Buchanan Capital Joins Crow Holdings in $14B-Area Industrial Venture

Buchanan Capital Partners (BCP), an Austin-based commercial real estate investment firm, has formed a new joint venture with the industrial team at Crow Holdings Development. The partnership will develop a 422,568 square foot industrial property known as Rock Creek Center in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. This marks BCP's first investment in the state and underscores its strategic expansion in the industrial real estate sector according to the announcement.

The Rock Creek Center, located near Greensboro and along I-85, is strategically positioned to benefit from the area's economic growth. Proximity to a $14 billion Toyota battery manufacturing campus and an $860 million Food Lion distribution center highlights the site's potential for long-term value. The development will include two buildings and will be managed by Crow Holdings Development's industrial team according to the announcement.

BCP emphasized that the joint venture aligns with its focus on partnering with top-tier development teams and targeting high-growth regions. The firm's zero-fee structure and performance-based model differentiate it in the commercial real estate space, and the North Carolina project reflects its commitment to risk-adjusted returns and investor trust according to the firm.

Strategic Expansion in Industrial Real Estate

Rock Creek Center is part of a well-established mixed-use park that already hosts major tenants like Amazon, FedEx, and Duke Energy. This ecosystem strengthens the development's potential by ensuring stable demand for industrial space. The location also benefits from favorable supply and demand dynamics, making it an attractive investment according to market analysis.

BCP has previously pursued a strategy of direct acquisitions and joint ventures in high-demand real estate markets. Its founder, Keith Buchanan, noted that the project represents a step toward expanding its industrial presence across growing regions. The firm's approach combines strategic location selection with low-cost basis and downside risk mitigation according to company statements.

The involvement of Crow Holdings Development, a well-known real estate developer, reinforces the credibility of the joint venture. The industrial team at Crow Holdings has extensive experience in high-opportunity markets and has developed over 77 million square feet of industrial space since 2013 according to company records.

Biotech and AI-Driven Drug Discovery on the Rise

While BCP continues to expand its real estate portfolio, the biotech industry is also witnessing major developments. Novartis has entered into a $1.7 billion collaboration with UK-based Relation Therapeutics to accelerate the discovery of drug targets for allergic diseases. The partnership leverages Novartis's immuno-dermatology expertise with Relation's AI-powered drug discovery platform.

Relation will receive an initial $55 million in upfront payments and R&D funding, with milestone payments and royalties tied to the success of any resulting therapies. The collaboration highlights the growing importance of AI in drug development and the pharmaceutical industry's ongoing pursuit of innovative therapies according to industry reports.

The deal is part of a larger trend of big pharma partnering with smaller biotechs to access cutting-edge technologies. Novartis has also acquired Avidity Biosciences for $12 billion and Tourmaline Bio for $1.4 billion this year. These moves reflect a strategic shift toward innovation and diversification.

In the oncology space, NanOlogy, a clinical-stage company, has announced its drug development program targeting diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare and deadly pediatric brainstem tumor. The company is developing Large Surface Area Microparticle Cisplatin for stereotactic intratumoral administration according to company announcement. Clinical trials are expected to begin in late 2026.

The energy sector is also seeing significant growth in cloud security. A new report by ResearchAndMarkets.com indicates that the cloud security market in the energy sector is expected to grow from $1.50 billion in 2025 to $2.41 billion by 2030. The increasing reliance on digital infrastructure and the need for secure data management are driving this trend.

As companies across various industries continue to innovate and expand, the convergence of technology, real estate, and biotech is reshaping investment and development landscapes. Investors and analysts are closely watching these trends for potential long-term opportunities and risks.