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.
The project team includes:
Client/Owner: Boston Scientific
Architect/Interior Design: Margulies Perruzzi
General Contractor: Columbia Construction
MEP Engineer: R.W. Sullivan
A/V: CDA
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.
Margulies Perruzzi was listed in Interior Design’s Top 100 Giants of 2023, an annual listing ranking the top interior design firms from around the world.
We are proud to have made the list, ranking in at number 86. Congratulations to all the other firms listed!
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
BOSTON – January 25, 2023 – Margulies Perruzzi (MP), one of New England’s most innovative architectural and interior design firms, announced that it has completed the architectural interior design and lab fit-out for Strand Therapeutics, an emerging biopharmaceutical company applying synthetic biology to RNA therapeutics. The renovation project transformed 64,000 RSF across two floors at 20 Overland Street in Boston into a BSL-2 laboratory and open plan office.
Strand Therapeutics is developing the first platform for the creation of programmable, long-acting mRNA drugs capable of delivering precise, multi-functional, potentially curative treatments with a single dose. Co-founded by world-leading mRNA researchers from the MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Strand’s technology potentially has broad applicability across a spectrum of diseases. The company will initially focus on the development of mRNA therapies that act through multiple immune mediated mechanisms to deliver potentially curative treatments in oncology. In solid tumors, Strand’s mRNA approach has the potential to significantly improve response rates to checkpoint inhibitor therapy. In hematological tumors, Strand’s early work may have the potential to revolutionize CAR-T therapy.
“Coming out of a smaller lab space in Cambridge, we are proud to have a new space which represents our brand and vision as a company that we can call our own,” said Tasuku Kitada, Ph.D., president, head of R&D, and co-founder at Strand Therapeutics. “Our space feels expansive yet visually connected, and the design of the shared spaces creates more space for each employee. The labs are visible from the reception and office area, allowing us to show off the revolutionary work of our scientists to visitors and employees alike.”
Before Strand selected 20 Overland, Margulies Perruzzi had been providing design services for converting 20 Overland Street into a highly desirable location for a variety of life science tenants. Repositioning the 202,167 SF building for a more demanding use required upgrades to its infrastructure, and most significantly, a combination of upgrades to existing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems (MEP) to handle the additional loads imposed by laboratory facilities. The building had been a vehicle manufacturing plant during World War II, and consequently has substantial floor-to-floor heights, ample fenestration for natural light, and plenty of structural capacity. This conversion, along with other factors, led to Strand’s interest in the building.
Strand’s open work environment is supported by a variety of meeting room types, phone booths, scientist write-up space, and work café spaces, allowing employees the option to choose between the workspace that best supports their needs. An existing interconnecting stair between the two floors was retained and a custom-designed helix sculpture was installed in the center of the stair structure to represent the synthetic biology in which Strand specializes.
A connection between the lab and office spaces is supported by glass walls, permitting a clear visual into the lab from the office, and vice versa. The reception area is right off the building lobby and provides a direct sight line of the lab space and connecting stair, enabling guests to see the scientists at work. Branding based on the blue from the Strand logo is carried throughout the space, including the lab. Wall graphics were added in the lab to reinforce the company’s culture. The building is a triangle-shape, and the floor plate shape was unusual, presenting some challenges in determining where to place the labs to maximize usable square footage.
The project team for this project includes:
Architect, Interior Design, and Lab Planner: Margulies Perruzzi
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BOSTON – May 3, 2022–Margulies Perruzzi (MP), one of New England’s most innovative architectural and interior design firms, announced today that it has completed work on a 4,000 SF simulation lab for Lahey Hospital & Medical Center (LHMC) in Burlington, Mass., a world-renowned tertiary academic medical center known for its innovative technology, pioneering medical treatment and leading-edge research. This is the seventh project Margulies Perruzzi has designed for LHMC. Other projects include Endoscopy department, MRI suite improvements, COVID testing site, 18-bed Intensive/Progressive Care Unit, Pathology Lab improvements, and a Wet Lab.
At LHMC’s Professional Development and Samuel and Nancy Jo Altschuler Simulation Center, providers work in a realistic health care setting using the latest technology and training methods to learn new techniques, strengthen teamwork and optimize their response to crises and unanticipated events. Simulators provide a structured learning experience and allow providers to practice new skills and procedures without risk to patients. Many simulation centers are built off-site but Dmitry Nepomnayshy, MD, director of the Professional Development and Samuel & Nancy Jo Altschuler Simulation Center at LHMC, had a vision for a simulation lab located within the main campus of the hospital and accessible 24/7.
“LHMC is committed to offering extensive skills training for our professional staff and dedicated to safety and the quality of care we offer our patients. The simulation center has become an indispensable component of our overarching vision to provide the best quality care possible to our community,” said Nepomnayshy. “We worked closely with the design team, and they understood our vision and the limitations we were facing by using existing space within the hospital but were able to create a flexible space which will support our simulation training.”
The design team focused on the functionality of the simulation space and created realistic clinical spaces for the most accurate learning experience for the users, while incorporating LHMC’s standard calming hospitality-like design aesthetics. Providing a functional operating and exam room, supplemented by simulation spaces, an observation room and a classroom, were important to the success of this space for teaching and training. A control room in the middle of the space straddles the operating room and patient room allowing observers to oversee simulations. The classroom incorporates a moveable wall system so the space can flex between small and large groups depending on the courses being offered. Providing glass to the corridor visually opens up the space and allows for more observation of those being trained. The final product is an inviting space which is open 24/7 and includes a kitchenette featuring a lounge with soft seating, storage room, and office space.
