Concord – Middlesex Savings Bank and Margulies Perruzzi (MP) announced the re-opening of the newly renovated branch at 64 Main Street in Concord. The renovation focused on celebrating and honoring the historic interior architectural features of the building while incorporating modern amenities, comforts, and features.
The goal for the 9,000sf renovation was to keep the integrity of the historic features yet improve the function, flow, and visibility of employees.
The project team includes J. Calnan & Associates, construction manager and BLW Engineers, MEP engineering.
MP worked closely with the bank to consider all the features of the space and its influence to make customers feel welcome. Porticos and private offices were opened up to increase visibility, enabling customers to quickly and easily see where to go for help.
A customer service pod was placed in the center of the branch, and a previously unused mezzanine level was re-designed with a conference room and additional customer service workstations. A glass half-wall was installed on the balcony to keep the space open while offering speech privacy.
To brighten the space, dark millwork panels on the walls and ceiling were painted white, emphasizing the beauty of the existing dark wood columns. Natural stone at the teller line and at the base of the wood columns, are a subtle nod to the rich history of traditional banking interior design.
The “community wall” of local landmarks was reimagined as wall-mounted photography in the alcoves behind the teller line. The color palette and finishes were kept neutral, with the Bank’s brand colors of blue and yellow used on the teller stations and carpet. Soft seating was placed throughout, and a hot beverage area was located near the entrance.
New lighting played a major role in improving the functional and aesthetic quality of the space. Margulies Perruzzi used a mix of modern and transitional-style light fixtures to highlight the natural beauty of the interior architecture as well as improve energy efficiency. Electrical and mechanical systems were updated, with close attention paid to making the heating, air conditioning and sprinkler equipment fit within the wood intricacies of the space. Without modifying the historic façade, all exterior windows and part of the roof were replaced.
—
Middlesex Savings Bank was founded as Middlesex Institution for Savings in 1835 in the Town of Concord. At a time when banking focused more on businesses than on consumers, the Bank’s founders, in an act of true community spirit, set out to create a bank where people of modest means, who had no other alternatives, could have a safe place to save. The Greek Revival structure in Concord Center, erected in 1932, served as the Bank’s headquarters until its merger with Natick Five Cents Savings Bank.
“We are thrilled with the outcome. The Town of Concord has been an excellent partner and has assisted with the permitting and approval process required to address the nearly 100 year old infrastructure in the building. Middlesex Savings Bank is pleased to be able to continue serving the community in the redesigned space,” said Adam Fandrey, senior vice president and corporate real estate director at Middlesex Savings Bank.
Since 2010, Margulies Perruzzi has collaborated with Middlesex Savings Bank on many projects, including the relocation and/or re-design of branches in Ashland, Bellingham, Franklin, Holliston, Medway, Millis, Medfield, Sherborn, Wayland Center, and Wellesley Hills, and the renovation of the Bank’s main branch in Natick.
Boston – Industrial software company PTC Inc. (Nasdaq: PTC) has officially moved from Needham to Boston’s Seaport District, celebrating the grand opening of its 250,000-square-foot headquarters at 121 Seaport Blvd. on April 25.
The office was designed by Margulies Perruzzi Architects and built out by Gilbane Building Co.
The office features museum-like exhibits showcasing PTC software in action, from its uses in Caterpillar heavy machinery to ESAB welding equipment and Celli Group taps serving up Downeast Cider beverages. At a customer experience center, customers can use a tablet loaded with PTC software to take a virtual tour of the Seaport District. Smaller touches including a conference table made from the remains of a shipwrecked schooner, discovered in 2016 amid the construction of 121 Seaport Blvd.
“121 Seaport’s design, amenities and location made the selection of our new global headquarters an easy one,” said PTC CEO Jim Heppelmann in a prepared statement when the company announced its move in September 2017. “We believe our choice sends a strong message to our more than 6,000 employees, our customers, and our partners that PTC will continue to be on the leading edge of technology and breakthroughs that will shape the way we all live and work.”
