Experienced strategic workplace designer joins workplace and science studios
BOSTON – April 30, 2024 – Margulies Perruzzi (MP), one of New England’s most highly regarded architectural and interior design firms, is proud to welcome Marilyn Shen, NCIDQ, LEED GA as Principal. Marilyn will work closely with the firm’s partners to provide design leadership and project management in the workplace and science studios. Marilyn will also be responsible for establishing strong relationships with clients and industry partners, as well as managing, mentoring, and training staff.
Marilyn brings over 20 years of experience building workplace environments that cultivate company culture and support staff connections. Her goal as a designer has been to align or re-align workplaces to fully embrace culture, diversity, inclusion, social responsibility, and the overall well-being of people. Her work has supported thousands of employees’ active contributions by facilitating their transitions to large-scale, flexible work environments, including activity-based neighborhood choice and agile mobile work. She has led and delivered workplace strategy and planning, project management, pre-and post-design solutions, culture facilitation, communications, and change management services for organizations looking to transform or define their workplace approach, office design, company culture and brand, and overall employee experience.
“Marilyn brings a depth of experience with workplace, science, and technology projects. She is client-focused, team-oriented, and delivers culture-centric design solutions for her projects, aligning with the values of Margulies Perruzzi,” said Daniel Perruzzi, AIA, LEED AP, principal and senior partner at Margulies Perruzzi. “Marilyn’s leadership and vision will enable us to be even more innovative in designing custom spaces for our clients.”
For the past 20 years, Marilyn served in increasingly strategic roles. Most recently, she was the Managing Principal at TRIA where she provided oversight of all the firm’s organizational and operational activities. Prior to that, she was Principal and Workplace Strategy Lead at Visnick & Caulfield Associates where she focused on organizational culture, change management, and workplace strategy. Marilyn’s experience also includes over 10 years serving as a board member for the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation. Recently, Marilyn founded Kodo, Inc., a consultancy that focuses on education and advancement of inclusive and equitable design.
Marilyn received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Organizational Psychology with a minor in Art from Wellesley College and a Master of Arts in Interior Architecture from the New England School of Art and Design (NESAD) at Suffolk University. She is a Certified Professional Culture Facilitator, NCIDQ certified, a LEED Green Associate, and in the process of becoming a certified Fitwel Ambassador.
BOSTON – April 4, 2024 – Margulies Perruzzi (MP), one of New England’s most innovative architectural and interior design firms, announced today that it has completed renovations to create an Innovation & Conference Center for Boston Scientific Corporation, a global medical technology leader. The centralized training center creates a 20,000 SF area featuring state-of-the-art technology and interactive learning spaces to enable doctors and company employees to receive hands-on training and education about the company’s innovative devices.
The innovation center is designed to enhance the learning experience and create a stimulating atmosphere conducive to creativity and knowledge exchange. Margulies Perruzzi converted existing office space into a multi-purpose training and conference center, including procedure rooms for simulated surgeries, large conference rooms with movable walls, an auditorium / theater with a screen, and amenity spaces. In addition to lead-lined walls to shield occupants from lasers, the procedure rooms have high-end audio visual (AV) equipment and cameras on pivot beams in each room so mock procedures can be filmed and broadcast for educational purposes.
The interior design features the company’s branding. Margulies Perruzzi worked closely with a flooring vendor for a custom design of the carpet tile featuring strong blue and gray hues. Lighting was a key component in the design of the Innovation & Conference Center. The fixtures selected for certain spaces are low-profile that allowed the light fixture to be installed close to the ceiling, providing more clear height in the rooms. This allowed Margulies Perruzzi to design unique layouts and designs to support the use of each space.
Margulies Perruzzi has worked with Boston Scientific on multiple projects over the past 10 years, including space at the company’s Marlborough headquarters, and modernized logistics and distribution functions at the company’s global customer fulfillment center in Quincy, MA.
What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months?