MP healthcare projects benefit from principal-level engagement from programming and planning through post-occupancy evaluations. Its healthcare experts are local to Boston, familiar with state and federal requirements for projects in New England. They use this expertise to lead user group meetings in real time, resolving complex planning issues during the meeting, which reduces meetings and helps expedite the project. MP’s scope of services includes programming and planning, site evaluation and clinical test fits, ground up construction, interior design, sustainable design, WELL Building, and LEAN process improvement.
Project team members include:
Architect/Laboratory Planning: Margulies Perruzzi
Construction Manager: Columbia Construction
MEP/FP: R.W. Sullivan and CMTA
Audio Visual: Red Thread
Simulation Training & Technology: Simulation IQ
Partnering with Array Architects, a leader in healthcare planning and design, Margulies Perruzzi focused on incorporating as much access to daylight and nature as possible to leverage its clinical benefits. The team collaborated to situate activity rooms and common areas along the exterior walls of the building to bring in natural light and views of the Maine landscape for both patient and staff areas. Windows were maintained at patient areas while safety glass and borrowed light concepts were used to bring daylight deeper into the building. Art highlighting nature is incorporated at various seating areas throughout the unit to bring nature inside the building.
The new inpatient unit is secured with access through an interlocking sally port and features 20 double occupancy rooms, each with its own bathroom. To ensure the safety of patients, each room is designed to minimize ligature risk to provide both privacy and safety. Anti-ligature fixtures were used in the bathrooms and bedrooms as well as vandal proof ceilings. The design team used institutional materials with a residential look and feel to help reduce stress by providing a home-like feel for patients on the unit.
By Monica Moreira Audette, AIA, LEED AP, Associate Partner and Senior Project Manager at Margulies Perruzzi
A lot more goes into renovating an older Class B building into a Class A than just adding a coffee bar or flat screen TV in the lobby. If it were that easy, all Class B building owners would upgrade. A big part of the decision to renovate a Class B building is the owner’s appetite for risk and how far they are willing to go to achieve a higher rate of return on their property.
It is not a decision any owner can make quickly. Owners will have to methodically weigh the pros and cons of trading the safety and stability of a Class B building for the cachet of Class A. The indicators are nearly endless – tenant demand, the economic forecast, sector growth, businesses that are expanding and/or contracting, emerging space trends (open floor plans, high-end amenities), and changing work styles that require more flexible space.
Office, industrial, retail, warehouse and biotech space have different conditions and variables that cannot be compared across the board. For instance, renovating warehouse space in one region makes sense to accommodate the demand from large retail tenants like Amazon that have specific needs, while in another market it would be a poor investment. The same goes for biotech space – upgrading buildings in a bullet-proof market like Cambridge is a no-brainer but biotech tenants have very specific needs that make renovating a building a costly endeavor.
What to Weigh
Given that the conditions can vary so dramatically from market to market, owners need to look closely at both the micro and macro conditions before considering future renovation plans. They should avoid basing their decisions on what their neighbors are doing given that the building condition, access to capital and the type of tenant improvements will differ.
Converting Class B buildings to A in fail-proof or constrained markets reduces risk. Property owners and managers should pay close attention to market research for leasing trends and supply and demand. The vacancy rate of a property is a crucial factor in the decision-making process for owners who may want to stagger improvements.
Class B buildings in markets where there are high vacancy rates may have a better chance at adding value by making minor changes like upgrading mechanical and operating systems to increase their building’s efficiency rather than a full-scale renovation. If the building is in a market where there is weak demand for Class A space, staying put in Class B until there is a shift could be the best strategy.
Property owners whose buildings have not been properly maintained or have fallen into disrepair are unlikely to be able to justify retrofitting buildings with touchless, digital technology that will play a big role in landing a tenant. Property owners who are planning to retain assets for the long-term have more financial cushion to make investments that will pay off in the future, increasing rents and elevating the class of the property. Those in the game for the short-term who do not have access to capital will favor less costly facelifts over renovation, leaving the new owners the opportunity to add value.
Building owners and managers should enlist a team of experts who can assist in determining the best course in repositioning office buildings. Evaluating the real estate market, comparable properties, and tenant demand will provide a solid starting point to formulate a plan for repositioning a commercial property.
A Medical Makeover in West End
When asset manager DWS Group decided to renovate 50, 60, and 62 Staniford Street in Boston’s West End neighborhood to transform the 70’s era complex into a first-class medical office building they hired Margulies Perruzzi to outline the process from navigating construction with tenants in the building to the Boston planning process.
DWS’ goal was to improve the tenant experience, increase access and add high-quality building features near medical/research institutions such as Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, and Mass. Eye & Ear to attract new tenants.
We evaluated every detail and devised a design scheme that included reducing disruption to tenants to securing city approvals to increasing the building’s Planned Development Area.
Our strategy included connecting 50 and 60 Staniford Streets which increased the ground floor and first floor by 20,000 SF. It also created new space for medical office, dry research, and retail tenants.
The Staniford complex now features a 10-story medical office tower and a new, two-story medical office building with space for retail tenants. The investment by DWS created a premier medical/office space, increasing the value of the complex, and improved access to high-quality space ideal for medical office/retail users.
