Autodesk renewal and expansions by life science, office, and design tenants signal continued strength in Boston’s Seaport market
BOSTON — The Innovation and Design Building (IDB) in Boston’s Seaport neighborhood has recorded more than 225,000 square feet of leasing activity over the past year, underscoring continued demand for office, life science, and creative space at the mixed-use campus.
Related Beal and Jamestown, the joint venture owners of the 1.4 million-square-foot property, announced Monday that several major tenants have renewed or expanded their leases, including technology giant Autodesk, clinical-stage biotech company Ratio Therapeutics, and culinary media company America’s Test Kitchen.
The activity reflects sustained momentum at the Seaport property, which combines office, research, technology, and design tenants under one roof alongside the Boston Design Center.
“What makes the IDB special is the ecosystem — world-class technology companies, cutting-edge life science firms, and the design industry’s most celebrated showrooms all under one roof,” said Greg McQuade, senior vice president and Northeast regional market leader of asset management at Jamestown. “At 1.4 million square feet, this campus operates at a scale where that cross-disciplinary energy is genuinely palpable.”
Autodesk, a global design and engineering software company that has maintained a longtime presence at the building, renewed its lease for approximately 72,000 square feet, reaffirming its commitment to the Seaport campus as a hub for its Boston operations.
Ratio Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on radiopharmaceutical therapies for cancer treatment, expanded its footprint by approximately 17,000 square feet and now occupies about 36,000 square feet at the property.
“Boston has been an ideal place to build and grow Ratio, and expanding within the Innovation and Design Building is an important next step for us,” said Marc Becker, chief financial officer and chief operating officer of Ratio Therapeutics. “The Seaport offers access to exceptional scientific talent, strong infrastructure, and a vibrant innovation community.”
Additional major renewals included America’s Test Kitchen, which renewed approximately 53,000 square feet, and architecture and interior design firm Elkus Manfredi Architects, which renewed approximately 47,000 square feet.
Related Beal officials said the leasing momentum highlights the continued appeal of the IDB’s flexible and collaborative environment.
“The Eastern Seaport and the Innovation and Design Building continue to attract and retain high-quality tenants with the premier offerings companies have come to expect,” said Erin Orpik, vice president of commercial assets at Related Beal. “The IDB offers the creative, flexible spaces tenants need to drive innovation.”
The Boston Design Center, located within the IDB and considered New England’s largest trade resource for design professionals, also saw several showroom renewals over the past year.
Among the renewals, luxury textile and furnishings company Kravet renewed approximately 16,000 square feet, marking the largest showroom renewal. Other tenants renewing space included Cowtan & Tout, Scavolini, Quadrille, Ferrell Mittman, and Osborne & Little.
Originally constructed in 1918 as a waterside warehouse serving the South Boston Army Base, the eight-story Innovation and Design Building has since evolved into one of the Seaport’s largest mixed-use commercial campuses. Today, the building houses a diverse mix of technology firms, life science companies, creative studios, research organizations, and approximately 40 luxury design showrooms featuring more than 1,200 product lines.
