Insights Category: Design Innovation

Creating the Look of Daylight in a Repositioned Lobby

DATE

January 24, 2019

Author

Donald Bárány

Staff Bio

Donald Bárány

Donald Bárány

Refreshed lobby at 38 Sidney Street
Photo by Sri Thumati Photography

Article originally appeared in High-Profile Monthly on January 24, 2019.

It’s clear that an attractive building lobby can help attract potential tenants. With that goal in mind, Forest City Realty Trust, now owned by Brookfield Properties, endeavored to update all the office building lobbies at University Park at MIT, a mixed-use science and technology park adjacent to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. The Clark Building at 38 Sidney Street, a five-story, 122,000sf office, research, and lab building, houses several major pharmaceutical and healthcare companies and fronts the University Park Common, the central greenspace of the campus setting. Design firm TRIA was engaged to create a refreshed lobby for 38 Sidney Street and achieve a new building positioning that would appeal to biotech tenants while maintaining a cohesive look amongst the other recently updated adjacent building lobbies.

Built in the 1980s, the existing lobby space at 38 Sidney was dark and dated and had limited natural lighting. TRIA’s design intent was to create a more timeless, museum-like setting by utilizing a simple, modern design. The design centered around the core concept of creating the illusion of natural daylight deep inside the space.

The main focal point of the lobby is the winding glass-and-steel staircase that features a large, stretched-fabric lighted fixture on the ceiling to help mimic natural daylight and reflect light off the glass. Throughout the lobby, indirect recessed lighting is cleverly integrated into the architecture to flood the space with light and cause light to sparkle, like natural sunlight, through the glass treads of the staircase.

A complex design of “stepped” folding walls and ceilings feature embedded LED lights that frame the eye through the lobby, to the vestibule of the main entrance where University Park Common is visible. Delicate recessed LED wall washers follow the folding geometry to create a cascade of light. Light-colored wood-paneled walls balance the cascading effect of the walls and ceilings while providing a neutral backdrop. A custom-made quartz reception desk offers visitors a veritable art piece in the museum-looking space, and a cozy sitting area adjacent to reception features two LCD screens recessed into the wall to display a building directory and other news.

From the lobby, dark walnut wood-framed openings create thresholds to two tenant corridor spaces. The stone-sourced light tile lobby floor shifts to complementary toned carpets in these corridors, with a dropped cloud ceiling accentuating the spaces. Natural plants and banquette seating with green cushions draw the colors of nature from University Park Common into the lobby.

TRIA collaborated closely with Siena Construction to construct the complicated architecture of folding geometry, integrated lighting, and staircase at 38 Sidney Street. Structural engineering firm Goldstein-Milano consulted on the glass-and-steel staircase as well as the infill of the two-story atrium space above the main entrance. The project team also included WB Engineers + Consultants for MEP engineering and Reflex Lighting for light fixture selection.

About the Author

Donald Bárány is a project designer at TRIA, a partner-led architecture firm with a focus on designing unique spaces for science & technology and corporate clients. For more information, please visit https://tria.design/.

Design Elements that Define a Successful Open Office Environment

DATE

September 24, 2018

Author

Lucianna Lucarelli

Staff Bio

Lucianna Lucarelli

Lucianna Lucarelli

A change in how – and where – people work has given companies the motivation to embrace an open and collaborative workspace. While studies have shown that this trend can increase productivity, boost employee satisfaction, and attract and retain top talent, the transition from a traditional office design to an open and collaborative workspace can be daunting to some employees.

The most effective open office environments provide a variety of work settings and meeting areas to best support employees. A successful design is tailored toward a company’s business goals and culture, and appeals to how employees work and what tools they find useful. Enhanced common areas, meeting rooms and social spaces can help to foster interaction and team work, increasing job satisfaction and productivity while requiring less square footage per person than individual offices.

When Cresa relocated its Boston office to the 10th floor of Atlantic Wharf, a mixed-use tower in Boston’s vibrant Waterfront District, TRIA provided interior architecture and corporate design services to create an open, modern and collaborative workspace that maximizes natural light and spectacular views of Boston Harbor. The energetic physical space reflects Cresa’s evolution and growth as a company while showcasing the workplace strategy design elements its clients seek.

