Workplace Archives

Margulies Perruzzi helped this confidential client relocate from its Cambridge office to downtown Boston to accommodate its growing team.

To support the firm’s mission statement of serving non-profit clients, it was important for the design to focus on the people within it, as opposed to the space itself. Additionally, the firm wanted their space to relate to its headquarters in Pennsylvania, yet retain a “Boston” feel. To meet both needs, a light, neutral palette serves as an elegant backdrop, with cool tones evoking the nearby waterfront.

Offices and conference spaces are lined with glass, letting daylight fill the space. The glass enhances transparency and connections between different workspaces. A custom, hybrid ceiling design presents clean, minimal lines while still providing even illumination for the workspaces.

After designing Robinson+Cole’s 40,000 SF space in 1997, Margulies Perruzzi was once again retained to renovate their space at One Boston Place. Previously consisting of offices and conference rooms, MP transformed their space on the 26th floor into the main reception area as well as a conference center, which will accommodate larger, more public gatherings.

Due to advances in technology, there was a significant reduction in the firm’s law library since most information sourcing is now performed online. That extra space was transformed into a collaboration area. The main conference room was planned to be very large to accommodate corporate document review and signings and other large-team events. The room can be flexibly split into two ten-person meeting spaces when the full-sized space is not required.

MP also refreshed the design on the 25th floor to give it a more updated aesthetic, representing the firm’s growth and change in brand and culture.

For over a century, The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce has helped drive economic growth throughout the region while building a vibrant business community of 1,500 organizations of varying size and industry by offering strategic networking opportunities, public policy advocacy, and leadership development.

The GBCC was evaluating new office space and hired Margulies Perruzzi to assist them in weighing options for staying or relocating. A primary driver for new office space was the ability to host events in their own space and to offer touchdown workspace to their business members. The GBCC’s move dovetailed with their broader effort to reshape their image through the rollout of a new brand identity and website. The GBCC ultimately chose to relocate to a higher floor within their current building. The new space offers them increased natural light and sweeping views of the city.

The new workplace design offers the GBCC several advantages over their previous space, both for members and staff. GBCC staff can easily reconfigure the public event space to suit their event needs. By collapsing a glass wall, a corner conference room can be subdivided from the space. When an event is not in session, staff and GBCC members can use the dining area or soft-seating collaboration space. Telephone closets adjacent to the event space allow attendees to discretely step away and attend to pressing business. The furniture can be arranged for classroom style lectures, theater-style seating, or emptied for networking events.

In the office area, the GBCC’s purpose statement is prominently visible and strategically placed at a height visible above the cubicle walls. In their new space, staffers enjoy modern workstations, informal collaboration space, and sit-to-stand desks.

The GBCC’s new brand image is prominently featured throughout the new space through the incorporation of new video displays, brand colors, as well as mission, purpose, and logo wall graphics.

MP completed a new global headquarters for this technology startup in Boston, a move that doubled the office space for the fast-growing company. Aligning with long-term plans for headcount growth and expansion, the 50,000 SF headquarters features a dynamic, technology-rich workspace that promotes collaboration and innovation. MP provided space planning and interior design services for the fast-tracked interior fit-out, which was completed in August 2018.

With an energetic and modern vibe, the colorful, light-filled workspace enhances how employees interact and collaborate. Huddle areas with high-top tables and booth seating are incorporated throughout the open plan office, and work zones are defined by acoustical ceiling clouds suspended from the exposed metal ceiling deck. Off the reception area on the middle floor, a large café provides a variety of seating and features a movable partition that opens to an adjacent lounge with technology-enabled furniture. An enclosed “library” room with soft seating and pendant lighting has a living room quality, and kitchens punctuate the end of every floor, offering city views and opportunities for employee interaction.

The client’s blue brand palette and the selective use of accent colors are woven into the design. All the huddle and focus room walls feature a blue glass film to enhance privacy, and the low-panel workstations include blue fabric divider screens. An art installation in the reception area features blue and yellow hand-blown glass orbs. A raw, industrial feel extends from the metal charcoal-gray, painted staircase with wire mesh guardrail to the exposed metal floor columns throughout the space.

After helping design SCS’s previous office several years ago, MP helped this leading wealth and investment management firm update the aesthetic in their new location to reflect the firm’s evolving identity.

Views and light were important to SCS, coming from a brick building with minimal natural light. MP’s design used plentiful glass and open sight lines to create a bright, dynamic, energizing space for its employees. The reception area was strategically positioned to take advantage of the new Prudential Center building’s striking views across Boylston Street.

