Big Plans for Innovation
Cedar Park is positioning itself as a future life sciences destination with plans for a mixed-use innovation campus on a 215-acre site that once operated as the Lime Creek Quarry. The city purchased the property in 2015 and has been clearing it for development. Officials believe it could become Austin’s first true life sciences hub.
Arthur Jackson, Cedar Park’s chief economic development officer, said the site could attract companies ready to grow beyond incubator programs while giving larger firms space to expand. “We are in a strong position to create an anchor for life sciences in Central Texas,” he said.
Development Vision
The proposed plan features about 90 acres of developable space that would include offices designed for biotech and medical technology companies, along with hospitality, retail, and residential components. Preliminary designs from DES, an architecture firm specializing in life sciences, show up to 500,000 square feet of lab and office space, walking trails, water features, and public amenities.
City leaders say the project addresses a critical gap. Firms graduating from bio-accelerators often struggle to find affordable, well-located facilities in the Austin region. By controlling the land, Cedar Park aims to guide development and make it cost-effective.
Building Momentum
The city has already secured several life sciences employers. Enovis Corp. announced plans for a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that will create at least 162 jobs, marking Cedar Park’s largest deal in the sector.
Other firms include Prescription Dispensing Laboratories, Zeteo Biomedical, and ExoDiscovery Technologies, a cancer diagnostics startup that considered Boston before selecting Cedar Park for its affordability and proximity to major cancer centers.
Opportunity Austin, the region’s economic development group, has identified life sciences as a priority sector, estimating more than 21,000 related jobs across Greater Austin.
What Comes Next
The quarry redevelopment is still in early stages, but interest from developers and companies is growing. City officials hope to make the campus both a business hub and a community destination with hotels, dining, and public spaces, complementing projects like the Bell District and CedarView.