Shifting Cresa’s workspace from a traditional office design to an open office environment, TRIA’s approach was to incorporate various types of work settings and gathering spaces to create a casual and collaborative office. The existing space featured an open perimeter, high ceilings and expansive glass–features that helped to accentuate the abundance of natural light and views of the water. In designing the transition from Cresa’s former traditional office at 200 State Street to its new open office workspace, TRIA incorporated the following design elements:

  • Varied work areas: Cresa’s high performance workspace was designed to accommodate employee work styles and individual preferences. Glass-fronted offices and clusters of low-walled workstations provide transparency and connection, and draw natural light deeper into the space. Shared locker storage areas offer visual separation of work zones and double as stand-up meeting spaces for impromptu gatherings.
  • Meeting spaces: Following the trend of fewer dedicated conference rooms, Cresa opted instead for a mix of meeting and collaborative spaces based on the company’s work style. TRIA’s design provides plenty of choices for interaction, with technology-enabled conference rooms of varied sizes, small huddle areas with standing-height tables, and casual meeting rooms with soft seating.
  • Café as collaborative zone: Cresa’s new workspace features a central café with multiple seating options to encourage informal gatherings throughout the day. Designed as a multi-purpose collaboration zone, the café features an assortment of table seating, bar stools, and banquette seating to encourage employee engagement. The flexible space also accommodates larger company meetings and events.
  • Focus on technology: Cresa made a significant investment in technology and AV in the new office, including the installation of display screens in huddle spaces and conference rooms and the implementation of Zoom technology to support remote work. The combination of Zoom technology and the new open office environment allows employees to work more collaboratively internally and with clients.

In designing the space, TRIA blended a warm neutral palette with wood tones to create a sophisticated and modern yet inviting style. A range of polished and rustic materials enrich the space, including concrete flooring, exposed ceilings, reclaimed wood details and glass walls. A wood slat ceiling extends from Cresa’s reception area into the main tenant corridor to create a distinct feel as visitors enter the office. A demountable wall between the reception area and adjoining conference room features a fully integrated, seamless technology system, with one flat-panel screen for branding facing reception and another screen facing conference room participants.

While making the transition from traditional to modern office spaces can be challenging, a workspace that supports collaboration and encourages social interaction can help maximize efficiency and lead to happier employees.

About the Author

Lucianna Lucarelli is the director of interiors at TRIA. Her article was originally written for Cresa Boston’s blog.

DPS Group and TRIA Celebrate Opening of State-of-the-Art cGMP mRNA Clinical Manufacturing Facility for Moderna Therapeutics

Date

July 20, 2018

Photo courtesy of DPS Group

BOSTON, MA – July 20, 2018 – DPS Group, a privately-owned, global engineering, procurement, construction management and validation (EPCMV) firm serving high-tech process industries, and design affiliate TRIA, a partner-led architecture firm with a focus on science and technology organizations bringing new discoveries to the market, are pleased to announce the completion of a new 200,000 SF Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) mRNA clinical manufacturing facility for biotechnology company, Moderna Therapeutics. DPS and TRIA provided full architectural, engineering design, and project management services for the new clinical development manufacturing facility located at One Upland Road in Norwood, Mass. The facility’s official opening was marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony held on July 17th.

Moderna is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines to create a new generation of transformative medicines for patients. The company’s Norwood facility provides the capacity to develop materials for pre-clinical toxicology studies, as well as Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical development programs. It also has the capability to support new medicines enabled by Moderna’s mRNA platform.

“Our Norwood site gives us capability to manufacture materials for our pre-clinical and early-stage development programs for our portfolio of mRNA development candidates,” said Steve Harbin, Moderna’s Norwood manufacturing site lead. “DPS Group brought a tremendous depth of cGMP facility design experience to this ambitious project, and TRIA’s lab and workplace design expertise helped us to create an innovative work environment for our employees. With the completion of this facility, we have taken an important step in our efforts to advance new mRNA-based medicines and support our robust pipeline.”

