Lifestyle and Life Science in San Diego
The Research and Development District (The RaDD) on the waterfront in Downtown San Diego is being developed by IQHQ, a provider of premier life science real estate. They are well-known for other industry projects in Boston, San Francisco and Austin, TX.
The new San Diego district, designed to attract top-tier life science companies and diverse talent to our community, will be an iconic urban, mixed-use waterfront campus. The project will include laboratory, office, retail, restaurant and event space. The RaDD is intended to bolster the local economy while changing the landscape of downtown and the local San Diego life sciences market.
Core principals of site selection
San Diego was selected because of the following criteria:
Access to labor pool – STEM talent and Millennials
Close proximity to transit – airport, trolley, especially extension to UCSD to create synergy between RADD and Torrey Pines) and the Coronado ferry
Urban work-play environment – where retail, restaurant, amenities already located
Rending of The RaDD
Composition of the Research and Development District
The RaDD is designed to be a walkable district that provides open space, culture, retail, arts, wellness for all. It will encompass an ecosystem of lifestyle and life science organizations for individuals to work, live, shop, dine, visit and enjoy our waterfront community. San Diego’s sea and skyline will be central to the district, and the public and life science tenants will be able to enjoy the district. Plans include plenty of public space, throughfare and views from ground and elevated levels as well as an event venue with panoramic views and with capacity of up to 1000.
Retail in the district will be a mix of food & beverage and specialty stores. Parking will be managed in conjunction with Ace Parking, who will optimize parking strategies for workers and public, including valet program. An open space programming organization has been engaged to ensure cleanliness, safety and security as well as on-site operations team. The project does not include the luxury hotel, which is still under control of the Manchester organization.
Summary of project phasing and delivery schedule
IQHQ has an aggressive timeline for construction and is ahead of schedule at this time. Ground-breaking began in October 2020. Currently cross-streets and perimeter streets are blocked off. Entitlements have been approved and all fully compliant, and the building permit process is underway.
IQHQ will be developing 5 buildings with 1.6MM Sq Ft in an area bounded by Harbor Drive, Pacific Coast Highway and Broadway. The tallest of the five buildings in the district will be ~17 stories tall. IQHQ will participate in Harbor Drive re-alignment project in conjunction with port plans to make it more pedestrian-friendly, once these plans are finalized.
They have the ability to phase-in tenants starting in 2022 and expect that the district will be move-in ready in Q3 2023. There is a great deal of interest from potential tenants. IQHQ aim to transform San Diego’s waterfront, and to compete with other high-tech centers like Austin and San Francisco.
About Our Speakers
Marin Gertler – Marin serves as IQHQ Vice President of Development and is overseeing the design and construction of the Research and Development District. Prior to IQHQ, Marin was the Regional Design Leader at Gensler.
Brooke Riedman – Brooke serves as IQHQ Director of Leasing and will be leading the leasing efforts at the Research and Development District. Prior to IQHQ, Brooke was a leasing professional at Cushman & Wakefield focusing on Tenant and Landlord representation.
