Bayer Plans $2.2 Billion Ohio Pharma Campus With Mid-2027 Construction Start

Bayer will invest $2.2 billion in a new pharmaceutical manufacturing campus in New Albany, Ohio, with construction expected to start in mid-2027 and the first production module operating in 2031. The company announced the project on October 2, 2026, saying it will create about 600 permanent jobs and about 1,500 construction jobs during the build Bayer. Fluor Corp. is handling early design, and the detailed design firm, construction manager and general contractor have not been selected, ENR reported on October 5.

The project adds another multibillion-dollar industrial build to a suburban Columbus business park that already hosts some of the largest construction programs in the Midwest. For contractors and suppliers, the key detail is the schedule: the procurement approach is still open, and Bayer expects to define it in early 2027 ENR.

What Happened

Bayer said the site will support its oncology, cardiovascular and renal care portfolios at the start Bayer. The campus will be built in two modules. The first, for drug substance manufacturing, is planned to be operational by 2031. The second, for finished drug product manufacturing, is planned for 2034 Bayer.

Chief Executive Bill Anderson said Bayer "has long seen the United States as a key manufacturing base and innovation hub," and called the project a landmark investment Bayer. Holger Weintritt, head of product supply for Bayer Pharmaceuticals, said the facility "will be a strong strategic addition to our global Product Supply network" Bayer.

The company said the Ohio investment builds on more than $7 billion it has spent on U.S. pharmaceutical research, development and manufacturing over the past five years Bayer. Its existing U.S. pharma footprint includes a headquarters in Whippany, New Jersey and sites in Pittsburgh, Berkeley, Cambridge, Research Triangle Park and San Diego Bayer.

The Site

The campus will be located in the New Albany International Business Park near Columbus ENR. The sources differ on its size. ENR reported an initial site of approximately 110 acres with an option on a further 85 acres, which would bring the total to about 195 acres. Fierce Pharma reported that Bayer is purchasing 200 acres.

Bayer has not disclosed the building square footage or how the $2.2 billion splits between construction and process equipment ENR. The products are small-molecule drugs, and the company plans advanced digital and automation systems and a modular approach to construction ENR.

On utilities, water and wastewater service comes from the City of Columbus, with usage limits for individual sites set in development agreements and monitored in real time ENR. Electricity in the park is supplied by an investor-owned utility and an energy cooperative, not by the city ENR. Roadway improvements tied to the project will be determined during planning and design ENR.

As of the ENR report, the City of New Albany had not received any zoning, grading, building or infrastructure permit applications for the project ENR.

Design and Construction Team

Fluor was retained during site selection and remains on the project for the current phase ENR. A Bayer spokesperson told the publication on October 5: "The project is now moving into the early design phase with Fluor, and we are evaluating our approach to procurement, detailed engineering and construction as that work advances" ENR.

That leaves three major roles open: the detailed design firm, the construction manager and the general contractor ENR. The procurement approach is expected to be defined in early 2027, a few months before the planned mid-2027 start ENR.

Timeline

• October 2, 2026: Bayer announces the investment Bayer.
• Early 2027: procurement approach expected to be defined ENR.
• Mid-2027: construction start ENR.
• Summer 2027: Ohio Life Science Training Center scheduled to open ENR.
• 2031: drug substance module operational Bayer.
• 2034: drug product module planned Bayer.

Incentives and Workforce Support

Bayer plans to seek an Ohio Job Creation Tax Credit at a future meeting of the state Tax Credit Authority and will pursue assistance from JobsOhio, with details expected after final agreements are executed ENR.

The state is also building a training pipeline next to the work. The Ohio Life Science Training Center is a facility of nearly $38 million scheduled to open in summer 2027 to train biomanufacturing operators and technicians ENR. JobsOhio is investing up to $30 million, and New Albany, the state and The New Albany Co. are contributing nearly $8 million ENR.

Why Ohio, and Why Now

Bayer executives pointed to the region's talent base and life sciences ecosystem, including seven leading academic centers and universities, in explaining the choice Fierce Pharma. Sebastian Guth, global chief operating officer of Bayer Pharmaceuticals and president of Bayer U.S., said the United States is a key market for the division Bayer and told the publication that "the best is yet to come" Fierce Pharma.

The U.S. share of Bayer's pharmaceutical sales has grown from 20 percent to 35 percent, and annual U.S. research and development spending has risen from under $500 million in 2018 and 2019 to well above $1.2 billion Fierce Pharma. Products the site is expected to support include Nubeqa, Kerendia, Lynkuet and asundexian Fierce Pharma. The same report noted that Bayer has not been among the 26 drugmakers that have struck "most favored nation" pricing deals with the White House Fierce Pharma.

New Albany already has a pharmaceutical cluster. Amgen has a campus nearby, and American Regent, Pharmavite and Hims & Hers also operate in the area ENR. The project follows the wave we described in our earlier look at pharmaceutical onshoring and construction.

Implications for Owners, Developers, Contractors and Subs

General contractors and construction managers have a defined window. With Fluor on early design and the delivery roles unassigned, the pursuit period runs from now into early 2027 ENR. Firms with pharmaceutical process and cleanroom experience should expect qualification activity well before the mid-2027 start.

Mechanical, electrical, process piping and controls subcontractors should plan around labor, not just price. New Albany is also home to Intel's $28 billion semiconductor facility, where Bechtel leads construction, and a $2 billion Vantage Data Centers campus being built by Turner Construction ENR. About 25,000 construction workers were reported to be traveling into New Albany daily during peak activity ENR. A 1,500-worker pharma project will compete for the same skilled trades Bayer.

Modular fabricators and equipment suppliers should note the two-module plan and the stated modular construction approach ENR. A 2031 date for the first module and 2034 for the second implies long-lead process equipment orders and off-site fabrication will be released in two distinct waves Bayer.

Owners planning industrial projects, including in Upstate New York, can take two points. First, utility terms are now negotiated site by site: water use at this park is capped by agreement and monitored in real time ENR. Second, states are pairing incentives with purpose-built training centers timed to open alongside construction ENR, which is becoming part of the competitive package for life sciences sites.

What to Watch

• Selection of the detailed design firm, construction manager and general contractor ENR.
• The first zoning, grading and building permit filings with New Albany ENR.
• Action by the Ohio Tax Credit Authority and the terms of JobsOhio assistance ENR.
• Whether Bayer exercises the option on additional acreage ENR.

Bottom Line

Bayer's Ohio campus is a $2.2 billion, two-phase pharmaceutical build with a mid-2027 start and production dates in 2031 and 2034 Bayer ENR. The design is at an early stage and the main construction roles are open ENR. The project will land in one of the tightest industrial labor markets in the country, and the firms that secure trade capacity early will be best placed to deliver it.

Image credit: Bayer (rendering courtesy of Bayer). Image from the source article.

Sources

• ENR, Bayer Sets $2.2B Ohio Pharma Campus for 2027 Start: https://www.enr.com/articles/63773-bayer-sets-22b-ohio-pharma-campus-for-2027-start
• Bayer (press release via Yahoo Finance), Bayer to Invest 2.2 Billion U.S. Dollars in a New Manufacturing Site in the United States: https://finance.yahoo.com/healthcare/articles/bayer-invest-2-2-billion-191000011.html
• Fierce Pharma, 'The best is yet to come': Bayer doubles down on US with plans for $2.2B Ohio manufacturing site: https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/best-yet-come-bayer-doubles-down-us-plans-22b-ohio-manufacturing-site