As project architect and engineer of record for this project, DPS provided full engineering design and architecture services for all areas of the facility, including cGMP clinical manufacturing, drug substance suites, formulation, aseptic filling, plasmid production, quality control laboratories, pre-clinical laboratories, toxicology laboratories, and clinical and pre-clinical warehouses. DPS engineers and architects are highly skilled in executing the design of modern, compliant cGMP facilities for the manufacturing of innovative, safe and quality products.

DPS Group Chief Executive Frank Keogh said: “We are delighted to have worked with Moderna to bring this new state-of-the-art facility for the research and manufacture of a new generation of transformative medicines to completion. This project drew on all of the engineering, architectural and project management skills that DPS has developed in the USA since we first established here seven years ago.”

TRIA combines a collaborative design approach with a deep understanding of the unique needs of science-based organizations to create spaces where innovation can happen. As lab architect and interior designer, TRIA designed the office and lab areas, including three clinical labs, a glass-walled tour experience showcasing Moderna’s discovery and manufacturing process and an open office environment with flexible seating, collaboration areas and transparency to create visual connections between the office and lab/manufacturing spaces. Moderna’s culture and branding were key components in the design, with branding prominent throughout the entire facility. An employee amenity wing offers a lounge to gather and collaborate, a full-service dining facility and a conference center.

TRIA and DPS collaborated closely to ensure that all clinical and non-clinical program elements were designed in harmony with one another.

Previously located across three facilities in Cambridge, Mass., Moderna’s new, two-story facility consolidates elements of the company’s development, operations and nearly 200 employees under one roof. Designed and built on a two-year, fast-tracked schedule, the technically complex facility was also designed to achieve LEED certification. The 28-acre suburban campus includes walking paths, electric car charging stations and a fitness center with bike storage.

The project team included:

  • Project Architect and Engineer of Record: DPS Group
  • Lab Architect and Interior Designer: TRIA
  • Construction Manager: Wise Construction
  • Owner’s Rep: Hereva Consultants
  • Validation: ValSource
  • Structural Engineer: Pare Corporation
  • Civil Engineer: Kelly Engineering
  • Code Compliance Consultant: Jenson Hughes
  • Landlord: Alexandria Real Estate

About DPS

DPS Group is a global engineering, consulting and project management company, serving high-tech industries around the world. DPS delivers services for clients across the complete engineering and construction value chain including feasibility studies, concepts, consulting, architecture, engineering, procurement, construction management, commissioning, qualification and validation; as well as contingent staffing solutions.

DPS applies its extensive Process Engineering expertise built over 44 years, as well as significant Lean Construction experience to assist our clients in high-end process sectors such as pharmaceuticals, biotech and semiconductors deliver their manufacturing facilities speedily, safely and cost effectively. What sets us apart are the partnerships we build with our clients through a fundamental understanding of their businesses and our own agility, flexibility, original thinking and our high-caliber people.

We have grown substantially in recent years and now employ over 1,400 people in our offices and on client sites in Ireland, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Israel, Singapore and the United States. For more information, visit www.dpsgroupglobal.com.

About TRIA

TRIA practices the science of architecture. We combine a deep understanding of the unique needs of science-based organizations with decades of experience constructing spaces and places that enable those organizations to meet their goals. Using a principal-driven approach, we partner closely with clients to enable business success and advance new discoveries, in the lab and across the organization. Visit us on the web at https://tria.design and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Cresa and TRIA Announce Completion of Three Boston-Area Offices

Date

November 16, 2017

Folium Capital, Photo by Richard Gayle Photography

Newton Scientific Inc., Photo by Richard Gayle Photography

Sverica Capital Management, LLC, Photo by Richard Gayle Photography

BOSTON, MA – November 15, 2017 – The Boston office of Cresa, the world’s largest tenant-only commercial real estate firm, and TRIA, a partner-led architecture firm with a focus on science/technology and commercial organizations, are pleased to announce that the firms completed three new office projects for Boston-area companies: Folium Capital, Newton Scientific, and Sverica Capital Management. Cresa provided advisory and project management services and TRIA provided interior architecture and corporate design services for all three projects.

