ImmunoGen, part of AbbVie, a leader in the expanding field of antibody-drug conjugates for the treatment of cancer, was looking to take back sub-leased space of their tenant space in Waltham, MA.
The MP team worked closely with ImmunoGen and the consultant team to provide programming and lab equipment services to renovate the space for labs and office. The team was able to maximize the desired new equipment layout within the existing available space to minimize impact on the project’s timeline and cost.
Photography by Elisif Photography.
AvenCell is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a broad pipeline of next-generation immunotherapy product candidates for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumors.
MP provided design services for AvenCell’s new 30,000 SF lab/office space, relocating their facilities from Cambridge to Watertown. The lab spaces have a variety of flex labs, specialty labs specific to their science and tissue culture rooms. There is a major emphasis on allowing natural light to enter the space, which can be observed through the use of glass between the lab and office spaces. In addition to allowing light to filter into the space’s interiors, the glass provides a visual connection for employees.
The program for AvenCell’s new space included reception, café, open office, flex offices, huddle and conference rooms, boardroom, open lab, tissue culture rooms, lab support, and vivarium. In addition to Avencell’s space, MP provided design services for an additional 20,000 SF of sublease space.
Boston Analytical is a premier cGMP-compliant laboratory. They are registered with the FDA and US DEA for pharmaceutical analytical testing. Testing services provided by Boston Analytical are used by pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and medical device companies across the globe.
Boston Analytical had grown into their Salem campus over the course of years. The result of this growth was an expansion in operations but poor adjacency of units across the three campus buildings. Margulies Perruzzi was asked to design an expansion and reorganization that would consolidate units while also providing additional production space. Most of the new space is production for testing, including chemistry, stability, and microbial labs, as well as ISO 8 to ISO 5 clean rooms. The remaining space supports office and administrative functions, including reception, open and private offices, conference rooms, and a kitchen/dining area.
Bayer Healthcare (now Siemens) moved its blood-gas analyzing R&D division into a new building to aggregate its disbursed operations into one new facility. Complete with labs, workspace, training, and a customer briefing center, this building was an important part of the company’s focus on the design of innovative testing equipment.
As with many labs, a key component was the creation of a centralized services corridor that housed common gasses, a tank farm, ROD distribution, and electrical distribution. This core area reduced redundancy of equipment, increased flexibility over time, and allowed efficient service and maintenance of critical infrastructure.
Metabolix is a developer of biopolymer technology, essentially creating plant-based plastics that will biodegrade. Margulies Perruzzi has worked with Metabolix on multiple projects. Interior renovations were completed for their office space in Lowell, and for their headquarters at 21 Eerie Street in Cambridge, which included significant branding. Margulies Perruzzi also completed space planning for their biotech plant, and research lab at One Kendall Square in Cambridge.
The use of a flexible laboratory paradigm was critical to the success of these planning efforts. Because the technology is emerging, rapid change to both processes and equipment is essential. Margulies Perruzzi achieved this by designing around flexible connections and modular equipment units.
Margulies Perruzzi provided architectural interior design services for this lab and office tenant fit out project. Strand Therapeutics, an emerging biopharmaceutical company, moved into the first and second floors of 20 Overland Street in the Boston Fenway neighborhood. The 64,000 SF space includes a 60/40 lab/office split. A connection between lab and office is supported by glass walls, allowing a clear visual into the lab from the office, and vice versa.
The open work environment is supported by a variety of meeting room types, phone booths, and work cafe spaces, allowing employees the option to choose the workspace that best supports their needs.
When industry leader Azenta Life Sciences decided to move their existing laboratory from Cambridge, MA to Waltham, MA, they sought out MP to facilitate the design of their relocated lab and administrative and support spaces.
The lab program consists of genetic analysis, sequencer, synthesizer, plasmid prep, oligo synthesis, and support spaces. MP, in conjunction with their team of engineers, tackled the task of providing innovative electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and structural solutions to support the client’s complex equipment in the new location. Infrastructure enhancements included the addition of new air handling units, exhaust fans, chemical waste treatment, and an emergency generator.
MP helped the client to visually connect the lab spaces to the adjacent office spaces using their branded color palette. The visual connection between open lab and support lab spaces as well as between open office, meeting, and working spaces is facilitated by the use of a glazed storefront system. This design concept allows the client to provide their employees with an innovative and interactive workspace as well as a space for respite.
