BOSTON— A transformative new chapter in Boston’s innovation economy officially began this week as Harvard University, Tishman Speyer and Breakthrough Properties celebrated the completion of the first phase of the (ERC), a nine-acre mixed-use development in Allston that city leaders describe as one of Boston’s most significant projects in recent years.
University officials, elected leaders, business executives and community representatives gathered Tuesday alongside Boston Mayor Michelle Wu to mark the milestone, which delivers a blend of scientific research facilities, housing, hospitality, retail space and public open areas designed to foster collaboration and community engagement.
The development, led by Tishman Speyer and Breakthrough Properties in partnership with the Harvard Allston Land Company (HALC), brings together two state-of-the-art laboratory buildings, hundreds of apartments, a boutique hotel, a university conference center, 40,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, and more than two acres of publicly accessible open space.
“The Enterprise Research Campus is where researchers, entrepreneurs, and creative thinkers will work side by side,” said Harvard President Alan Garber during the opening ceremony. “Asking ambitious questions, pursuing novel ideas that only seem obvious with hindsight, building the companies and industries of tomorrow. The spaces we have built will evolve, supporting excellence in many forms for many years to come.”
The ERC represents a major component of Harvard’s long-term vision for the Allston neighborhood and is intended to strengthen connections between academia, industry and the surrounding community.
“It’s extremely gratifying to see the ERC come to life,” said Rob Speyer, CEO of Tishman Speyer. “From day one, Harvard has been an amazing partner. Our collaboration has created a place for bold ideas, from the next groundbreaking discovery to world-class hospitality. This is a destination for Harvard, Allston and visitors from around the world.”
At the heart of the project is One Milestone, a new life sciences hub developed by Breakthrough Properties. The facility is anchored by Roche’s Innovation Center for Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM) discovery and is designed to support companies ranging from established industry leaders to emerging startups. The interconnected laboratory complex includes collaborative workspaces, a fitness center designed by former Villanova basketball coach Jay Wright, conference facilities and flexible laboratory environments.
“With the ERC, we have created a world-leading innovation environment that will complement and accelerate cutting-edge research taking place at Harvard and across the region,” said Breakthrough Properties CEO Dan Belldegrun. “With Roche Genentech’s innovation center as its anchor, One Milestone will produce dynamic partnerships between academia and industry, paving the way for countless life-changing discoveries.”
Another centerpiece of the campus is the David Rubenstein Treehouse, Harvard’s first university-wide conference center. Opened in October 2025, the mass timber structure can accommodate events ranging from small meetings to gatherings of more than 750 attendees. Designed by Studio Gang, the facility includes dedicated space for visiting scholars, industry partners and academic collaborations.
The development also introduces new hospitality and residential offerings to the neighborhood. The Atlas, a 246-room boutique hotel that opened earlier this year, features two dining concepts operated by Pearl & Law Hospitality, the team behind Dorchester’s acclaimed Comfort Kitchen. The hotel includes Ama, its signature restaurant, and Foxglove Terrace, a rooftop restaurant and bar that debuted this spring.
Meanwhile, Verra, a 343-unit apartment community designed by Dutch architecture firm MVRDV, has already begun shaping the neighborhood’s residential character since opening last year. The development offers studio through two-bedroom apartments and amenities designed to foster community engagement.
Street-level retail and dining spaces throughout the campus emphasize local businesses and neighborhood connections. Current tenants include the Harvard COOP bookstore, Revival Café, Phin Coffee House and a Little Sprouts daycare center, alongside the hotel’s restaurant offerings.
Public space also plays a central role in the ERC vision. The newly completed Allstonway, which opened in May, serves as the development’s central pedestrian corridor and connects the neighborhood to the Charles River. Designed by landscape architecture firm SCAPE, the open space features public art, landscaped gathering areas, walking paths and year-round programming including farmers markets, concerts and outdoor fitness classes.
Together, the campus’s research, residential, hospitality and public amenities are intended to create a vibrant mixed-use district that supports innovation while strengthening ties to the broader Allston-Brighton community.
As Boston continues to compete as a global center for research and technology, city leaders and project partners say the Enterprise Research Campus represents a new model for integrating scientific discovery, economic development and public life into a single neighborhood destination.