“We are very satisfied with the level of work TRIA produces, and appreciate the passion, energy, and detail they apply to each project,” said Barry Dube, principal, project management at Cresa Boston. “We have a lot of confidence in the TRIA team, and know that together we deliver responsive, proactive service to our clients.”

Cresa and TRIA have successfully collaborated on seven corporate office projects to date, leveraging their strong working relationship, understanding of their respective work processes, and sharing a like-minded approach to client service. Their ongoing collaboration builds upon the positive momentum between the two companies who share common cultures defined by superior client service and expertise in complex projects.

“From our first project together, the synergy between Cresa and TRIA has been remarkable. The combination of our corporate design and project management expertise has resulted in a productive relationship that greatly benefits our clients,” said Lucianna Lucarelli, director of interiors at TRIA. “Together, we generate strategic solutions that enhance corporate interior projects and provide value to our clients.”

Folium Capital

Folium Capital, a forestry and agriculture investment firm, recently moved into its first permanent office space. Cresa provided transaction and project management services and TRIA provided design services to create a 3,988 SF workplace at One Beacon Street in Boston. TRIA incorporated natural design elements that reflect Folium’s corporate culture, including warm walnut wood floors, light fixtures shaped like water droplets, and reception signage created from preserved foliage. TRIA further captured the natural aspects of Folium’s business with green accents amidst a neutral color scheme to create a calm and contemplative environment. A design goal was to create as much transparency as possible with a focus on strategic reuse, including an exterior wall conference room with glass fronts to welcome sunlight deeper into the interior offices and workstations. Cresa’s project management team assisted the client with project team selection, which included JDL of Boston as construction manager and AKF Engineering of Boston as MEP Engineer.

Newton Scientific

Newton Scientific, a high voltage technology company designing and producing particle accelerators and high voltage systems, was outgrowing its headquarters in Cambridge and engaged Cresa to assist with site selection. It sought a more efficient location that housed all its employees on one floor to facilitate collaboration and communication as well as contained the infrastructure necessary to accommodate its manufacturing and research and development needs. Cresa provided transaction and project management services for a 12,248 SF office in the Schrafft Center at 529 Main Street in Charlestown, Mass. TRIA provided design services to create an airy, open atmosphere with an abundance of natural light and transparency between private offices and the lab space. The design required careful structural planning to safely house high voltage machinery within a steel cage. Completed on a fast-track schedule, the project team included Proficient Builders of Danvers, Mass. as construction manager and AKF Engineering of Boston as MEP Engineer.

Sverica Capital Management

Sverica Capital Management is a financial management firm that sought a more efficient and polished office space. Cresa provided advisory and project management services for Sverica’s relocation from 800 Boylston Street to One Boston Place in Boston, and TRIA provided design services to create a 3,564 SF workspace. The project team included Tremont Interiors of Boston as construction manager and AKF Engineering of Boston as MEP Engineer.

About Cresa

Cresa is the world’s largest tenant-only commercial real estate firm. By representing only one party – the tenant – Cresa avoids inherent conflicts of interest and provides conflict-free advice to clients. The firm leverages its expertise, market insight and years of experience to give clients leverage with the landlord. Cresa applies strategic solutions that reduce costs, improve operations and enhance the performance of a client’s workforce. Integrated services cover every aspect of a real estate transaction from site selection and financing to project management and relocation services. Cresa offers clients customized solutions with more than 60 offices in 75 markets worldwide. For more information about Cresa Boston, visit https://www.cresa.com/boston.

