Sustainability
This project is certified LEED-Platinum.
Ten years after we designed Forrester Research’s 120,000-square-foot headquarters in Cambridge, MA, the lease was expiring and Forrester needed more space. MP helped design a new workplace strategy and select a new site for the company to continue its growth. Ultimately, the decision was made to move to a “build-to-suit” location where they could customize a six-story, 186,000-square-foot building to accommodate their needs.
Forrester has a unique culture: there is not a single private office in the entire company. Everyone works in open “pods”: communities of low, flexible workstations defined by the placement of “team rooms” and other community spaces. All conference rooms are named for Rock ‘n Roll stars, with all floors themed by decade. Significant emphasis is placed on ready access to video conferencing and other audio-visual resources, as everyone works on a laptop and work is done wherever it is most efficiently accomplished – not just at the individual’s desk.
Forrester Research’s “personality” pervades the space. Forrester believed in the importance of creating a “buzz” at the heart of their space, enlivening the atmosphere and promoting a sense of interaction; MP created a dramatic staircase and reception atrium to support that “buzz.”