South City’s Genentech saw limited development in 2025: As part of annual update, biotech firm had limited construction, with slight uptick in single-occupancy trips

In 2020, the City Council adopted a plan that allows Genentech to build up to 9 million square feet on its campus but, to date, it’s currently built out about 4.9 million square feet. 

“Like 2024, there was very limited construction activity on our campus. There is no net increase in square footage on our campus in 2025,” Will Hughen, site planning manager at Genentech, said during a recent Planning Commission meeting. 

No new buildings went up in 2025, with construction limited to an updated bus maintenance facility and a new electric vehicle charging lot. The company is also pursuing entitlements for an R&D building at 305 DNA Way, with an expected opening in 2033. It’s also pursuing next steps on the Bayfront Public Park. 

“This year, in 2026, we’re excited to  continue design work on the Genentech Bayfront Public Park, which is part of our development agreement, so we’re continuing and hoping to move to construction in the next 12 months or so,” Hughen said. 

The plan also imposes commuting trip limits for single-occupancy vehicles, which in 2025 comprised about two-thirds of all trips. 

“We did have a slight increase in the quantity of drive-alone trips, however, that now includes motorcycles, taxi and rideshare trips, which was a change from 2024 to 2025 ,” Hughen said, adding that Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays see the heaviest on-site attendance, with roughly 4,000 employees on campus on a typical day.

Despite the uptick, the report noted that the company is still well under the 5,216 average morning peak trip limit, with just 1,718 averaged single-occupancy trips last year. The company also provides Genentech buses, which is used by 60% of commuters who don’t take single-occupancy trips.