Last year, I had an opportunity to work on a once-in-a-lifetime project as a healthcare planner for a hospital of the future. I loved working for a client with tremendous aspirations for change and improvement, and I was thrilled to work with a very talented team of international partners.
But I have recently joined Margulies Perruzzi and am honestly looking forward to my greatest achievement in the coming year: helping to continue to build our healthcare practice within an acclaimed Boston firm. I know that we can make a positive impact on the local professional market.
What has been the driving force behind your success in the AEC industry?
I credit two major drivers to my success. First, I am passionate about working with clients who are making history, saving lives, and dedicated to patient well-being. It is an honor to work with clients who embrace improving the clinical experience. Second, my work brings me in contact with so many wonderful partners, including engineers and consultants, for whom I have enormous respect. Healthcare architecture is particularly challenging to respond to the wide range of goals, including, best clinical practices, technical and IT integration, building codes, sustainability, and accessibility, and it takes a great team to create a great building.
What is your favorite / most beneficial part of Women in Construction week?
I love hearing colleagues’ stories about their paths to success. There are so many women in so many different fields that our network is growing exponentially. Architecture seemed to accept women earlier but engineering and construction is catching up and you never know who you will meet.
What are your goals for the future?
I would like to become more involved at a local level with projects that contribute to healthier communities. Health does not come from hospitals alone, we need to build up our entire network of healthcare support services, education and housing to grow strong communities. There is something special about projects in your own back yard that you know will interject a moment of beauty and hope.
What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months?
My most notable project was converting a sports club into a cGMP facility for a life sciences company. I worked as a process architect on the master planning for 75,000 SF of manufacturing space with a very complex program including clean rooms and cold storage. The project team jokingly called it the “Rubik’s cube” project. I had to be very flexible to work around issues that arose during design and construction. It’s a cliché, but we had to think outside the box in order to meet the client’s important program needs.
What has been the driving force behind your success in the AEC industry?
I listen more than I speak. That way, I can provide a thoughtful response. I teach this value of listening to my children. Every day, I share with them what’s happening on my projects and that sometimes I have to explain the reasons behind my design decisions to the project team or client. I always listen first and accept all the feedback, but I am not afraid to provide reasons for why I designed the program the way I did. I remind myself that I am a talented architect who brings value to the project.
As Director of Lab Programming at Margulies Perruzzi, one of New England’s most innovative architectural and interior design firms, Jane Kepros, LEED GA, is responsible for programming and planning laboratories, specialty suites, manufacturing facilities, and support spaces for a variety of scientific and industrial clients.
After graduating from Boston University with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Jane spent eight years working as a biomedical engineer, molecular and cell biologist, and project coordinator at Synta Pharmaceuticals. After studying architecture at the Boston Architectural College (BAC), Jane transitioned to a new career as a lab planner. For over twelve years she has worked for a variety of design firms leading lab programming and planning efforts for dozens of clients.
Jane’s advice to women starting in science today would be to be open to new opportunities. There are a growing number of niche roles that are fulfilling unmet needs in the industry. Positions that did not exist 10-15 years ago. One should be creative with their career path and not be afraid to define their own role. Examine your work and team efforts and look for how you can improve efficiency, communication, or processes. Follow your passions and allow them to change. Find a mentor and be your own champion. Never let someone else’s dream overshadow your own dream for yourself.
In her spare time, Jane is involved with the Massachusetts Biotechnology Softball League (MSBL), ISPE Boston’s Women in Pharma, and Big Sister Association of Greater Boston.
Whether you are a developer looking to build a new building, a landlord interested in converting an existing building, or a company looking for a new home, there are specific and important considerations for the layout and construction of a laboratory building. These key considerations are construction type, building infrastructure, lab utilities, and amenities.
Construction Type
First, consider the type of construction. How the building is designed and constructed is an important factor to support laboratory needs. Sufficient fire resistance construction ratings are required for hazardous material use and storage, control area or lab suite segregation, and improved fireproofing.
