Lead Photo: Seagate Development Group converts former children’s play center into modern training room for EmCyte.
EmCyte chairman and CEO Patrick Pennie is considered a clinical leader in the autologous regenerative medicine community. That form of treatment reintroduces individual cells, tissues or organs into the body to restore wounded areas.
“I’m one of the originators,” he says, having developed one of the first autologous regenerative treatment protocols for chronic wound care in 1999.
This minimally invasive solution for conditions such as orthopedic pathologies and chronic non-healing wounds has taken off in the last few years, but there’s still a lot left to learn.
That’s why Pennie added a separate 11,314-square-foot training facility in front of EmCyte, the 30,000-square-foot Fort Myers-based headquarters where he and his team manufacture the devices for autologous platelet-rich plasma and progenitor stem cell biologics procedures.
“What we do is make the devices that actually do the heavy lifting in regenerative medicine,” Pennie says.
The building, known as the Gulf Coast Biologists Training Center, will be used to educate and train practitioners from all over the country and world on proper uses and applications of regenerative autologous biologics. It will also be used to teach the public about the process.
“I’ve always been dedicated to education since the very beginning of this type of therapy,” says Pennie, who has more than 30 years of experience in the medical industry.
Pennie called upon longtime development partner Seagate Development Group to transform the building—a former children’s play center—into an inspiring facility equipped for long days of learning.
“The showpiece and where we wanted to focus on most of the build-out was the training room,” says Seagate Development Group CEO Matt Price.
A wall of windows, a series of LED pendants and white walls illuminate the space, which can fit up to 100 people. Clean ceiling details and a geometric carpet design add to its understated modern flair. High-end technology also lends to its contemporary appeal. A stage platform commands in one corner, with a podium and a sleek, giant screen for visual presentations.
“The lighting control and technology is really state-of-the-art,” Price says.
A glass wall separates the space from four breakout rooms, intended for live demonstrations and cadaver procedures.
“We show physicians how to properly apply the treatment application in a knee, shoulder, muscle, tendon or wherever needed for the patients,” Pennie says.
The new building also received an exterior facelift to entice visitors. The entrance bears new signage and a refreshing pop of blue to match the company’s colors.
“It really looks like a main headquarters type of entrance,” Price says.
The training facility took seven months to complete, but EmCyte isn’t done growing just yet. With Seagate’s help, the company is expanding once again into a separate building just north of its headquarters. The new facility will be connected by a breezeway and serve as a 15,000-square- foot warehouse for more manufacturing space, which Pennie said will bring EmCyte’s manufacturing abilities from 150,000-200,000 kits per year to more than 300,000.
“There’s a growing international need for these particular products,” Pennie says, “and we have to continue to build and increase capabilities so that we can meet the demand out there.”
GULF COAST BIOLOGISTS TRAINING CENTER
4331 Veronica S. Shoemaker Blvd., Fort Myers | 239.481.7725 | emcyte.com
Architect: Southview Studio and Studio+ throughout headquarters and facility
Construction: Seagate Development Group
Square feet: 11,314
Project period: 7 months
