Project team delivers new collaborative office and laboratory space in Marlborough, Mass.
BOSTON – Jan. 5, 2016 – Margulies Perruzzi Architects (MPA), J. Calnan & Associates, Inc. and Cresa announced today that the firms jointly provided design, construction, and transaction and project management services for the U.S. headquarters of the Health & Home segment of Helen of Troy, a global leader in branded healthcare devices and home comfort products. MPA provided interior architecture and corporate design services, J. Calnan & Associates, Inc. provided pre-construction and construction management services, and Cresa provided transaction management and project management services for the 65,000 SF interior fit-up of office and research and development laboratory space at 400 Donald Lynch Blvd. in Marlborough, Mass. The project was completed in October 2015.
Helen of Troy’s Health & Home segment is a state-of-the art, dynamically managed, leader in healthcare devices and home comfort products. The company manages a brand portfolio that includes PUR, Vicks, Honeywell, Braun, and more. The Helen of Troy Health & Home U.S. headquarters provides space for offices and workstations, a customer service call center, a conference center, showroom space, and research and development laboratories.
Having outgrown its previous space in Southborough, Mass., Helen of Troy’s Health & Home segment sought a more efficient and organized office and lab environment that would foster a greater sense of community and collaboration for its new headquarters. Health & Home’s new U.S. headquarters features an open and efficient floor plan with low-height workstations and glass-front offices that surround a core of support service spaces and collaboration areas. MPA’s design takes advantage of the building’s extensive window line to extend natural light deep into the space.
At the heart of the space, a large reception and gathering area serves as the hub of the office for employees and visitors alike. The branded reception and lounge area, with a folding glass wall to the elevators for off-hours security, welcomes visitors to the office. The reception lounge features two conference rooms that double as showrooms with product shelving and glass display cases. On the other side of reception, a café gathering space provides vending and PUR water filtration machines along with a variety of casual seating options, including tables, soft seating, and booth seating along the window line. This central gathering space features an exposed deck ceiling and polished concrete floors, and can accommodate many people for socializing or casual collaboration.
Adjacent to the reception and gathering area, MPA designed research and development and product testing laboratory space with 11 labs set up for testing product, including an acoustical testing chamber. A corridor runs in a loop through the glass-front lab area, providing a convenient visitor tour that concludes into both the gathering area and conference center. The center features three large conference rooms with movable walls that open to accommodate 200 employees for a company meeting.
“From the start of our working relationship, Helen of Troy appreciated the interactive design process, diligent project management, and tight collaboration that MPA, J. Calnan, and Cresa brought to this project,” said Jon Kosheff, President – Helen of Troy Health & Home. “The design of our new headquarters provides opportunities for interaction and collaboration in a more efficient and welcoming space for our employees and customers, and creates a vibrant workplace environment that helps to attract and retain talent. We are delighted to call this space our new home.”
Cresa’s brokerage team included John Coakley, Adam Subber and David Ross, who managed an extensive process that began in an integrated approach with Cresa project management to establish Helen of Troy’s requirements. Helen of Troy was coming off a 20-year lease and, according to Coakley, this relocation was a great opportunity for them to create a new work environment for their employees. Cresa was able to secure Helen of Troy an attractive long-term lease which included having the landlord add a new fitness center and food service to the building. Cresa’s Amy Braun and Barry Dube provided project management services, which included the planning and implementation of a collaborative and vibrant work environment to help attract and recruit talent.
The Helen of Troy project team included R.W. Sullivan for mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection engineering, Odeh Engineers for structural engineering, and Acentech for acoustics consulting. Creative Office Pavilion provided the furniture for the project.
Owned by the Nordblom Company, 400 Donald Lynch Blvd. is a Class A office building in the Solomon Pond Office Park. The building offers a fitness center and “grab and go” kiosk in the lobby, as well as use of a cafeteria in a nearby building.
About Margulies Perruzzi Architects
Consistently ranked as one of Boston’s top architectural and interior design firms, Margulies Perruzzi Architects creates buildings and interiors for clients who value the quality of their workplace. The firm services the corporate, professional services, healthcare, science/technology, and real estate communities with a focus on sustainable design. MPA has designed high performance workspace for Iron Mountain, Zipcar, Boston Scientific, Philips, Cimpress/Vistaprint, Forrester Research, Hobbs Brook Management, and Reliant Medical Group. For more information, please visit http://www.mp-architects.com.
About J. Calnan & Associates, Inc.
J. Calnan & Associates is a leader in providing construction management and preconstruction services in the Academic, Corporate, Healthcare and Science & Technology markets in the New England region and beyond. For over 19 years, our strategic thinking, proactive approach and commitment to clients and the communities in which we live has made us a leader in the industry and attracted high-profile clients including Boston Properties, Biogen IDEC, Atlantic Management, Children’s Hospital, PTC Inc, Adidas, Shire Pharmaceuticals, The Park School, New England Sports Network (NESN), Philips, Constant Contact, The MathWorks and General Electric to name a few. Among recent awards, JC&A has received a Boston Business Journal Citizenship award for its philanthropic efforts nine years in a row and CoreNet Global New England Chapter has recognized JC&A as “Regional Service Provider of the Year” two times. More information can be found at www.jcalnan.com.
About Cresa
Cresa, based in Boston, is the world’s largest corporate real estate advisory firm that exclusively represents tenants and occupiers, serving more than 60 markets in North America as well as more than 75 markets worldwide. Cresa specializes in the delivery of conflict-free, integrated real estate services, including: Transaction Management, Project Management, Strategic Planning, Corporate Solutions, Site Selection, Lease Administration, Capital Markets, Mission-Critical Solutions, Relocation Management, and Facilities Management. For more information, visit www.cresa.com.
About Helen of Troy
Helen of Troy Limited is a leading global consumer products company offering creative solutions for its customers through a strong portfolio of well-recognized and widely-trusted brands, including: Housewares: OXO®, Good Grips®, Soft Works®, OXO tot® and OXO Steel®; Healthcare/Home Environment: Vicks®, Braun®, Honeywell®, PUR®, Febreze®, Stinger®, Duracraft® and SoftHeat®; and Beauty: Revlon®, Vidal Sassoon®, Dr. Scholl’s®, Pro Beauty Tools®, Sure®, Pert®, Infusium23®, Brut®, Ammens®, Hot Tools®, Bed Head®, Karina®, Ogilvie® and Gold ‘N Hot®. The Nutritional Supplements segment was formed with the acquisition of Healthy Directions, a U.S. market leader in premium doctor-branded vitamins, minerals and supplements, as well as other health products sold directly to consumers. The Honeywell® trademark is used under license from Honeywell International Inc. The Vicks®, Braun®, Febreze® and Vidal Sassoon® trademarks are used under license from The Procter & Gamble Company. The Revlon® trademark is used under license from Revlon Consumer Products Corporation. The Bed Head® trademark is used under license from Unilever PLC. The Dr. Scholl’s® trademark is used under license from MSD Consumer Care, Inc.
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