to develop a mixed-use complex in Boston’s Longwood Medical and Academic Area. This 99-year ground lease will enable the construction of a 19-story student dormitory, along with laboratory space, offices, retail, and residential apartments. The first phase, the Living & Learning Center, is set to open by January 2027, aiming to improve lab-oriented office availability in the area.
Boston
Skanska and Simmons University form landmark partnership for mixed-use development in Longwood
Skanska, a Swedish construction company, has entered a long-term partnership with Simmons University to develop a mixed-use complex in Boston’s Longwood Medical and Academic Area. The agreement gives Skanska a 99-year ground lease on Simmons-owned land in exchange for financing and building a new student dormitory for the university. The overall development will include laboratory space, offices, retail, restaurants, and apartments, with a first phase dormitory scheduled to open by January 2027.
Key project elements and timeline
- Primary partners: Skanska and Simmons University.
- First phase: A 19-story dormitory called the Living & Learning Center, financed and built by Skanska, expected to open by January 2027.
- Long-term project: The larger mixed-use complex, known as Longwood Place, will follow the dormitory; no final completion date has been announced.
- Site control: Skanska holds a 99-year ground lease on the property where the mixed-use project will be built, secured in exchange for financing the dormitory.
What will be built
The Longwood Place development will combine laboratory space geared to medical professionals with conventional office space, retail storefronts, restaurants, and residential apartments. The Longwood Medical and Academic Area is a major market for lab-oriented office space, and Skanska expects strong interest from nearby research institutions and health-related organizations once the project is complete.
Why the project matters
Longwood is home to high-level medical research institutions and has a high concentration of scientific researchers, but it currently has limited lab-oriented office availability compared with other local biotech hubs. Lab-oriented office availability in Longwood is about 6%, markedly lower than Cambridge’s Kendall Square, which has about 22% availability. The mixed-use project aims to increase local lab capacity and add amenities that are currently limited in the area.
Financial structure and risk
Skanska is financing the dormitory construction and will assume construction costs up front. In return, Skanska received the long-term ground lease that enables the company to develop and operate the Longwood Place site. This structure reduces Simmons’ immediate financial exposure and allows the university to pursue large-scale campus improvements while keeping its capital risk limited. There are financial risks tied to the approach, including exposure to economic downturns that could affect leasing demand and construction costs.
Construction challenges and methods
Construction in Longwood is complicated by tight building sites and numerous historic structures. For the dormitory project, Skanska has used specific protective construction methods to safeguard adjacent buildings and pedestrians, including installation of a large 16-by-60-foot steel wall around parts of the work site. Such measures are intended to manage the constraints of the densely built environment and ongoing campus operations.
Planning, design and advisory roles
Sasaki developed the master plan for Longwood Place, and Elkus Manfredi is the design architect for the new dormitory. Legal and planning advice during the partnership negotiations was provided by Redgate Real Estate and DLA Piper. External planning experts have characterized the arrangement as a potential model for other universities with underused land and limited development capital, noting that the deal structure could help institutions leverage assets to fund campus improvements.
Campus housing and potential leasing
The new dormitory is planned to add approximately 1,100 beds, which will raise Simmons’ on-campus housing from about 20% to a significantly higher share. To maintain flexibility, portions of the dormitory could be leased to non-students if enrollment or financial needs require outside tenants.
Context and outlook
The Longwood Medical and Academic Area is one of the nation’s largest markets for lab-oriented office space, anchored by institutions such as Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The planned mixed-use development aims to address current shortfalls in lab-ready office space and neighborhood amenities. Skanska executives and campus planners expect the site to attract substantial interest upon completion, though the exact timeline and final market results will depend on construction progress and wider economic conditions.
FAQ
What is the Skanska–Simmons partnership?
The partnership is a long-term agreement under which Skanska finances and builds a new dormitory for Simmons University in exchange for a 99-year ground lease to develop a mixed-use complex on university land in the Longwood area.
What will be included in the mixed-use development?
The planned Longwood Place development will include laboratory space, offices, retail, restaurants, and residential apartments, in addition to the 19-story Living & Learning Center dormitory.
When will the projects open?
The Living & Learning Center dormitory is expected to open by January 2027. No firm completion date has been announced for the Longwood Place mixed-use phase.
How many student beds will the new dorm have?
The dormitory is planned to provide about 1,100 beds, increasing the percentage of students housed on campus from roughly 20% to a much larger share.
What financial risks exist?
Risks include exposure to economic downturns that could reduce demand for lab and office space, changes in construction costs, and potential delays caused by the tight and historic nature of the Longwood site.
Who designed and advised the project?
The master plan for Longwood Place was developed by Sasaki, Elkus Manfredi is the design architect for the dormitory, and legal and planning advisors included Redgate Real Estate and DLA Piper.
Quick reference table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Partners | Skanska (developer/financier) and Simmons University (landowner) |
| Location | Longwood Medical and Academic Area, Boston |
| Primary projects | Living & Learning Center (19‑story dorm); Longwood Place mixed-use complex |
| Lease term | 99-year ground lease to Skanska |
| Dormitory beds | About 1,100 |
| Expected dorm opening | January 2027 (Living & Learning Center) |
| Longwood lab availability | About 6% |
| Kendall Square lab availability | About 22% |
| Design and planning | Master plan by Sasaki; dorm design by Elkus Manfredi |
| Advisors | Redgate Real Estate; DLA Piper |
| Construction challenges | Tight urban site, historic buildings; protective measures include a 16×60-foot steel wall |
| Key risk | Financial exposure to economic downturns affecting leasing and construction |
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