SmartLabs Closed Headquarters in Brighton
The life sciences firm has vacated its facility at 40 Guest St. as tenants search for new laboratory space.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Remote Work
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SmartLabs has officially ceased operations at its 84,000-square-foot headquarters located at 40 Guest St. in the Boston Landing complex. Remaining tenants at the facility are now vacating the premises to secure new lab space.
Why it matters
The closure follows a period of financial instability for the company, including recent bankruptcy filings and legal action over unpaid rent. It reflects broader challenges currently facing the region's life sciences sector.
SmartLabs vacated 84,000 square feet of lab space at 40 Guest St. following the termination of a 140,000-square-foot lease at CambridgeSide in late 2025. The company maintains only one remaining Boston-area location at 301 Binney St.
The players
SmartLabs
A life sciences company founded in 2015 that provides laboratory and office infrastructure for biotechnology researchers.
NB Development Group
The real estate development and management firm that owns the property at 40 Guest St. in Brighton.
BioMed Realty
A real estate investment trust specializing in life sciences facilities that initiated legal action regarding unpaid rent in 2025.
The details
The facility at 40 Guest St. was owned by the NB Development Group and served as the central headquarters for the organization. This closure marks the latest contraction for the company, which saw two Bay Area locations shuttered in 2024 and faced a rent-related lawsuit from BioMed Realty in September 2025.
Timeline
SmartLabs was founded in 2015.
The life sciences industry downturn began in 2023.
SmartLabs closed two Bay Area locations in 2024.
BioMed Realty sued SmartLabs for unpaid rent in September 2025.
A SmartLabs entity filed for bankruptcy in November 2025.
Market Landscape
This closure follows a pattern of corporate contraction set by the 2023 life sciences industry downturn. It signals a continued consolidation of lab space as companies face significant financial pressures.
Tenants formerly housed at the 40 Guest St. location must now secure alternative laboratory premises in a market currently navigating high vacancy rates. This shift may force local research firms to reevaluate their real estate budgets and long-term expansion plans.
The takeaway
The exit from this facility highlights the ongoing volatility within the biotech infrastructure sector. Companies are increasingly forced to prioritize liquidity as commercial real estate obligations become difficult to sustain.
Further reading
For more context on current workspace trends, visit Remote Work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bisnow.
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