St. Louis, Missouri and the surrounding metropolitan area has become one of the fastest-growing and top-ranked emerging life sciences markets in the United States. Home to Bayer, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Danforth Plant Science Center, Washington University, Cortex Innovation Community, University of Missouri St. Louis, Saint Louis University, the Saint Louis Zoo, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and BioSTL, St. Louis has distinguished itself as a hub for life sciences. The strong laboratory facility presence and high concentration of world-class scientists has created a strong demand for high performance buildings and cutting-edge laboratory design.