Anti-vibration methods to isolate sensitive equipment is another common requirement. Many items in a lab require low or no vibration, including imaging instruments, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, lasers, and animal care facilities. The construction of the building must be robust to prevent or reduce vibration transferring throughout the building from various sources such as equipment with moving parts, elevators, mechanical equipment, nearby trains, and even people walking.
It is also important that the floor-to-floor height is sufficient to accommodate HVAC, plumbing, utilities/access and taller equipment, and that the floor loads can support heavy equipment.
Building Infrastructure
Elements in the building’s infrastructure are important for supporting the needs of a lab. Dedicated passenger and freight elevators allow for separation of materials, waste, and personnel are critical. Doors should be wide enough to move equipment, casework, skids, and waste; 3’-6” width by 8’-0” height is typical. A loading dock is essential for incoming/outgoing materials along with an adequate driveway for delivery of equipment, supplies, and compressed gases and liquids. Waste management areas are required for temporary staging/storage and collection areas for biohazard, chemical, recycling, and general waste.
In addition, labs require an increased need for air handling due to increased ventilation requirements which may include dedicated rooftop units or redundancy for specific functions or spaces. Any confidential science performed may require additional security for legal or safety reasons. Finally, adequate storage is needed for busy labs and environmentally stable areas may be required.
Lab Utilities
You also must consider: What type of utilities are being provided for the lab? Will these utilities be provided by the landlord and metered for tenants, or tenant-owned? Lab utilities are an essential consideration for building tenants. Landlords will need to consider what is pre-wired or pre-plumbed, where the “house” systems live, where the “tenant” systems live and how to access these for maintenance or replacement. A well drafted landlord-tenant matrix is essential for a tenant and landlord to understand their utility responsibilities.
A house purified water system may be preferred, or a tenant may provide a local unit that requires pre-filtering. There may be an increased demand for hot water supply to maintain a tempered water loop for eyewashes and emergency showers, which may trigger a boiler upgrade. An air compressor and vacuum pump are frequently needed and plumbed to the open bench areas. Various compressed gases may be required and these could be supplied as smaller cylinders, larger dewars, micro or mini bulk systems, or from a gas generator.
Thoughtful consideration of potential needs should go into planning the building or site to accommodate these gases, including truck access for refills or transport of full or empty containers.
Any potential sinks where hazardous materials may be disposed down the drain should be plumbed to a pH neutralization system. If this is centralized, it should be monitored on a tenant-by-tenant basis. Additional tenant utilities may include generator back up power for critical equipment, uninterrupted power supply for equipment that requires constant power, and networking needs for equipment that require specialty services like dedicated servers.
Amenities
Science and technology companies are often competing to attract and retain talent in hub markets, including the Greater Boston area. One way of doing this is by being thoughtful about amenities when moving to a new space. These offerings should be included in the building or available in the immediate surrounding neighborhood. Amenities may include: eateries and restaurants, vehicle and bike parking, a fitness center and showers, outdoor space, artwork, meeting and conference space, daycare, and public transit access.
Buildings must meet certain requirements to support laboratory space. The specifics will depend on the tenant, or desired tenant, and their science, processes and equipment. When starting a new project, make sure to evaluate the construction type, building infrastructure, lab utilities and potential or nearby amenities, as these are all important factors that should be taken into consideration in the design and layout of the building.
This article was featured in Banker & Tradesman.
Partnership with the Salesian Boys and Girls Club of East Boston results in new home for non-profit offering programs for local youth in grades K-12
BOSTON – September 12, 2023 – Margulies Perruzzi (MP), one of New England’s most innovative architectural and interior design firms, announced today that it has completed the first of two phases of work at 150 Byron Street in East Boston for Boston Scores. Margulies Perruzzi provided design services for renovations to an existing 39,320 SF building to create a space to be shared by Boston Scores and the Salesian Boys and Girls Club of East Boston. The second phase will include a new 2,025 SF building along with several state-of-the-art soccer fields, playground, and an outdoor classroom. A ribbon cutting for Phase 1 was held on July 30, 2023, and the full project will be completed in the spring of 2024.
