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Originally Posted by tmac9wr
I think Kendall Square probably has a small edge if we're talking about their relative power within the city. However if we're talking about the bigger picture, then it's certainly Kendall - and by a pretty solid margin. It's likely the private research capital of the planet and you could argue for its geographical size, it has the most impressive lineup of companies on Earth.
University City has a large medical presence due to CHOP & UPenn, but is there a significant private presence in the area? I can't really seem to find anything on major biotech, pharma or high tech. What are some of the other key components of University City?
One thing that Kendall has going for it on top of the lab developments is the number of condos being built in and around the area. There are several new condo buildings which have been completed or are under construction, along with some reformations and nearby East Cambridge has several major condo projects going up as well. I haven't spent a ton of time walking around Kendall but what I've heard is in-line with what munchitup said (and I think Kid Philly has said in the past). That being, it's not a great pedestrian experience all the time and there's a lack of retail. Hopefully the infusion of residents will help remedy some of that.
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I agree that Kendall Square currently has the edge over University City. However, I would rank University City second to ONLY Kendall Square as far as urban research centers go in the entire United States.
Not only is there the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania, but Drexel University as well, which definitely seems to be a growing University quickly on the rise. There is also the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia which is a smaller university. On top of that, there are the Hospitals. The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian, both under the "Penn Medicine" mantra and located in University City rank #7 in the Country. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia ranks #1 for Children's Hospitals.
There is also the University City Science Center. Located in the UCSC is over 60 companies ranging from tech, to bio and pharmaceuticals to medical, including Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, ECFMG, Energy Plus, Exponent, Integral Molecular, Monell Chemical Senses Center, National Board of Medical Examiners, Optofluidics, Pulsar Informatics, Rosetta Genomics, Adaptimmune Limited, Admire Capital, Amriton, AUM Life Tech, BGI Health Americas, BioAdvance, Capish, CytoVas, etc.
The Wistar Institute is located in University City, and companies located within the Cira Centre Office building include lawfirms Dechert, LLP, Woodcock Washburn, LLP, and Reger Rizzo & Darnall, LLP. Hedge Fund firm Attalus Capital, manufacturer SCA, real estate private equity firm Lubert Adler, the MandMarblestone Group, Iron Stone Strategic Capital Partners, and digital forensics company Capsicum LLC.
Under construction is the 49 floor, 730 foot FMC Tower at Cira Centre South, which will house the chemical company FMC. The top floors will be apartments.
FMC Tower at Cira Centre South
Other buildings include the Evo, which is a 33 floor apartment building which was recently complete. Under construction is the 28 floor luxury apartment building 3601 Market, as well as the 25 floor luxury apartment building with two floors of office space 3737 Chestnut. The 25 floor Drexel Dormitory The Summit is under construction, as well as the 14 floor Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Research, and the 19 floor Penn Medicine South Tower which will house research, medical and academic space. Penn is also building a new 7 floor dorm. The 13 floor office building 3737 Market was just completed. The 13 floor Drexel LeBow College of business building was recently complete, as well as the 19 floor Chestnut Square luxury apartment building. The 12 floor Homewood Suites by Hilton was complete in 2012. There is a 10 floor Study Hotel under construction (which ironically, the only other one is in Cambridge).
There are also a ton of smaller 5,6,7,8 floor buildings under construction including the Penn Presbyterian South Pavilion at 6 floors, the Neural Behavioral Sciences Center at 5 floors, the Penn Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics at 8 floors, the Krishna P. Singh Center for Nanotechnology at 5 floors, and 3900 Walnut (a 6 floor office building).
Lastly, the IRS and Post Office have major space and operations located in University City, and the third busiest Train Station in the country is located in University City (30th Street Station). Amtrak, New Jersey Transit and SEPTA all stop here. University City has another SEPTA rail station, the Market-Frankford Subway line runs through UCity, and 5 trolley lines as well as multiple bus routes.
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