Cambridge, October 18, 2025
News Summary
Artificial intelligence startup Lila Sciences has secured a substantial lease of 244,000 square feet at IQHQ’s Alewife Park laboratory campus in Cambridge. This lease, one of the largest in the Greater Boston life science sector this year, reflects a significant move amid a generally flat lab market. Lila recently completed a $350 million funding round and aims to integrate AI with laboratory research. The relocation to Alewife Park by 2026 aligns with their growth strategy, as they transition from a smaller facility in East Cambridge.
Cambridge
Major lease and funding move reshapes Alewife Park lab market
Lila Sciences, an artificial intelligence startup, has secured a lease for 244,000 square feet at IQHQ’s Alewife Park laboratory campus in Cambridge. This deal is one of the largest in the life science real estate sector in Greater Boston this year, marking a positive development in a flat lab market. Lila Sciences recently completed a $350 million funding round and previously raised $200 million in seed capital from Flagship Pioneering and other investors.
Lila Sciences aims to responsibly achieve scientific superintelligence by integrating AI into the scientific method. Geoffrey von Maltzahn, CEO of Lila, emphasized the importance of this opportunity for transforming scientific methods. The lease is considered a significant success for IQHQ, which is redeveloping the former W.R. Grace site in North Cambridge into a life science complex.
Terms of the lease and site details
Lila will occupy the top floor of 1 Alewife Park and the entirety of 5 Alewife Park. IQHQ plans to develop five office and lab buildings at Alewife Park, situated on 26.5 acres near the MBTA Alewife Red Line station. IQHQ’s local portfolio extends beyond Alewife Park, including 340,000 square feet of lab and office space in Andover and plans for a million-square-foot tower above the Massachusetts Turnpike.
The development of Lila’s new headquarters in Alewife Park signifies a notable move, as they are set to transition from their current location at 140 First St. in East Cambridge by 2026. Darrell Smith Sr., director of real estate and facilities at Lila, expressed confidence in the long-term viability of Alewife Park for their growth and employee welfare. Tracy Murphy, president of IQHQ, highlighted their excitement for a long-term partnership with Lila, referring to them as leaders in redefining scientific research.
Market context and significance
The Alewife submarket, where Lila is leasing space, had a lab space availability rate of 46.2% in the third quarter of the year. Market observers view the lease as a meaningful transaction in a generally flat lab market, demonstrating continued tenant demand for large, well-located lab campuses even as vacancy rates remain elevated in some submarkets.
The lease provides IQHQ with a marquee tenant as it advances its redevelopment of the former industrial site into a life science campus. For Lila Sciences, the larger, consolidated space supports expansion tied to recent capital raises and the company’s stated goal of combining artificial intelligence with laboratory research at scale.
What this means for stakeholders
For Lila Sciences, occupying nearly a quarter-million square feet in a single campus concentrates research, engineering and administrative teams in a purpose-built environment, enabling planned growth and relocation from smaller Cambridge facilities. For IQHQ, the deal validates the developer’s strategy to convert the North Cambridge site into a significant life science hub and to expand its regional holdings.
The Alewife Park site is positioned near public transit and within an established biotech and tech corridor, factors cited by Lila’s real estate leadership as supporting employee access and long-term operational needs. The transaction adds momentum to IQHQ’s broader local development plans, which include additional lab and office square footage at other sites in the region.
Next steps and timeline
Lila Sciences is expected to complete its move to the Alewife Park campus by 2026, at which point it will operate from the top floor of 1 Alewife Park and the entirety of 5 Alewife Park. IQHQ will continue development of the Alewife Park campus and other local projects while coordinating tenant fit-out and occupancy schedules with Lila.
FAQ
What lease did Lila Sciences secure?
Lila Sciences, an artificial intelligence startup, has secured a lease for 244,000 square feet at IQHQ’s Alewife Park laboratory campus in Cambridge.
How significant is this deal in the local market?
This deal is one of the largest in the life science real estate sector in Greater Boston this year, marking a positive development in a flat lab market.
What recent funding has Lila Sciences completed?
Lila Sciences recently completed a $350 million funding round and previously raised $200 million in seed capital from Flagship Pioneering and other investors.
What is Lila Sciences’ stated aim?
Lila Sciences aims to responsibly achieve scientific superintelligence by integrating AI into the scientific method.
Which buildings will Lila occupy at Alewife Park?
Lila will occupy the top floor of 1 Alewife Park and the entirety of 5 Alewife Park.
What are IQHQ’s plans for Alewife Park?
IQHQ plans to develop five office and lab buildings at Alewife Park, situated on 26.5 acres near the MBTA Alewife Red Line station.
What is the current lab availability in the Alewife submarket?
The Alewife submarket, where Lila is leasing space, had a lab space availability rate of 46.2% in the third quarter of the year.
Where is Lila moving from and when is the move expected?
The development of Lila’s new headquarters in Alewife Park signifies a notable move, as they are set to transition from their current location at 140 First St. in East Cambridge by 2026.
What other local holdings does IQHQ have?
IQHQ’s local portfolio extends beyond Alewife Park, including 340,000 square feet of lab and office space in Andover and plans for a million-square-foot tower above the Massachusetts Turnpike.
What has company leadership said about the deal?
Geoffrey von Maltzahn, CEO of Lila, emphasized the importance of this opportunity for transforming scientific methods.
How did Lila’s real estate team describe Alewife Park?
Darrell Smith Sr., director of real estate and facilities at Lila, expressed confidence in the long-term viability of Alewife Park for their growth and employee welfare.
How did IQHQ leadership describe the partnership?
Tracy Murphy, president of IQHQ, highlighted their excitement for a long-term partnership with Lila, referring to them as leaders in redefining scientific research.
Why is the lease significant for IQHQ?
The lease is considered a significant success for IQHQ, which is redeveloping the former W.R. Grace site in North Cambridge into a life science complex.
Quick reference table
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tenant | Lila Sciences |
| Lease size | 244,000 square feet |
| Campus | IQHQ’s Alewife Park laboratory campus in Cambridge |
| Buildings occupied | Top floor of 1 Alewife Park; entirety of 5 Alewife Park |
| Funding | $350 million funding round; previously $200 million in seed capital |
| Alewife submarket availability | 46.2% in the third quarter of the year |
| Campus acreage | 26.5 acres near the MBTA Alewife Red Line station |
| IQHQ local holdings | 340,000 square feet in Andover; plans for a million-square-foot tower above the Massachusetts Turnpike |
| Planned move | Transition from 140 First St. in East Cambridge by 2026 |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Boston Globe: Major lease and funding move reshapes Alewife Park lab market
- Wikipedia: Artificial Intelligence
- Banker & Tradesman: Alewife Park lands 246K SF AI startup
- Google Search: AI Startups
- Cambridge Day: Massachusetts backs AI-powered biotech startups with Biohub program
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Artificial Intelligence
- NVIDIA News: NVIDIA announces investment in the UK AI startup ecosystem
- Business Insider: AI career plans learned
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