Merck Breaks Ground on New Vaccine Manufacturing Facility
Merck's expansion plans have received another approval from Upper Gwynedd officials. The new 'Building 71' will be a two-story vaccine manufacturing facility with a footprint of approximately 41,000 square feet, located on the southwest corner of the company's West Point campus.
The building will replace existing manufacturing in a facility slated for demolition and is designed to house production of measles and mumps vaccines. Merck spokesman Greg Landis explained that the new facility will be 'tightly packed' to ensure efficient operations.
Landis assured the board that all comments raised during the review process have been addressed, including those from township and county officials. The landscaping plan for the building includes adding six new trees and 36 shrubs around the new structure, as well as a rain garden to address stormwater runoff concerns.
The project has secured waivers for utility connections and dimensional criteria, similar to those granted for other Merck projects in the area.