Microelectronics Facility to Break Ground in Lowell This Fall

The $1.49 million deal will bring Draper Laboratory's IMPACT Center to the city's Hamilton Canal Innovation District.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:39am

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The city of Lowell has executed a land disposition agreement with Wexford Development LLC to build a 75,000-square-foot microelectronic facility for Draper Laboratory, a nonprofit research and development company that will produce advanced microelectronic design, production, and packaging for its U.S. military, aerospace, and government customers. The IMPACT Center is part of the broader Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINC) development project, which aims to transform the city through public-private partnerships and the creation of high-skilled jobs.

Why it matters

The IMPACT Center represents a significant step forward in Lowell's efforts to revive its high-tech economy and attract innovative companies to the city, decades after the decline of Wang Laboratories. The project is part of a broader $800 million LINC development plan that leverages the resources and history of Lowell with the job creation capabilities of industry to create a vibrant urban village and economic engine for the city.

The details

The $1.49 million deal for Parcel 15 in the Hamilton Canal Innovation District will be home to the Draper IMPACT Center, which stands for integrated microelectronics production and advanced chip technology. The 75,000-square-foot research and development facility will produce advanced microelectronic design, production, and packaging for Draper Laboratory's U.S. military, aerospace, and government customers. Wexford Development LLC, the developer and owner of the HCID property, plans to break ground on the two-story rectangular facility this fall, with substantial construction completed by mid-2028 and the building occupied by late 2028.

  • The City Council voted to move forward on the agreement with Wexford Development LLC during its Tuesday night meeting at City Hall.
  • In March 2024, Gov. Maura Healey joined state and local leaders to announce that Draper would serve as an anchor tenant in LINC.
  • Draper temporarily moved a microelectronics division of about 50 people into university-owned space in Wannalancit Mills last fall.

The players

Wexford Development LLC

The developer and owner of the Hamilton Canal Innovation District property where the IMPACT Center will be built.

Draper Laboratory

A nonprofit research and development company that will operate the IMPACT Center, producing advanced microelectronic design, production, and packaging for its U.S. military, aerospace, and government customers. Draper is the same company that operated the computer guidance system that helped land Apollo 11 on the moon.

Tom Golden

The Lowell City Manager who executed the land disposition agreement with Wexford Development LLC.

Mike Dembert

The vice president of development with Wexford Science and Technology, the developer and owner of the HCID property.

John Descoteaux

A Lowell city councilor who said projects like the IMPACT Center in the LINC plan will transform the Mill City.

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What they’re saying

“Today is a very exciting day. It's an opportunity for the city of Lowell.”

— Tom Golden, Lowell City Manager

“This building and Draper's partnership really represents a major step forward in the LINC initiative and everything that LINC is trying to do in Lowell. We're proud to be bringing a piece of this LINC vision to life.”

— Mike Dembert, Vice President of Development, Wexford Science and Technology

“I don't think that anyone will recognize Lowell in five to six more years. It's outstanding.”

— John Descoteaux, Lowell City Councilor

What’s next

Wexford plans to break ground on the two-story rectangular facility this fall. By mid-2028, substantial construction would be completed, with 'people in the seats' by late 2028.

The takeaway

The IMPACT Center represents a significant investment in Lowell's high-tech future, building on the city's history of innovation and leveraging public-private partnerships to create high-skilled jobs and transform the local economy. The project is a key part of the broader LINC development plan that aims to revitalize Lowell and position it as a hub for cutting-edge technology and research.