To support the firm’s dedication to family wealth management, MP selected finishes that were elegant, yet classically understated. The firm’s signature blue provides a striking accent to light greys and warm wood tones. Playful cubical light fixtures in the reception area and elevator lobby are complemented by a textured concrete pattern throughout the elevator lobby, creating a striking and memorable entrance experience.

ServiceNow engaged MP to provide design services for their new location. Wanting to stay true to their roots in the tech community, MP sought out to design a unique, colorful, and amenity rich space.

The large common spaces, such as the café, game room, and collaborative “boulevard” keep the space active and engaging while mixing business with fun. Exposed mechanicals and polished concrete floors provide a modern and industrial backdrop that is accented by pops of vibrant color throughout the space.

Technology-enabled conference, huddle, and phone rooms are located throughout the space, allowing ServiceNow to maintain communication with clients all over the world. The balance of acoustically sensitive large meeting spaces and private spaces were crucial. ServiceNow utilized a motorized height adjustable benching furniture layout in the main open office spaces to maximize headcount.

Award Winner

Award of Excellence, Best New Workplace/Small Renovation, CoreNet Global New England
People’s Choice, International Interior Design Association (IIDA) of New England
People’s Choice, International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) Boston
Best Office: 30,000-80,000 square feet IIDA of New England

The Zipcar “brand” has been incorporated into the design of the space, including large graphic displays and small scale references to the branding concept.

Throughout the project, sustainable design has been a focus, including new high-efficiency lighting, reclaimed wood paneling, and creative re-use of building elements.

After several years of steady growth in their Cambridge offices, Zipcar was ready for a change. Their HQ was arranged in several separated suites, causing them to feel disconnected from each other. Looking to unify all departments, Zipcar chose to move to a 46,000 square foot converted warehouse in Boston’s Innovation District and to create the “Zipcar Building.”

The new Zipcar HQ was a great opportunity to re-imagine their office space as an entire community. The space has been designed as a flexible work environment to support the dynamic growth of the company. The project includes a new lobby with views directly into the company gathering area and living room, conference, and training space; individual and collaborative work areas; and dining areas.

After assisting in the renovations for National Development’s property asset at 101 Station, MP provided design services for a new tenant – The Predictive Index. PI is a fast-growing firm, adding more than 30 employees in a year, and needed a new office expressive of its brand and culture that could help it attract and retain talent. Even though they had doubled their space, PI needed a flexible space to accommodate future growth.

Working closely with designer Lannhi Tran of Little Dragon Decor, MP created the new headquarters to be reflective of the company’s commitment to employee engagement and teamwork. Huddle spaces in the café offer flexible meeting spots. The firm’s signature red is a brand color splashed throughout the offices. A large percentage of the walls are demountable, providing the team with more glass and writable surfaces than would be available with a traditional stick-built environment. The demountable wall system also allows for more flexible expansion options for the fast-growing firm.

In 2008 MP designed the new 36,000 square foot headquarters for Sapient, a global leader in business and technology consultancy, creating an open office and collaborative culture, which was indicative of the way the company was working at the time.

Four years later, the company expanded their market and acquired a new division called SapientNitro, an award-winning digital marketing and technology services firm. Due to this expansion, they leased an additional 22,000 square feet in their current building and re-hired MP to develop a new workplace strategy to reflect the changes in the company and to attract both clients and existing and new employees.

Through extensive research it was clear that Sapient was open to a dramatic change to their current culture: They no longer felt the need for a formal reception area, but rather a space that could be included in presentations and act as an impromptu meeting area for employees to bump into each other.

Rather than their current workstations, they have adopted the concept of condensed benching system to provide more pockets of space for alternative workplaces for individual and collaborative work, team meetings, and war rooms.

MP provided design services for renovations to the headquarters of National Development, one of New England’s largest development companies. The design opened the ceiling to brighten the space and used an abundance of glass to promote transparency and light. Providing space planning and interior design services, MP substantially updated the office design and relocated amenities to create an open, modern, and collaborative space for staff.

A connecting staircase was designed to unite the second floor with the third floor multi-use café, which features a bar with custom cabinetry and high-top tables along the perimeter of the lounge area. A reclaimed wood feature wall creates a comfortable, at-home feel. To allow National Development’s operations to continue during construction, MP phased the renovation schedule and used available swing space.

Over the years, MP and National Development have collaborated on several building repositioning projects in Massachusetts, including the 101 Station Drive office building at University Station in Westwood and the medical office building conversion of 200 Unicorn Park in Woburn.