MP completed an office renovation for a confidential biotechnology research client in Cambridge. The project followed an extensive workplace strategy study to determine the best approach to a new hybrid work model. Workstations and offices that were previously permanently assigned to staff were remodeled to support a new, unassigned population, with a much higher presence of collaboration spaces. Administrative staff from multiple locations were joined together onto two floors, totaling 42,000 RSF, creating a unified office environment, as well as freeing up space in other locations for additional research opportunities.
Work Category: Workplace
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.
The renovation to Signify’s Burlington office location consisted of over 55,000 square feet of useable area spread over three floors of an existing building. Due to industry-wide procurement constraints and the limited availability of space to work in, the project was completed in an overall phased approach. Margulies Perruzzi completed early bid packages to assist with long lead items and coordinated a phased construction plan to assist the construction management and client team. The majority of the area was completed and fully functional by Phase 1, allowing employees to move into the space and start working. The remaining support space and main visitor reception area was completed approximately three months later.
The Signify Burlington location consisted of research and development work areas as well as administrative and customer support staff spaces. The mixture of functions in the office space created planning and engineering challenges. Working with our engineering team, the client department leads, and drawing on our expansive workplace planning experience, we were able to create an elegant space that provides efficient workflow for employees.
Photography by Elisif Photography.
Longfellow Investment Management (LIM) is an investment management firm and certified Women’s Business Enterprise assisting institutional clients, family offices, and high net worth individuals in navigating market volatility by providing customized investment solutions.
Margulies Perruzzi was brought on for the first phase of their project, which included renovating their existing office, and later for the second phase for their expansion space. The overall goal of the design of this space was to create a welcoming environment for staff and visitors. Even though the design was cost-conscious, the space still needed to be impactful, which was accomplished by incorporating interesting design elements throughout.
While the existing office space includes a main pantry, the entry to the expansion space also incorporates a smaller kitchenette highlighted with a graphic wall covering that adds a point of interest to draw staff into the expansion space.
LIM’s new space includes open office neighborhoods, conference rooms, huddle rooms, and select offices, promoting collaboration amongst staff.
Photography by Elisif Photography.
When this rapidly growing property management software company needed more space for their 300+ employees, we helped them seize the chance to move to Center Plaza in downtown Boston. Due to the specifics of their lease, the move had to happen on a highly expedited schedule. MP performed complete design, from schematic through construction documents, in just eight weeks (about half the time as a standard project of this scale).
The open work environment is supported by a variety of meeting room types and sizes on the building interior. Open ceilings maximize the daylight from the tall perimeter windows, letting that light permeate throughout the open office. A large café/kitchen is located centrally, creating a natural gathering and informal meeting space for all of Buildium’s staff. A variety of seating types within the café give employees flexibility to work wherever best suits the task at hand.
The Jewish Community Center of Newton asked MP to develop concepts that would make the building both more welcoming and more secure. Our design features a renovated entrance and reconfigured lobby that includes expanded gathering areas around a fireplace. The new seating opens toward new windows looking at a landscaped courtyard, and includes a small shop, donor recognition walls, and stepped amphitheater seating. A major programmatic addition is a demonstration/teaching kitchen adjacent to a small café area overlooking the swimming pool. An entirely new security sequence increases JCC’s ability to easily allow badge-carrying members through security while helping appropriately screen visitors, whether individuals or large groups.
Driven by eminent domain requirements within the Village of Brookline, this project required the relocation of the senior administration and administrative support services of Brigham & Women’s physician organization to Needham. The new space enabled BWPO to also consolidate staff from three different locations into one centralized office. This included the call center group, which was accommodated into the plan. A training center was provided at the heart of the project with the flexibility to configure it as a large classroom or two smaller classrooms. The program also introduced a multipurpose collaboration hub that could function for impromptu team meetings, staff meetings, and as a location for catered events.
Retail financial services has undergone a complete transformation with the advent of digital customer access. Following the universal adoption of ATMs and then mobile apps, banks have all searched for the best way to maintain customer relationships, broaden their offerings, and enhance their connectivity to their customers. Branch banks have evolved into 3-D marketing tools, helping express each institution’s unique value proposition and culture.
As architects and designers, our task is to discover the best way to express each bank’s personality in a way that distinguishes it from the competition. Some tout their innovative technology, some their community involvement, others their unique financial instruments. Working hand-in-hand with marketing, HR, real estate/facilities, IT, and retail services we create environments that speak to the customers even in a highly volatile retail world.
MP provided design services for investment management company Boston Trust Walden’s new office space in Boston’s One Beacon building.
Boston Trust Walden prioritized downsized offices, access to daylight for workstations, and collaboration and socialization. To achieve these goals, MP designed perimeter offices with full glass fronts to bring light into the space’s interior. MP created an employee hub to serve as the core collaboration area. Featuring a coffee bar, pantry, and a variety of seating options, the space encourages spontaneous collaboration. A client area located adjacent to the hub boasts four conference rooms of various sizes.
A unique feature of the space is the trading area. Located in the interior of the space, it was designed to have a direct sight line to the stunning view outside.
MP selected natural tones mixed with brighter colors to create a welcoming environment for visitors and staff. Materials were selected that aligned with the firm’s focus on social and environmental responsibility, ensuring products used met this high standard.
MP designed a new state-of-the-art office for a global energy company in their new Providence, RI office. The client aimed to expand their established global brand into the new space while creating an office unique to Providence. In tandem, with their business being in green energy, the client and MP collaborated to create a design that also meets their brands sustainability goals.
Respecting their existing brand guidelines, MP incorporated them into the office’s design through their selection of color, finishes, and decor inspired by earth, air, water, and fire, while also creating a space unique to Providence. The design incorporates the client’s “Love Your Workplace” ideals where smaller “work modules” combine to create “neighborhoods.” Within each neighborhood, the design sprinkles in “activity zones” throughout including focal meeting points, lounge space, a library, meeting rooms, and phone rooms. The team also incorporated programmatic elements important for the Providence team including gender neutral bathrooms, flex seating, canteen, pantry, multipurpose room, game room, and two wellness rooms, one for rest and prayer and the other to support nursing mothers and mothers and children visiting the office.
In accordance with the client’s green initiatives, the team selected specifications and materials that consider current functionality and post-use capabilities. The team searched to find clean materials that have possibility for reuse and furniture with flexibility in mind.