Boston Scores is a non-profit who partners with Boston Public Schools to provide urban youth in grades K-12 with after-school soccer and enrichment programs. Helping urban youth build essential life skills and character through soccer and team-based enrichment programs, Boston Scores plans to augment its traditional programs with new community-based programs that will serve more youth and enhance coach training. The new headquarters will allow it to more than double the number of youth served while enhancing the quality of the services offered.
“We are thrilled to announce the transformative renovations to our headquarters, a pivotal step forward for our non-profit dedicated to empowering K-12 youth. These renovations, expertly led by Margulies Perruzzi, exemplify our commitment to creating an inspiring and innovative space where young people can flourish,” said John Maconga, executive director of Boston Scores. “The redesigned headquarters will not only serve as a hub for our impactful programs but also stand as a symbol of our unwavering dedication to nurturing the potential of the next generation.”
Margulies Perruzzi carved out 2,850 SF for Boston Scores on the third floor of the three-story building which features a shared open office and six private offices for staff plus a dedicated area for youth programs and coach training in a large conference room. Margulies Perruzzi added a bathroom and kitchenette within the office suite and an elevator to provide inclusive access to all three floors in the building. Large interior windows were installed overlooking the existing gym. The Salesian Boys and Girls Club will continue to occupy the first two floors and a portion of the third floor.
“For several years, Margulies Perruzzi has been involved with Boston Scores as a participant in their annual Scores Cup soccer tournament at Gillette Stadium. It allows companies like ours to extend our team building outside the office while also supporting a great cause,” said Dan Perruzzi, AIA, LEED AP, principal and senior partner at Margulies Perruzzi.
Site work included renovating the existing parking lot with 40 spaces, updating site stormwater capacity, and installing a newly constructed soccer mini-pitch. Protected play spaces ideal for pick-up games, skills development, and informal play, the East Boston mini-pitch will include lighting to allow for play to continue into the evening.
The mini-pitch renovations were funded through gifts and donations from the family of Mark and Sarah Williamson, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the Major League Soccer Players Foundation, and Musco Lighting. The mini-pitch is the first program space created through the Boston Scores $15 million investment in the Salesian Heights project.
The next phase of the project includes the construction of a new 3.1-acre multi-field soccer complex, playground, community garden, outdoor classroom, shaded sitting areas, field house, renovated classrooms, meeting spaces, and parking.
The project team included:
Architect/Interior Designer: Margulies Perruzzi
Construction: Argus Construction, Masse Construction
Civil Engineer: Nitsch Engineering
Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) Engineer: Wozny Barbar
Structural Engineer: H+O Structural Engineers
Landscape Architect: Warner Larson
About Margulies Perruzzi
As one of New England’s top architectural and interior design firms, Margulies Perruzzi (MP) designs Workplace, Health, Science, and Real Estate projects that inspire and nurture human endeavor. More information may be found at mparchitectsboston.com.
About Boston Scores
Boston Scores is one of the largest after school providers in Boston, providing free programs focused on soccer, poetry and service learning to over 1,500 students each year. Through our holistic program model, Boston Scores supports youth in building essential life skills that help to build strong individuals and strong communities. For more information, please visit www.bostonscores.org.
BOSTON – June 13, 2023 – Margulies Perruzzi (MP), one of New England’s most innovative architectural and interior design firms, is proud to welcome Jane Kepros, LEED GA as Director of Lab Programming. Reporting to Dan Perruzzi, AIA, LEED AP, principal and senior partner, Jane will be responsible for programming and planning laboratories, specialty suites, manufacturing facilities, and support spaces for projects, establishing strong relationships with clients and industry partners, and managing, mentoring, and training staff.
