23-05-2025
Accelerating innovation is in the DNA at South San Francisco's Gateway of Pacific
What if innovation were as simple as putting a bunch of smart people in a room and knocking down some walls?
If cancer researcher Reuben Shaw's story is any indication, you shouldn't rule out the possibility.
Shaw, whose research on the metabolism of cancer has led to the discovery of multiple therapies for cancer and metabolic disease, leads the influential National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, a leading independent nonprofit research organization located in San Diego. He was recently invited to speak on the craft of innovation at a gathering of CEOs and other executives at BioMed Realty's Gateway of Pacific life science campus in South San Francisco.
Shaw's talk examined, among other topics, the building blocks of innovation — literally.
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'The physical space where people work influences their attitudes and the discoveries that are possible within them,' Shaw told the audience of scientists, technologists and business leaders. 'This is particularly true for engineers and computer scientists and for pure bench lab researchers.'
Shaw pointed to his own lab at the Salk Institute as evidence. 'There are no walls between the labs,' he said. 'It's an extremely flexible infrastructure.'
Designed by architect Louis Kahn in close collaboration with Jonas Salk, the American virologist who developed a vaccine for polio before going on to found the Salk Institute, the concrete-and-teak Brutalist masterpiece consists of 29 separate structures centered around a courtyard. Its large, open laboratory spaces were designed to adapt to the evolving needs of biological science.
'It is really an open, magnificent structure that was built with incredible foresight,' said Shaw.
Joining Shaw to talk about the craft of innovation was JoAnn Garbin, co-author of 'The Insider's Guide to Innovation @ Microsoft,' which goes behind the scenes of one of the world's most valuable companies to show how teams can unlock their creative and collaborative potential. A serial entrepreneur and four-time founder herself, Garbin served as director of innovation for the Regenerative Datacenter of the Future program at Microsoft from 2019-2024.
Among Garbin's anecdotes about innovation at Microsoft were the development of the original Xbox, which was released in 2001.
'Twenty years ago, all Microsoft did was operating systems and productivity tools,' Garbin recounted. 'So when they decided to spin off a gaming business, they said 'we're not putting Microsoft on the box,' which is why so many people don't even know Xbox is a Microsoft product.'
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But the Xbox team took it a step further, Garbin revealed. 'They said, 'We're going to move down the street and build our own office, and we're going to work down there for the next five to 15 years, so that we're big enough and secure enough in our own industry before we reintegrate with the mothership, so that you don't swallow us whole.' Once again, it was people in that innovation space recognizing the impact of our environments on our creativity.'
Garbin's and Shaw's talks reaffirmed the architectural philosophy behind host BioMed Realty's Gateway of Pacific campus. As Garbin put it: 'Physical spaces that we inhabit are never neutral. They either facilitate something or they inhibit something.'
Developed over five phases, BioMed Realty's Gateway of Pacific campus consists of 2.2 million square feet of state-of-the-art life science and office space.
One of the largest and most amenitized life science campuses in the Bay Area, Gateway of Pacific supports growing and established life science companies.
The campus's central courtyard is a Zen-like environment designed to foster connection and collaboration outside of the office or laboratory. Flowing seamlessly into the central courtyard via retractable window-walls is Forum, a premier 20,000-square-foot conference center equipped with cutting-edge audio-visual systems. Its adaptable layouts mean it can flex as a destination for collaboration, presentations or celebrations.
Health and wellness are at the heart of the Gateway of Pacific building design. Traverse, Gateway's LEED Platinum- and Fitwel-certified central amenity building, offers an array of culinary, fitness and community experiences, including dining options, a fitness center and meeting spaces for tenants. Open to the public and surrounding businesses, Traverse has become a popular destination for dining and special events in the 'East of 101' South San Francisco biotech cluster. Also at the campus, BioMed Realty hosts over 80 Discover Here tenant exclusive experiences each year, ranging from karaoke nights to symposiums, that help promote collaboration and connection among employees.
In March 2025, Proper Food opened a new location in Gateway of Pacific III, energizing the property's lobby with a vibrant café and lounge.
The latest phase of the campus to be delivered is Gateway of Pacific V. Consisting of 320,000 square feet of world-class lab and office space across five levels, the property features a sports court, a sculpture garden, curated lobby design and several open landscaped areas.
Located in a vibrant research community within one of the world's premier life science ecosystems, BioMed Realty's Gateway of Pacific is a true landmark. The fully integrated campus is designed to the highest institutional standards, featuring distinct and robust buildings within an active, urban park setting. Floor plates for our latest phase, Gateway of Pacific V, range from 21,000-38,000 square feet, with an opportunity for full-building users. To learn more about leasing opportunities at Gateway of Pacific, visit its website.
Aaron Welch is a freelance writer.
