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The director of Johns Hopkins University's Montgomery County campus says the National Cancer Institute, which last week celebrated the groundbreaking of its satellite office complex on the university's Rockville site, is the first large-scale project to come to the so-called "Science City" since the Montgomery County Council unanimously approved the Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan in May.

It will lease space in office buildings built by JBG Companies of Chevy Chase.

"[National Cancer Institute] is a catalyst for bringing the people, resources and intelligence we gathered together so we can make discoveries," Elaine Amir said. "We're no longer working alone, we're collaborating."

The Great Seneca Science Corridor, formerly called Gaithersburg West, will cover 4,360 acres between Gaithersburg and Rockville west of Interstate 270. The bioscience hub will feature 17.5 million square feet of commercial and research space, as well as retail and housing.

The Science City, which wraps around Key West Avenue, Shady Grove Road and Great Seneca Highway, includes The Universities at Shady Grove, biotech businesses and what is now the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center.

As part of the plan, Hopkins intends to expand development to the 107-acre Belward Farm on Key West Avenue, which the university purchased in 1989 under an agreement that development be limited to agricultural, academic, medical care and research or related uses.

High heat and humidity did not stop hundreds of people, including Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) and U.S. Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), from celebrating the groundbreaking of the National Cancer Institute's satellite campus on Sept. 1, which the governor said shows the state is moving out of the recession.

Designed by international architectural firm HOK, the 575,000-square-foot National Cancer Institute Shady Grove, as it is called, will boast twin seven-story buildings, retail stores, a parking garage and a transit stop on the proposed north-south Corridor Cities Transitway route.

The project will cost JBG Companies $200 million. JBG declined to disclose how much National Cancer Institute will pay to lease the property, publicist Charlie Maier said.

Part of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, the Shady Grove campus will also have environmentally friendly features and seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

"This is part of the long-term plan to boost the biotech sector," Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) said.

Speaking at the ceremony along with O'Malley, Cardin and Leggett were U.S. Rep. Christopher Van Hollen (D-Dist. 8) and U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Dist. 4), Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen (D-At-large), National Cancer Institute Director Harold Varmus and Johns Hopkins University President Ronald J. Daniels.

"Montgomery County is the center of technology and advancement for our state," Edwards said.

Armed with red National Cancer Institute hard hats and gold-colored shovels, the speakers began digging to signify the start of construction.

Aside from the scientific and technological benefits, National Cancer Institute Shady Grove will generate an estimated 2,400 indirect jobs and give a boost to the area's emerging biotech industry, O'Malley said.

"It's about the three H's – hiring, healing and hope," O'Malley said. "This is a very important piece of evidence that Maryland is getting out of the recession."

The National Cancer Institute conducts cancer research, training and coordinates the National Cancer Program.

Approximately 2,100 National Cancer Institute employees are expected to relocate to the new campus following construction, which is estimated to be completed by early 2013.

Staff Writer Margie Hyslop contributed to this report.

nnourmohammadi@gazette.net and mhyslop@gazette.net