After graduating from Boston University with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Jane spent eight years working as a biomedical engineer, molecular and cell biologist, and project coordinator at Synta Pharmaceuticals. After initially studying architecture at the Boston Architectural College (BAC), Jane transitioned to a new career as a lab planner. For the past twelve years she has worked for a variety of design firms in the role of Lab Planner, Director of Programming and Planning, and, most recently, Associate Director of Lab Planning. Since 2011 she has been involved with 130+ projects with 70+ clients, including Biogen, Blueprint Medicines, and Takeda.
“Jane’s insider knowledge of labs and how they operate gives her the ability to develop detailed and innovative lab design plans. Drawing upon her strong scientific and technical background, Jane can talk the same language as our clients and help them navigate challenging laboratory design and construction projects,’ said Dan. “Like MP, she strives to stay current with new scientific equipment and lab design trends to provide fresh and innovative design plans to meet the needs of our clients.”
Her work was twice honored with an ISPE Facility of the Year Award (FOYA). ElevateBio’s BaseCamp won for Operational Excellence in 2021, and Moderna’s cGMP Manufacturing Facility won Facility of the Future in 2019. Her team won a design award for the Best Research Lab from IIDA New England for the Blueprint Medicines HQ Relocation in 2018. Jane was recognized in 2016 as one of Building Design + Construction’s 40 Under 40.
Jane has been invited to speak at multiple industry conferences and events. Her recent speaking engagements include “Lab Design Optimization Using LCA and Energy Modeling” with Mitra Sajjadi at the 2020 I2SL Annual Conference and as a panelist for “Learn the Lab Design and Building Essentials for New and Renovated Labs: A Case Study” for the Boston Chapter of Women in Bio in 2017.
In her spare time, Jane is involved with the Massachusetts Biotechnology Softball League (MSBL), ISPE Boston’s Women in Pharma, and Big Sister Association of Greater Boston.
Investment management firm sought new workspace at One Beacon Street
BOSTON – April 5, 2023 – Margulies Perruzzi (MP), one of New England’s most innovative architectural and interior design firms, announced today that it has completed the renovation of 31,000 SF at One Beacon Street for Boston Trust Walden, an independent, employee-owned firm providing investment management services to institutional investors and private wealth clients. The firm has approximately $14 billion in assets under management and is known for its compelling investment philosophy, excellent track record, and decades-long leadership in ESG impact investing. The renovation project transformed the 34th floor at One Beacon Street into a light-filled space with stunning 360-degree views of Boston.
“We decided to move when we realized our office space would no longer accommodate our growth,” said Sarah Kelly, COO and general counsel at Boston Trust Walden. “We took the opportunity to reevaluate how we use space for working and found a partner in Margulies Peruzzi. Their talented team listened to our goals and designed a beautiful, modern space that achieved these and much more. The space is transparent and welcoming and encourages people to move around and interact with one another — something we were missing before. We are thrilled with the results.”
Boston Trust Walden prioritized smaller, uniform offices, direct access to daylight for workstations, and a focus on socialization and collaboration. To achieve these goals, Margulies Perruzzi designed perimeter offices with full glass fronts to bring light into the interior of the space and created alcoves at the perimeter for workstations with access to natural light. A lot of thought was put into creating an employee hub to serve as the core collaboration area. Featuring a coffee bar, pantry, and a variety of seating options including booths, high top tables, and traditional café seating, the employee hub encourages spontaneous collaboration and can also be used as informal meeting space. A client area is located adjacent to the reception area and employee hub and boasts four conference rooms of various sizes.
A unique feature of the Boston Trust Walden office is the trading area. Located in the interior of the space with direct access to an adjoining social area, it was designed to have a direct sight line to the stunning view. Margulies Perruzzi leveraged space at the heart of the interior of the office for ADA-compliant restrooms, locker space, and a multi-purpose wellness room.
