Cottonwood Group provides $105M construction loan for Austin life‑sciences campus

Austin, Texas, September 20, 2025

News Summary

A real estate private equity firm has provided a $105 million construction loan to fund a build‑to‑suit life‑sciences facility in northeast Austin. The biotech tenant will occupy roughly 220,000–223,500 square feet within the 425‑acre EastVillage ATX mixed‑use development. The project, co‑arranged by Newmark and CBRE and delivered by a Buffalo master developer with a San Francisco development partner, is expected to add specialized lab, manufacturing and office space and support about 1,000 jobs. With construction financing in place, site work, permitting and fit‑out are the next steps that will expand Austin’s life‑sciences inventory.

Cottonwood Group provides $105 million construction loan for life‑sciences campus in northeast Austin

A real estate private equity firm has provided a $105 million construction loan for a new build‑to‑suit life‑sciences facility in Austin, Texas. The project will house a biotechnology firm on a site inside a large mixed‑use development on the city’s northeast side and is expected to support about 1,000 new jobs. The facility is slated for completion in early 2027.

Key financing and project facts

The lender is Cottonwood Group, which operates offices in Boston, Los Angeles and New York. The loan will fund a life‑sciences build‑to‑suit for biotechnology company BillionToOne. The announcement lists the project size at 223,500 square feet, while related local reporting cites a closely rounded figure of 220,000 square feet. The site sits within a 425‑acre mixed‑use development known as EastVillage ATX on Parmer Lane near a major semiconductor campus.

Partners and arrangers

The master developer of the mixed‑use site is a Buffalo‑based development company working with a San Francisco‑based development partner for this facility. Those two firms partnered to deliver the life‑sciences building. The construction loan was co‑arranged by industry leasing and capital firms Newmark and CBRE.

Jobs, timeline and local placement

Project documents and local economic reporting indicate the site will bring roughly 1,000 jobs to the Austin area when fully operational. Construction financing and approvals put the completion target at early 2027, with the building designed specifically to meet the tenant’s lab, manufacturing and office needs.

Why this matters for Austin’s life‑sciences scene

The loan adds to a growing pipeline of lab and life‑sciences space in Austin. Recent industry analysis shows the city hosts over 1,100 bio and health companies employing roughly 21,000 people, with a total ecosystem valuation in the tens of billions. Venture capital in the sector has grown significantly, with billions raised over the past five years. Analysts note that a mix of local startup growth, company expansion, available industrial sites and targeted policy choices will shape how the cluster develops.

Market context and national trends

Broader market reports point to continued interest in AI‑driven drug discovery and other technology advances that can speed research and trials. At the same time, some markets are seeing elevated vacancy, and capital activity varies by region. For developers and lenders, life‑sciences projects remain capital‑intensive and specialized, often favoring teams with prior experience in lab buildings and regulated space.

Notes on figures and verification

Two closely related size figures appear in public materials: 223,500 square feet in the loan announcement and 220,000 square feet in local reporting. Such small differences can arise from rounding, floor‑area measurement methods, or early plan adjustments. Parties seeking precise leasing or permit details should confirm the final floor area with the project developer or the tenant.

What comes next

With the construction loan in place and development partners identified, site work, permitting and building fit‑out are the next steps before the tenant moves in. The project will add specialized lab and manufacturing capacity to Austin’s life‑sciences inventory and is likely to influence where other life‑sciences employers and suppliers locate nearby.

FAQ

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Key project features

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

Additional Resources

• ReBusiness Online: Cottonwood Group provides $105M construction loan for Austin life‑sciences campus
• Wikipedia: Life science
• Austin Monitor: Life‑sciences report sees strong job, real‑estate growth throughout Austin (2025)
• Google Search: Austin life sciences report 2025
• Cushman & Wakefield: Life Science Report
• Google Scholar: life science real estate report Austin 2025
• Community Impact: Living in the future — surge in life‑sciences sector paying off for Austin‑area economy (2025)
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Austin life sciences economy
• ConnectCRE: Tarlton building 223k SF Austin life‑science facility
• Google News: Tarlton building Austin life science

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