Cresa Boston negotiated an 18.5-year lease for PTC with previous building owner Skanska. Skanska sold the 17-story office for $455 million, or $1,137 per square foot in December 2018 to American Realty Advisors and Norges Bank Real Estate Management.
That sale was the second-highest per-square-foot sale price for a commercial building in Boston, behind Tishman Speyer’s $450 million, $1,208 per-square-foot sale of the Pier 4 office building, also located in Boston’s Seaport District.
BOSTON — Computer software and services company PTC has relocated to a new 250,000-square-foot global headquarters in Boston’s Seaport District. PTC relocated its headquarters in Needham to 121 Seaport Blvd., a newly constructed 17-story, 400,000-square-foot office building. The property will house 1,000 of PTC’s 6,000 employees worldwide. The open design of PTC’s office includes conference rooms and meeting spaces around the building core on each floor as well as a themed work café and coffee space. The office will feature no private offices and no assigned seats. Cresa represented PTC in the site-selection process, lease administration, transaction management, workplace strategy and project management. Gilbane Building Co. served as construction manager and Margulies Perruzzi served as architectural and interior designer on the project. A joint venture of American Realty Advisors and Norges Bank Real Estate Management owns 121 Seaport.
BOSTON – Feb. 5, 2019 – The Boston office of Cresa, the world’s largest occupier-focused commercial real estate firm, and Margulies Perruzzi (MP), one of New England’s most innovative architectural and interior design firms, today announced the completion of a new 250,000 SF global headquarters for PTC Inc. (PTC), a global provider of technology that transforms how companies design, manufacture, operate, and service things in a smart connected world. PTC relocated its headquarters from Needham, Mass., to 121 Seaport Boulevard, a newly constructed 17-story, 400,000 SF office building in Boston’s Seaport District. The building recently received the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, its highest level of sustainability achievement.
PTC’s new technology-rich headquarters is a key part of the company’s business transformation, enhancing PTC’s profile and serving as a premier destination for employees, customers, and partners to experience PTC’s technology. At the heart of PTC’s new transformational headquarters is the Corporate Experience Center (CXC), an interactive showcase for PTC’s innovative technology, including its ThingWorx® industrial Internet of Things and Vuforia Augmented Reality (AR) platforms.
To facilitate the move to a new headquarters, PTC engaged Cresa as a global partner across multiple service lines, including site selection, lease administration, transaction management, workplace strategy, and project management. Cresa accomplished a six-month process in 30 days with fast-tracked negotiations that secured PTC’s 18.5-year lease for 250,000 SF at 121 Seaport. As the first signed tenant, PTC leased 63 percent of the building, where the company will house 1,000 of its 6,000 worldwide employees. PTC will occupy the building’s top nine floors with direct access to the roof deck from the top floor and access to a common area with an outdoor terrace on the third floor. Cresa also advised PTC on workplace strategy and facilitated PTC’s shift toward an activity-based, open office plan and free address concept for its workspace.
“Our move to Boston’s Seaport District signals a continued focus on innovation through forward-thinking technological advancements, as well as an evolution of our workplace strategy to anticipate the technology and workforce of the future,” said Eric Snow, senior vice president, corporate communications, PTC. “This workspace is intended to be transformational in every way: the urban location, workplace design, and abundant use of technology will provide our employees with the best possible work environment to thrive and innovate, all while offering our customers a state-of-the-art venue for experiencing our technology. We are thrilled to make this exceptional space our new home.”
MP’s design for PTC’s headquarters was strongly influenced by the unique, elliptical-shaped glass tower of 121 Seaport. To maximize views of Boston Harbor and downtown Boston, the open office design places conference rooms and meeting spaces around the building core on each floor, and arranges bench seating with ergonomic sit-to-stand desks in a radial fashion that aligns with the oval shape. More than 200 technology-enabled collaboration and huddle rooms support PTC’s activity-based workplace, which has no private offices and no assigned seats, encouraging employees to work where they want. Open-seating collaboration areas and touchdown spaces anchor the north and south ends with a variety of seating styles. On every floor, a themed work café/coffee space, each dubbed “The Hive,” offers employees a diverse experience for casual meetings, socialization, and quiet time. Gigantic curved LED light fixtures span the arc on each floor, with colored lights on the 17th floor providing a dramatic view from the street at night.
