BE&K Building Group is partnering with Novo Nordisk to construct a new cutting-edge multi-product pharmaceutical manufacturing facility adjacent to Novo Nordisk’s existing operations in Clayton, North Carolina. The ambitious project involves the construction of multiple buildings providing more than 1.4 million sf. BE&K is directly performing a significant portion of the work as Design-Builder and Construction Manager and will serve as the Agency Construction Manager for the remainder of the work, providing oversight for the development of a facility that spans approximately 56 acres.
The facility is designed and being constructed to achieve Circular for Zero, Novo Nordisk’s global sustainability strategy to achieve zero environmental impact through three main areas: their company, their supply chain, and their products. The goal is to promote a circular mindset by utilizing renewable energy in their operations, collaborating with suppliers who proactively implement circular sourcing and procurement, and designing eco-friendly products to reduce waste. For this major expansion, prioritizing circularity involved a focused approach to implementing the most sustainable solutions possible, from sourcing materials to reclaiming stormwater, to using electric boilers within the facility. One of the most unique sustainable aspects of this project is that Novo Nordisk has considered circularity from start to finish, including the end-of-life use of the building.
The project is the largest life sciences investment in North Carolina’s history, totaling more than $4 billion. The final state-of-the-art facility will be instrumental in manufacturing Novo Nordisk’s innovative treatments for obesity and other chronic diseases.
Clayton was the first manufacturing site for Novo Nordisk in the US, and this new, large-scale investment here confirms the continued importance of our production facilities in North Carolina. We are proud to be one of the cornerstones of our company’s growth. For decades, we’ve partnered to foster a well-trained, dedicated and diverse local workforce here. We are one team driven by one purpose: to deliver more for the millions of people living with chronic diseases – and we will achieve that with this facility.
— Niels Laurbjerg Nielsen, Corporate Vice President, Novo Nordisk