About TRIA

TRIA practices the architecture of discovery. We combine a deep understanding of the unique needs of science-based organizations with decades of experience constructing spaces and places that enable those organizations to meet their goals. Using a principal-driven approach, we partner closely with clients to enable business success and advance new discoveries, in the lab and across the organization. Visit us on the web at http://tria.design/ and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

TRIA Completes Design of Oncorus Headquarters

Date

October 24, 2017

Photos by Richard Gayle Photography

BOSTON, MA – October 24, 2017 – TRIA, a partner-led architecture firm with a focus on science and technology organizations bringing new discoveries to the market, announced today the completion of a new 12,300 SF headquarters for Oncorus®, Inc., a biotechnology company developing a portfolio of next-generation immunotherapy products to treat several types of cancer. Located at 50 Hampshire Street in Cambridge, Mass., Oncorus’s new headquarters features an efficient and flexible workspace that supports the company’s scientific research mission and reflects the company’s branding and culture.

“From the beginning of our relationship, TRIA understood how we work and our need for a collaborative work environment,” said Stacy Gilroy, Director, Operations at Oncorus. “TRIA’s design for our lab and office provides an efficiency of space while creating an energy and vibe where employees feel inspired, as well as valued and appreciated, qualities imperative to retaining top talent. We couldn’t be more pleased with our new home.”

The TRIA design team took a holistic approach to the design of Oncorus’s headquarters. The interior designer and lab designer worked closely to design a cohesive integrated space with a variety of work areas, including labs to support highly specific needs, conference rooms for technical presentations, and collaboration areas for impromptu meetings and social interaction. Special attention was paid to the separation of work spaces and work flows in the company’s specialty lab functions. Work stations along the window line allow natural light to penetrate deep into the space, and conference rooms on the interior feature glass walls to offer transparency. One of the conference rooms features a wall-sized window to the company’s lab, providing a view to the exciting scientific discoveries taking place.

Oncorus’s headquarters also includes a versatile kitchen/break area that can accommodate all-company meetings. Specialty design features, such as a rustic-inspired reception desk and a barn door in the kitchen area, bring a stylistic edge and uniqueness to the space. Pops of selective color in the furniture and wall paint convey warmth and energy. Sustainable materials were used wherever possible, including LED lighting with automated controls, recycled materials, and locally sourced products.

Oncorus is a leader in corporate philanthropy and has taken a pledge to donate a portion of product sales revenue to fund promising cancer research and to support cancer care in the developing world.

The Oncorus project team includes:

  • Architect: TRIA
  • General Contractor: The Richmond Group
  • MEP/FP Engineers: AHA Consulting Engineers
  • Landlord: BioMed Realty
  • Facility Management: Fletcher Martin Corporation

About TRIA

TRIA practices the science of architecture. We combine a deep understanding of the unique needs of science-based organizations with decades of experience constructing spaces and places that enable those organizations to meet their goals. Using a principal-driven approach, we partner closely with clients to enable business success and advance new discoveries, in the lab and across the organization. Visit us on the web at http://tria.design/ and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

About Oncorus, Inc.

Oncorus, Inc., is a biotechnology company developing a portfolio of next-generation immunotherapy products, leveraging its proprietary oncolytic Herpes viruses platform, to treat several types of cancer, including highly malignant and aggressive cancers, based upon the work of renowned scientists Joseph Glorioso III, Ph.D., and Paola Grandi, Ph.D., from the University of Pittsburgh. A leader in corporate philanthropy, Oncorus has taken a pledge to donate a portion of product sales to fund promising cancer research and to support cancer care in the developing world. The company is located in Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Visit www.oncorus.com for more information.

DPS and TRIA Selected to Design 200,000 SF GMP mRNA Clinical Manufacturing Facility for Moderna Therapeutics

Date

October 6, 2016

FRAMINGHAM, MA – October 5, 2016 – DPS, the global engineering group and its US architectural partner TRIA has won a major contract to provide architectural, engineering and project management services for a new $110 million, 200,000-square foot GMP mRNA clinical manufacturing facility in Norwood, Massachusetts, for biotechnology company, Moderna Therapeutics.

DPS is providing full architectural and engineering design for the Norwood facility and also providing construction management oversight, commissioning, qualification and validation and procurement services. TRIA is designing clinical labs, offices, employee facilities and a conference center. Construction of the new facility is due to begin in October 2016 and be completed in early 2018.

