CRB Project Honored as 2026 ISPE Facility of the Year Awards Winner
May 12, 2026
AstraZeneca Commercial Cell Therapy Manufacturing Facility
A CRB-delivered life sciences project has been named a 2026 International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) Category Winner for Social Impact – Unmet Medical Needs.
The award recognizes a commercial cell therapy manufacturing facility built to reliably deliver patient‑specific therapies for individuals with serious and life‑threatening conditions. In cell therapy manufacturing, each treatment is made for a single patient and cannot be stored or replaced, making consistent operation essential to patient outcomes.
AstraZeneca’s commercial cell therapy manufacturing facility in Rockville, Maryland was developed to produce autologous cell therapies without interruption. The facility was engineered for 100 percent operational uptime, reducing the risk of power or utility failure that could compromise a patient’s therapy once production has begun. In parallel, the fully electrified facility advances environmental performance through net‑zero operational carbon objectives and significant reductions in energy and water use, demonstrating that protecting patients and reducing environmental impact can be achieved together.
“Facilities like this one show what’s possible when engineering decisions are guided by patient impact from the very beginning,” said Vahid Ownjazayeri, CEO of CRB Group. “This recognition reflects the trust our client placed in our team and the close collaboration that made it possible to deliver a facility that protects patients, performs without interruption, and raises the standard for how complex life sciences projects are designed.”
CRB provided integrated services across architecture, engineering, and construction, supporting the project from early planning through execution. The team worked closely with the client to tailor solutions to the unique demands of commercial cell therapy manufacturing, balancing regulatory requirements, long-term flexibility, and operational resilience.
“Facilities like this one show what’s possible when engineering decisions are guided by patient impact from the very beginning.”