The details
The 18,500-square-foot building offers industry-grade training for biotech technicians and is part of McCord's efforts to brand Generation Park as a premier life sciences hub in Houston, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
“San Jacinto College’s Biotechnology Center at Generation Park is the catalyst our region needs to fill the gap in our existing life science ecosystem and accelerate biomanufacturing in Houston,” McCord Development President Ryan McCord said in a statement.
A closer look
San Jacinto College Chancellor Brenda Hellyer said the Center for Biotechnology provides hands-on training with industry-grade equipment.
Hellyer said the campus includes a pilot-scale bioprocessing plant where students will gain real-world experience using the same tools found in commercial facilities.
“The Center for Biotechnology represents our commitment to preparing students with the skills, training, and opportunities they need to step directly into high-demand, high-wage careers,” Hellyer said in a statement. “At the same time, it provides industry partners with a reliable pipeline of talent that will help fuel innovation and growth for years to come.”
The impact
Owen Rock, executive vice president of economic development for Partnership Lake Houston, said the new campus will provide more opportunities for local students.
“The more education we can bring into the community, the better for everybody,” Rock said. “We have a workforce now readily available, and the kids have more opportunities.”
Mark Mitchell, Partnership Lake Houston's interim chief economic development officer, said those opportunities can begin before college for many students, pointing to career and technical education programming for life sciences at local school districts.
“All of these different factors have come together in terms of partnerships ... with all the work that’s been done on [Humble, Sheldon and Aldine ISD’s] CTE programming, so we've got a great potential pipeline in terms of providing local residents jobs.”
What's next
According to the release, the center will offer stackable certificates and an associate of applied science degree in biomanufacturing technology. Officials noted the college has offered those courses at other campuses since 2024, but those students will relocate to the Center for Biotechnology now that it's open.
Additionally, shorter training options for postgraduate and industry professionals will also be available, per the release.
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