DPS CEO Frank Keogh said, “This is a significant contract win for DPS and builds on the strong relationship we have developed with Moderna. We are proud to be supporting Moderna with this major investment in Norwood. This project demonstrates DPS’s ability to bid for and win large-scale capital investment design projects in the US.”

Moderna Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) Therapeutics™ to create a new generation of transformative medicines for patients. The company’s Norwood facility will enable the manufacture, quality, control and supply of clinical grade mRNA therapies and vaccines for Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) toxicology studies as well as Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical studies. Moderna will carry out all manufacturing activities at the site—from raw material production to active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), formulation, filling and finish.

About DPS

We’re an innovative and entrepreneurial Project Management and Engineering company that puts your interests first, with a great emphasis on people before process. We’ve been serving industry around the world for 42 years, relied on for our agility, original thinking, sound judgement and high-calibre people. What sets us apart is the rapport we build with you and the care we take to gain a fundamental understanding of your businesses and how you operate.

DPS delivers Full Service Engineering with a ‘client first’ mentality and personal touch across a range of disciplines: Project and Programme Management, Procurement, Design, Construction Management, Health & Safety Management, Commissioning, Qualification and Start-up. We have one goal: to deliver more than you expect first time, every time. Our sector expertise spans many markets including Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, Medical Technologies, Oil and Gas, Advanced Technology, Food & Beverage, Energy and Science & Education.

We have grown substantially in recent years and now employ over 1,200 people in Dublin and Cork, Ireland; Leiden, Netherlands; Brussels, Belgium; Singapore, Kiryat Gat, Israel; Albany, Boston and Durham, United States. For more information, visit www.dpsgroupglobal.com.

About TRIA

Established in 2015 and based in the innovation hub of Boston, TRIA practices the architecture of discovery. The firm combines a deep understanding of the unique needs of science-based organizations with decades of experience constructing spaces and places that enable those organizations to meet their goals. Using a principal-driven approach, TRIA partners closely with clients to enable business success and advance new discoveries, in the lab and across the organization. For more information, visit www.tria.design and connect on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter at ‪@TRIA_Inc.

TRIA Launches, Bringing the Architecture of Discovery to Science and Technology Organizations

Date

January 2, 2016

BOSTON, MA – December 1, 2015 – TRIA, a partner-led architecture firm with a focus on sciences and technology organizations bringing new discoveries to the market, launched today in the innovation hub of Boston—the city’s Seaport district.

Founded by Managing Principal Sherwood Butler and Principal Jeannie Pierce Thacker, TRIA brings a deep understanding of the unique needs of science-based organizations, as well as decades of experience constructing the spaces that make breakthroughs possible.

Sherwood Butler, formerly with Perkins + Will, played an integral role in leading that firm’s life sciences practice through a period of significant growth and client expansion. Prior to that, Butler was with Signer Harris Architects.

Jeannie Pierce Thacker, also formerly with Perkins + Will and Signer Harris Architects, has an extensive background working with life sciences clients. She also brings real-world scientific experience to the firm, having held research positions with Harvard Medical School and Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

“Scientific breakthroughs require fresh thinking, technology tools, and the physical space in which to bring discoveries to life,” said Sherwood Butler, managing principal. “By matching our skills and experience to our clients’ mission and vision, we solve business challenges and foster innovation.”

With plans to serve clients primarily in the Cambridge and Greater Boston area, TRIA is backed in part through a strategic investment by DPS Engineering, based in Framingham, MA. The companies will maintain a complimentary working relationship, but are not operating as exclusive partners in the disciplines of engineering, architecture, and design.

“Ultimately, the measure of our success is in our clients’ success,” added Jeannie Pierce Thacker, principal. “Our principal-driven approach puts our leadership team at the table with client decision-makers, enabling direct, honest, and open dialogue throughout every stage in the process.”

About TRIA

TRIA practices the science of architecture. We combine a deep understanding of the unique needs of science-based organizations with decades of experience constructing spaces and places that enable those organizations to meet their goals. Using a principal-driven approach, we partner closely with clients to enable business success and advance new discoveries, in the lab and across the organization. Visit us on the web and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.