With its convergence of digital and physical features and a layout that encourages employees and customers to co-mingle, the 17th floor is at the forefront of PTC’s new headquarters design. The world-class CXC provides visitors with a customized, hands-on tour to experience a world powered by PTC’s Industrial Internet of Things, Augmented Reality, Product Lifecycle Management, and 3D CAD technologies. This is made possible through a combination of state-of-the-art meeting space and more than 20 experiential exhibits showcasing customer and partner innovations. These exhibits dynamically demonstrate PTC’s technology by using Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and even a ride-on experience to bring the solutions to life. In addition, an adjacent R&D lab and maker space allow customers to engage with PTC engineers as they develop the next generation of innovative technology. A large café called “The Common” faces the CXC on the other side, providing plenty of seating for both employees and visitors. A large, open stair with a glass head-house connects The Common to the landscaped roof deck with outdoor seating.
In addition to the LEED Platinum-certified 121 Seaport building, PTC’s headquarters is expected to achieve LEED Gold certification. The company is also implementing the FitWelSM program for employee health and wellness.
PTC, the PTC logo, and ThingWorx are trademarks or registered trademarks of PTC Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
About Margulies Perruzzi Architects As one of New England’s top architectural and interior design firms, Margulies Perruzzi Architects (MP) designs Workplace, Health+Science, and Real Estate projects that inspire and nurture human endeavor. More information may be found at mparchitectsboston.com.
BOSTON–Cresaand Margulies Perruzzi Architects recently completed the a new 250,000 SF global headquarters for PTC Inc., a global provider of technology that transforms how companies design, manufacture, operate in a smart connected world. PTC relocated its headquarters from Needham, Mass., to 121 Seaport Boulevard, the modern, elliptical shape tower newly constructed by Skanska, a 17-story, 400,000 SF office building in Boston’s Seaport District. The building, designed by CTB Architects, recently received the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, its highest level of sustainability achievement.
PTC’s new technology-rich headquarters is a key part of the company’s business transformation, enhancing PTC’s profile and serving as a premier destination for employees, customers, and partners to experience PTC’s technology. At the heart of PTC’s new transformational headquarters is the Corporate Experience Center (CXC), an interactive showcase for PTC’s innovative technology, including its ThingWorx® industrial Internet of Things and Vuforia Augmented Reality (AR) platforms.
To facilitate the move to a new headquarters, PTC engaged Cresa as a global partner across multiple service lines, including site selection, lease administration, transaction management, workplace strategy, and project management. Cresa accomplished a six-month process in 30 days with fast-tracked negotiations that secured PTC’s 18.5-year lease for 250,000 SF at 121 Seaport. As the first signed tenant, PTC leased 63 percent of the building, where the company will house 1,000 of its 6,000 worldwide employees. PTC will occupy the building’s top nine floors with direct access to the roof deck from the top floor and access to a common area with an outdoor terrace on the third floor. Cresa also advised PTC on workplace strategy and facilitated PTC’s shift toward an activity-based, open office plan and free address concept for its workspace.
“Our move to Boston’s Seaport District signals a continued focus on innovation through forward-thinking technological advancements, as well as an evolution of our workplace strategy to anticipate the technology and workforce of the future,” said Eric Snow, senior vice president, corporate communications, PTC. “This workspace is intended to be transformational in every way: the urban location, workplace design, and abundant use of technology will provide our employees with the best possible work environment to thrive and innovate, all while offering our customers a state-of-the-art venue for experiencing our technology. We are thrilled to make this exceptional space for our new home.”
