Merit Project name: New England Biolabs Garden Site Facility Expansion
Project overview: This client is a world leader in the development and production of enzymes for molecular biology applications. In addition to serving as a new production facility with expansion of development and quality control labs, the project contains a conferencing center, underground parking, diverse collaboration spaces, and multiple roof terraces.
In addition to the original research, development and manufacturing needs, the new 165,000-square-foot Garden Expansion building grew to include a variety of social amenities and breakout spaces and a campus-wide conference center. Working closely with the client, the team discovered there was a critical need to provide a home base for traveling visitors and touring guests on campus. The team was inspired by a striking feature of the owner’s existing main building: a building-long, two-story skylit atrium that simultaneously acted as a lobby, break out space, circulation, and art gallery all in one. Our goal was to emulate that spirit as users moved from this existing space into and throughout the new building.
The idea of touring through the research production and shipping functions of the building also extended back to the existing main lab building on the campus. The team was tasked with creating a purposeful connection from the new manufacturing facility back to the existing main campus weaving together old and new through points of social connection.
The client pursued an extremely high level of performance using triple glazing, high R-value envelope, passive solar shading, and stormwater management techniques including rain gardens which received large amounts of the roof drains and extensive planted roofs that took the forms of pollinator gardens, meadow plantings, and utilizable lawn surfaces. All together the green roofs help manage over 20,000 square feet of surface drainage that would otherwise be piped away from the site.
Project location: Ipswich, Massachusetts
Firm name: ARC/ Architectural Resources Cambridge
Architect of Record: ARC/ Architectural Resouces Cambridge, Inc.
Completion: 2023
Client: New England Biolabs
Jury comments: The Garden Site Facility Expansion is a well-considered project with clear intentions around sustainability and community engagement. The design integrates a large-scale laboratory facility while respecting the historic estate context, successfully blending nature with built form. The project focuses on creating flexible spaces for various uses while considering the long-term environmental impact. This is, undoubtedly, an inspiring workplace. The building has a clear expression of the program and beautiful materials and does not look like all the other university buildings.
Images/Photographer(s): Robert Benson Photography Project or Construction Manager: Columbia Construction Planning: BushWang Civil Engineer: Hancock Specifications: McHugh Structural: McNamara Salvia Mechanical: BR+A Electrical: BR+A Plumbing: BR+A Acoustics: Cavanaugh & Tocci Interiors: ARC/ Architectural Resources Cambridge, Inc. Landscaping: Richard Burck Associates Lighting: LAM Partners Exterior Consultant: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
