CRB Helps to Chart the Growth of the Biopharma Industry in Philadelphia
By Cat Thoreson | September 19, 2023
| This article is part of our In Conversation series, one of our ongoing People & Places Features. Go indepth with some of the most interesting people making impact across BioBuzz’s growing biohubs. |
We recently sat down with Juan Tobon, Director of CRB’s Philadelphia Operations. We gained valuable insights into his background, CRB’s role in the industry, and the exciting developments occurring in the region.
Tobon: A Journey from Electrical Engineering to Biopharma
Tobon, a native of Philadelphia with Colombian roots, began his career as an electrical engineer. He entered the consulting sector, initially working on projects involving laboratories and hospitals. Over time, his fascination with the technical aspects of science and manufacturing led him to CRB in 2014.
Describing his journey, Tobon says, “I was offered a position at CRB in 2014, and it was exciting to come here because of the technical spaces that we design and build. The best of both worlds – the design component, which I had experience in, and we also have the construction piece. We can design and build the complex technical aspects of science and manufacturing.”
The CRB Philadelphia Office: A Beacon of Collaboration
In his role as the Director of CRB’s Philadelphia Operations, Tobon is responsible for unifying diverse teams. CRB’s Philadelphia office houses market teams for science and technology, biologics, and pharmaceuticals, as well as a construction division. This synergy ensures a seamless process from research and development to manufacturing, resulting in the creation of essential medicines.
Tobon describes his role as the office leader as “the chief unifying officer. I bring everyone together to ensure we have a sufficient project backlog across design and construction divisions and ensure balanced resources are attributed and allocated among each project team. I enjoy it very much, and it’s a great place to connect with people. I enjoy working with people to design and build these complex marvels.”
Choosing Conshohocken: A Perfect Blend of City and Connectivity
CRB’s decision to relocate to Conshohocken was the result of careful planning. With their lease expiring and recurring flooding in their previous location, CRB’s real estate group worked diligently to find a new office space. After evaluating 12 different locations, they concluded that Conshohocken offered the perfect blend of an exciting city atmosphere, proximity to public transportation, and access to suburban areas to its employees and clients. Their choice was the 34,565 square feet on the fifth and sixth floors of the Seven Tower Bridge, a newly constructed 14-story office tower.
Tobon shares the thought process behind this decision, saying, “Conshohocken from a location perspective is excellent, it has the feel of a city, and also the public transportation and connectivity to the suburbs.”
The Future of Work at CRB: Flexibility and Collaboration
The new CRB office in Conshohocken embraces a flexible approach to work. Employees have the choice of working in the office five days a week or adopting a hybrid model, which allows for three days of office work. The workspace is designed for collaboration, with flexible workstations and reservation systems, focus rooms, and shared spaces. This design encourages interaction and teamwork while maintaining an individual’s ability to concentrate when necessary.
Tobon elaborates on this approach, stating, “It’s not designed traditionally, where everyone’s going to have a designated workstation assigned to them. It’s designed around flexibility and working in a way that best suits a CRB employee’s project needs on that given day.”
The Evolving Biopharma Landscape in Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s biopharma industry is on the verge of unprecedented growth. The presence of world-class universities, groundbreaking research in cell and gene therapy, and a flourishing ecosystem of incubators for smaller biotech companies are creating an environment ripe for innovation. CRB is at the forefront of this exciting period, providing design and construction services to help these companies expand their operations.
Tobon highlights the promising future of the industry, stating, “It’s really an exciting time to be here on the forefront as this growth starts to happen. Every few months you hear of the FDA approving a new type of drug or a new technology that comes out.”
It’s no surprise then that Philadelphia’s biopharma industry is thriving, with CRB playing a pivotal role in its growth. Tobon’s leadership as the Director of CRB’s Philadelphia Operations ensures that the company continues to design and build world-class facilities for the evolving needs of the industry. With a focus on collaboration, flexibility, and innovation, CRB is well-positioned to contribute to the remarkable developments taking place in this dynamic sector of Philadelphia’s economy.
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Passion. It’s what makes Cat tick. Born and raised in Baltimore, Cat is a former Division-I lacrosse athlete (Hofstra ’09), entrepreneur, and mom of three (crazy) boys. Over the last 12 years, she’s built and led countless teams (on the field, in the gym, and in the office), scaled programs and brands (in both scope and geography), and driven growth and impact in nearly everything she touches. She loves being part of something bigger than herself and has found a new home within the life sciences as BioBuzz’s Head of Marketing.
