By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
PLAINSBORO — Preparations are under way for the planned expansion of Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk facilities in Plainsboro — a five-story office building across Route 1 from the company’s existing facility.
Mayor Peter Cantu lauded the expansion — which will add 400 more employees to the current 700 working out of a 170,000-square-foot building on Campus Road — as a positive sign for Plainsboro, especially during economic downturn.
”We’re delighted they have made the decision, especially when you think about today’s marketplace,” Mayor Cantu said.
The expansion of the company’s North American headquarters entails a five-year lease of the $15 million building at 1100 Campus Road, which was developed by the Patrinely Group LLC.
There are also plans in the works for additional expansion of the company, in later phases of the Patrinely campus. Those buildings will bring the development to a total of around 800,000 square feet, according to Mayor Cantu, who said the additional development has already received preliminary approvals from township officials.
Novo Nordisk says it is one the leading diabetes-related health care companies, producing a significant share of the world’s insulin supplies.
The company plans to move into the building during June, said Sean Clements, associate director of media relations at the company.
The interior of the building is planned to be environmentally friendly, using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria, despite the building not being built according to those specifications originally.
Novo Nordisk is set to receive numerous state monies for the planned expansion, with a total of $7.2 million in state incentives coming to the company.
The building currently being prepared for the expansion had been vacant for some time, according to Township Administrator Robert Sheehan, who also said the company plans on expanding more, at some point in the future.
”Novo’s been a terrific corporate citizen, and we’re really thrilled they’re committed to us long term,” Mr. Sheehan said.
The company has been in its present location off southbound Route 1 south of Forrestal Village since 2001, according to company officials.