MPA’s design for PTC’s headquarters was strongly influenced by the unique, elliptical-shaped glass tower of 121 Seaport. To maximize views of Boston Harbor and downtown Boston, the open office design places conference rooms and meeting spaces around the building core on each floor, and arranges bench seating with ergonomic sit-to-stand desks in a radial fashion that aligns with the oval shape. More than 200 technology-enabled collaboration and huddle rooms support PTC’s activity-based workplace, which has no private offices and no assigned seats, encouraging employees to work where they want. Open-seating collaboration areas and touchdown spaces anchor the north and south ends with a variety of seating styles. On every floor, a themed work café/coffee space, each dubbed “The Hive,” offers employees a diverse experience for casual meetings, socialization, and quiet time. Gigantic curved LED light fixtures span the arc on each floor, with colored lights on the 17th floor providing a dramatic view from the street at night.
Laboratory Design (LD): How did you get into your field?
John Fowler (JF): I’ve had a passion for design since I was young, even though I didn’t recognize it until I was finishing high school. My interest in designing for the health and science fields came later. I enjoy the challenge of incorporating aesthetically beautiful and uplifting design into spaces with a high level of functional and regulatory demands. I also enjoy learning about the work done by the intelligent, specialized professionals in the healthcare, R&D and science/technology fields. Designing for lab spaces provides me with the opportunity to learn about other professions in addition to my own.
LD: What’s a common mistake made by those working on designing/constructing a laboratory?
JF: A common mistake in this field is to design lab spaces according to the way things have been done in the past instead of the ideal future state. In Margulies Perruzzi’s lab design work, we utilize a customized LEAN 3P process to examine the existing state value stream map and weed out any work-arounds that have been created due to existing space constraints or outdated work flows. We then create a future value stream map that eliminates waste before we start space planning. Our process provides a more efficient and collaborative space for the client.
LD: Do you write anything—articles, published books, white papers, etc.?
JF: I frequently contribute articles to industry publications and enjoy the exploratory process of writing to educate readers. Two recent articles include “Striking a Balance between Transparency and Privacy in Health and Science Projects,” and “Using LEAN 3P to Implement Operational Change in Healthcare Settings,” which I co-authored with Jason Costello of Margulies Perruzzi.
LD: If you could give just one piece of advice to others in your field, what would it be?
JF: Design for your clients, not for yourself.
LD: What do you like to do in your spare time?
JF: Spending time with family and anything that gets me outside and moving around. Hiking, snowboarding, visiting places I’ve never been.
A global cloud-based technology company with a local presence had an expiring lease for its office in Waltham when it decided to relocate to accommodate its growing workforce. In addition to needing an expanded workspace, the goal of the office relocation was to create a workspace that: 1) meets the needs of its current workforce and helps to attract and retain talent and 2) enhances the company’s brand and presence in the Boston technology community. The firm accomplished both objectives by leasing 33,360sf at 275 Wyman Street in Waltham from sublandlord and primary tenant Cimpress/Vistaprint.
In the new space, the firm wanted to shed its corporate aesthetic and stay true to its roots as a technology company. It also wanted to create a unique identity for the Boston office while respecting the design of its corporate headquarters in Santa Clara, California. The resulting design features an open office environment rich with common spaces and amenities. To offset the smaller individual workspaces, an emphasis was placed on adding various-sized amenity spaces to foster collaboration, communication, and interaction. An array of casual seating types support informal meetings and social gatherings of all sizes and compositions. Meeting rooms and private workspaces provide space for conference calls and in-person collaborations.
Large common areas, such as the café, game room, and collaborative “boulevard” attract employees to socialize and relax, keeping the space active and engaging while mixing business with fun. A training room and a variety of sized conference, huddle, and phone rooms serve the company’s technology needs to maintain communication with clients all over the world. Balancing acoustically sensitive large meeting rooms and private workspaces with the open office environment was crucial to the success of the space.