Margulies Perruzzi selected earthy natural tones mixed with brighter colors to complement the natural wood floors, creating a welcoming and comfortable environment for employees and visitors. The design team took care to select materials for the space that not only visually embodied Boston Trust Walden, but also aligned with the firm’s focus on social and environmental responsibility, ensuring products used met this high standard.
The project team for this project included:
Architect / Interior Designer: Margulies Perruzzi
GC: Corderman & Company
MEP/FP: WB Engineers
Furniture: Officeworks
Lighting: Boston Light Source
OPM: Newmark
New linear accelerator installed to allow team to treat more complex cases with a higher level of precision and efficiency
BOSTON – March 21, 2023 – Margulies Perruzzi (MP), one of New England’s most innovative architectural and interior design firms, announced today that it has completed renovations for the radiation oncology department at Beth Israel Lahey Health’s Winchester Hospital. Located at 620 Washington Street in Winchester, Mass., the radiation oncology department is part of the hospital’s Center for Cancer Care. This is the twenty-eighth project Margulies Perruzzi has designed for Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH) and the eighth at Winchester Hospital. Other projects at Winchester Hospital include the Microbiology Lab, a CT replacement, and a Bone Density Clinic at Unicorn Park.
Winchester Hospital is a 229-bed facility and leading provider of comprehensive health care services in northwest suburban Boston offering a broad range of surgical specialties, including general, bariatric, urologist, thoracic, otolaryngology (ENT), vascular, and orthopedic surgery. Winchester Hospital is a part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,800 physicians and 36,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.
The radiation oncology renovation project was driven by Winchester Hospital’s need to install a new linear accelerator. It will allow the clinical team to treat more complex cases with a higher level of precision and efficiency. The vault reconstruction also provided an opportunity to upgrade support spaces and refresh the aesthetics throughout the department.
“Linear accelerator installations have always been a favorite project type of mine,” said John Fowler, AIA, EDAC, LEED AP, associate principal and partner at Margulies Perruzzi. “They require a high degree of technical proficiency, but they also create opportunities to improve the patient experience and contribute in even a small way to the incredible care that the radiation oncology teams provide to their patients.”
The project team strategically planned the construction and equipment installations for the shortest construction duration possible to minimize the diversion of patients to other BILH cancer centers during the renovations. Over the course of four months, the existing linear accelerator was removed, the vault, control room and CT sim room were renovated inclusive of new shielding and below slab conduit runs, the new equipment was installed, tested and the department was back open for patient care. Cosmetic upgrades and custom millwork were designed to fit the accessories and equipment associated with radiation treatment.
“BILH asked us to create spaces that were bright, serene and complimentary to the equipment being installed while adding whimsical touches of design and a customizable patient ambience with color changing LED lighting and music that can be selected by the patients for their treatment sessions,” said Julia Donahue, IIDA, NCIDQ, WELL AP, interior designer at Margulies Perruzzi.
The project team included:
Architecture and Interior Design: Margulies Perruzzi
Margulies is an award-winning architect, community leader, real estate industry mentor, and philanthropist who has made a difference in the communities where he lives and works. After serving as Fidelity Investments’ manager of real estate design, Margulies founded Margulies & Associates in 1988. Now known as Margulies Perruzzi (MP), Margulies has grown the firm to one of New England’s top architectural and interior design firms, focusing on workplace, health, science & technology, and real estate development projects. Margulies strongly believes that people are deeply affected both by their workplace and by where they live, and that architects can contribute enormously to making businesses more successful and their employees happier. His clients recognize the value of this expertise, resulting in commissions to design and strategize on many exciting and provocative headquarters projects. Margulies is also involved in a number of volunteer efforts, most notably working on behalf of Boston’s Wharf District Council to develop waterfront resilience to rising sea levels, and on designing and building cost-effective modular micro-units for the homeless.
The well-deserving 2023 winners will be honored at the in-person Awards of Excellence Gala on April 27, 2023 at the Westin Boston Seaport District.
