B
oston Children's Hospital has put its plans to occupy five floors of a new lab building in Fenway on hold, according to the Boston Business Journal. The hospital had agreed to pay around $155 million for 268,000 square feet at 421 Park Drive, a 13-story, 660,000-square-foot building under construction adjacent to Fenway's Landmark Center.
A spokesperson confirmed that work has been paused, but no official reason was given. Kristen Dattoli stated that the hospital remains committed to expanding its research capabilities at the location as part of its broader strategy. Jamie Kelly added that while construction continues, the interior fit out of the space will be paused.
The decision comes amid financial and political pressures affecting health research nationwide. Proposed funding cuts under the Trump administration have created uncertainty in the biomedical research ecosystem, forcing hospitals to recalibrate their investments. Boston Children's Hospital, a top recipient of NIH pediatric research funding, has been particularly affected by these shifts. The pause may reflect strategic caution and the challenges facing large-scale research infrastructure development in today's volatile funding environment.