The design of the new office harmoniously merges exposed mechanicals that open to the structural deck above with polished concrete floors and a green moss wall in the reception area. Pops of color found in nature offset the industrial feel of the surroundings, with hues of yellow, green, and blue bringing life to the space. Playful, geometric lighting enlivens all parts of the space, from the executive boardroom to the open workspace. Washed-oak wood tones help to soften the inherent harshness of the exposed mechanicals. The open plan office features height-adjustable benching to provide flexibility for future expansion and layout modification.
The new office provides the expanded space, amenities, and visibility in the technology community that the company sought.
About the Author
Tim Bailey, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is a senior architect and associate partner at at Margulies Perruzzi.
Margulies Perruzzi came in at #88 on the Interior Design Top 100 Giants Survery for 2019. This was the first year Margulies Perruzzi made the list. For the full list, visit this link.
Supporting our community
-By Dianne Dunnell
The 2018 Corenet New England Awards of Excellence Gala honorees and projects represent the best of the Boston region in commercial real estate leadership. Congratulations to the Presidents Award winner, Sarah Abrams; Leadership award winners, Jonathan Proffitt, Thomas Fanning, Diane Currier, and Jackie Falla; and Workplace award winners, MilliporeSigma, Indigo Ag, Inc. and ASICS Creation Studio.
Also during the event, Marc Margulies, Christine Weiner, and Susanne Cooper were on stage to present the Boys and Girls Club of Boston with a contribution of $7,000 to their cause. Funds raised were from the 2018 Corenet NE Charitable Golf Tournament where Margulies Perruzzi was the Charity Sponsor.
Thank you to the committee leaders Brigitte Beltran, Kirstin Brown, and Suzanne Leblanc for putting on a fantastic event!
Two complementary locations in Waltham and Boston leverage workplace strategy and proximity to long-standing clients and innovation of Boston
BOSTON – Oct. 3, 2018 – Margulies Perruzzi Architects (MPA), one of New England’s most innovative architectural and interior design firms, announced today that Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) selected the firm to provide space planning and interior design services for SGH’s new complementary locations in Waltham and Boston. SGH is a national engineering firm that designs, investigates, and rehabilitates structures, building enclosures, and materials. SGH will move from its current headquarters at 41 Seyon Street in Waltham, Mass. to 110,000 SF at 20 CityPoint in Waltham and 14,000 SF in Boston’s Prudential Tower. The two new locations will embrace a high-performance and sustainable workplace strategy, with open and efficient floor plans promoting collaborative, team-based work.
“MPA’s commitment to exceptional design and thoughtful workplace strategy is a winning combination that will help us realize our vision for both locations,” said Charles Russo, Chief Executive Officer of SGH. “We are partnering with MPA to create an inspiring CityPoint location that grows our laboratory, research, and innovation capabilities and a vibrant downtown Boston location that immerses our engineering team with our long-standing clients and academic partners, and with the innovation of Boston.”
Workplace strategy is a key component of MPA’s open and modern designs, which maximize collaboration, natural light, and operational flexibility. Both of SGH’s spaces will have multiple and varied office resources for employees to work both independently and in teams, such as individual work stations, focused/quiet work areas, unstructured space, and collaborative work spaces with different technology resources. SGH’s headquarters at 20 CityPoint incorporates a gallery on the first floor where clients and visitors can observe and interact with ongoing activities in the company’s physical and materials testing, laboratory, and experimentation areas.
MPA successfully assisted SGH with an accelerated design process for the Prudential space for an August 2018 occupancy. Concurrent with the Prudential design, MPA advanced the planning and design for the CityPoint space so that SGH and Boston Properties could incorporate the tenant improvements into the ongoing construction of the new building. The CityPoint location is expected to be complete in August 2019. Boston Properties is the landlord for both locations.
About Margulies Perruzzi Architects
As one of New England’s top architectural and interior design firms, Margulies Perruzzi Architects (MPA) designs Workplace, Health+Science, and Real Estate projects that inspire and nurture human endeavor. More information may be found at www.mp-architects.com.
Media Contact:
Michele Spiewak
Rhino PR
617.851.2618
MPArchitects@rhinopr.com
