The basics:

• Advance Realty Investors unveils Continuum — planned 1M-SF life sciences campus in Bridgewater
• Development will combine life sciences, advanced manufacturing, logistics uses along Route 202/206
• Bridgewater approved long-term PILOT agreement tied to redevelopment project
• First-phase construction includes industrial buildings, 172K-square-foot life sciences facility

Advance Realty Investors is continuing its momentum and legacy in Somerset County, announcing a purpose-built life science and advanced manufacturing campus along Route 202/206 in Bridgewater.

Revealed May 11, Continuum will bring up to 1.1 million square feet of new construction to a more than 60-acre campus set within accessible and scenic surroundings.

The Bedminster-based privately held, integrated real estate firm says it conceived the site as a next-generation campus centered on innovation. By incorporating shared amenity spaces and conference capabilities, the plan aims to craft an end-to-end ecosystem integrating research & development, advanced manufacturing and logistics. Advance tapped JLL to exclusively lead leasing.

The move fits squarely with the county’s rising profile in advanced manufacturing and continues a strong tradition of pharma activity and research. Sanofi formerly occupied the space, before moving to Morristown last year.

Construction on Continuum is currently underway. Project delivery is expected in 2027, according to marketing materials.

Take me to the PILOT

Not without controversy, local officials say the development presents an opportunity to expand ratables as well as local jobs. Residents have asked, at what cost? The township approved a Payment in Lieu of Taxes for the project in fall 2025.

The associated financial agreement deems the property an area in need of redevelopment.

Ahead of adopting the measure, Councilman Michael Kirsh addressed concerns. According to minutes from the September meeting, he said PILOTs “exist to make financially viable projects feasible.” And that without such agreements, “underperforming properties would remain idle, generating no revenue.”

In its Continuum announcement, Advance highlighted the long-term PILOT as a sign of occupational certainty.

Creating an innovation ecosystem

According to reports, the first phase of work will deliver two industrial buildings totaling 250,000 square feet along with an over 172,000-square-foot life sciences buildings. Beyond on- and off-site infrastructure improvements, Continuum is also slated to add three additional life sciences buildings and two retail buildings.

Advance said planned onsite amenities will include dining options, fast-casual eateries, shared workspaces, and conference and event space supporting collaboration and day-to-day tenant operations.

Advance Realty Investors President and CEO Peter Cocoziello said the project reflects a fundamental shift in how R&D environments come together and to fruition.

“Rather than isolated facilities, today’s users require connected ecosystems that support the full lifecycle of innovation, from discovery through production and distribution,” he said. “Continuum is designed to meet that need, bringing together R&D, advanced manufacturing, and logistics within a single, newly constructed campus environment that enhances efficiency, accelerates timelines, and supports collaboration at scale.”

It’s a model that is also emerging elsewhere in the Garden State. In Kenilworth, the former Merck headquarters campus is reemerging as the Northeast Science and Technology Center, or NEST. That campus has attracted high-profile tenants, including CoreWeave, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Revlon and others.

In Bridgewater, Continuum builds on the neighboring Center of Excellence, which houses companies including Avantor and Nestlé Health Science. Repositioned by Advance Investors Realty and a partner, the JV sold that property for more than $150 million in 2019.

More recently, Advance helped FreshPet set up at a brand-new headquarters space in nearby Bedminster.

Continuum will benefit from Somerset County’s strong fundamentals, including a well-educated workforce, access to education centers and proximity to major roadways and the larger region. According to local officials, the county boasts the largest cluster (15,000-plus people) of degree specialization in biopharma and medical devices statewide. And that pipeline is expanding. Raritan Valley Community College is a leader in advanced manufacturing, and recently expanded its workforce development footprint.

In addition to its spot along Route 202/206, the property offers nearby access to Interstates 287 and 78.

Continuum is not just a name; it reflects how the campus is designed to function.
— Peter Cocoziello, CEO, Advance Realty Investors

Continuum will offer build-to-suit opportunities. JLL Vice Chairman Dan Loughlin described the project as one of the most compelling of its kind in the Northeast.

“The campus offers occupiers the rare ability to design and deliver a state-of-the-art headquarters or manufacturing facility within a fully integrated environment that supports R&D, production, and logistics on a single site,” Loughlin said. “Continuum is uniquely positioned to meet the long-term needs of sophisticated users seeking scale, efficiency, and speed to market with full site approval in place.”

Added Cocoziello, “Continuum is not just a name; it reflects how the campus is designed to function.”