Work Category v2: Workplaces

This financial institution in the Back Bay of Boston needed a workplace that supported its new operational strategy, providing employees with mobility, flexibility, and a little fun too. They needed a collaborative, executive-style office that also offered opportunities for focus in both formal and informal areas.

To create a welcoming space, TRIA designed a floor plan that maximized the use of natural light. Warm tones coupled with a variety of zones that support different postures achieved the goal of promoting a healthy culture that is also supportive and innovative.  Visual and acoustic privacy were also high priorities. Equipped with planning ratios after interactive visioning workshops, TRIA programmed the space to include solo and duo rooms, focus workstations and pods, huddle rooms, along with larger open offices and meeting rooms. Design elements like the acoustic ceiling baffles and thoughtful textile choices contribute to an effort to maintain a cozy yet professional environment.

Launched in 2017, Ring Therapeutics created a discovery and development platform that aims to usher in a new programmable medicine by harnessing the natural human commensal virome. It is now building a rich portfolio of therapeutic candidates targeting several areas.

As pioneers of the next generation of gene therapy, Ring was ready for its own space in Cambridge to embark on its mission. The new headquarters needed to support the staff’s creativity, energetic commitment and forward-thinking science. In addition, the CEO’s appreciation for nature, Japanese architecture and Zen philosophy needed to be incorporated into the overall design.

When TRIA became involved in the project, the building had just been repositioned for lab use. The new configuration resulted in a floor plan resembling a horseshoe shape. This curve—and the company’s agenda of disruption in the gene therapy space—allowed us to bend the rules in office standards.  As you walk on the main path, you can serendipitously pass through each of the zones that address the office and lab needs: Pause, Agile, Converse and Refresh. Focusing on access to natural light, the floor plan strikes a balance between defined private places to retreat and think and comfortable public spaces that foster impromptu collaboration and team connections.

Curved pathways, circular lighting, and rounded agile furniture provide a fun, lively, and engaging workspace. Felt baffling on the ceiling, playful lounge furniture, and oversized drum pendants modernize the space as creative innovation comes to life.

Our palette draws inspiration from the textures, colors, and tones found in Kyoto’s temple gardens to provide more context. We’ve strategically incorporated pops of color to define specific zones, such as feature walls, ceiling baffles, and furniture. These vibrant accents also take cues from Ring’s brand colors.

Ring Therapeutics CEO Tuyen Ong, MD, MBA. said, “I’ve appreciated the collaborative partnership with TRIA as we set out to create a space combining modern design with traditional Zen philosophy. It’s been tremendously rewarding to bring this to life and we hope this space will continue to inspire and energize us in our important mission.”

For more behind the scenes details, please click here to read our feature on The IIDA Designer Monologues.

2022 ISPE Facility of the Year Award Winner for Innovation!

CRISPR Therapeutics, a Switzerland-based gene-editing company, focuses on the development of transformative gene-based medicines for serious diseases. Continued success and anticipated annual growth created an opportunity for TRIA to create a highly innovative lab and office space near its new cGMP Manufacturing space.

This flexible, digitally-enabled facility is unique in utilizing a compact design with multiple independent production suites, each capable of producing a different product at a different stage of development while maintaining strict product segregation.

TRIA’s design task was to create an inspiring and cohesive facility that houses GMP manufacturing, but also labs, warehouses and supporting office and amenity spaces. It needed to be unique to the Framingham location while maintaining the brand integrity of its other locations.

Bringing individuality to the space was through lighting and wall graphics. Our design team created a large custom light fixture for their café space that is a replica of a compound. Abundant natural light and the use of glass walls provide a connection between office and manufacturing and promote interaction and collaboration.

Each of the labs has a unique wall covering, inspired by actual CRISPR cells and molecules. TRIA used photos of actual CRISPR cells and molecules, distorting the images while incorporating their colors bringing warmth and unique branding to a typically sterile environment.

Our team provided full services and delivered an award-winning lab and office, earning the 2022 ISPE Facility of the Year Award for Innovation. This annual program recognizes state-of-the-art projects utilizing new, innovative technologies to improve the quality of products, reduce the cost of producing high-quality medicines, and demonstrate advances in project delivery.

A clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, Scholar Rock, was outgrowing its current space. TRIA was brought on board initially to provide visioning and programming/planning services and subsequently hired for the design to relocate their headquarters.  Scholar Rock’s new 50,000 SF space features a 45/55 lab and office split.

The design focused on implementing branding throughout the space and creating a comfortable work environment for the employees. Their namesake, a scholar rock, which is believed to reveal inner strength and truth, adorns the lobby entrance, greeting all employees and visitors who enter. Touches of wood throughout the space offer a natural and welcoming feel. The open office space provides a selection of glass-paned huddle areas and conference rooms around the building’s core, encouraging employee collaboration and communication. The office space also features layered open ceiling grids, which conceal ductwork and give a sense of place and path amongst the open office areas. A large café doubles as a company assembly space. In the café, two ceiling projectors are cloaked by a wooden shroud, becoming an aerial sculpture and the focus of the café area. The open lab space connects with the office and amenity spaces through shared flooring and ceiling details and integrating the same color palette through accent walls. Additional lab spaces include phage displays, tissue culture rooms, cold rooms, and mass spec.

Affinivax is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of a novel class of vaccines, including its highly efficient vaccine technology called Multiple Antigen Presenting System (MAPS) .

TRIA provided architectural design services for fit-out of a third floor lab and office space in a multi-tenant building. Beginning with intensive visioning and programming work, the space was designed to highlight Affinivax’s mission through elegant brand statements and extensive use of glass, allowing employees and visitors to see into the labs. In addition, a central “path” allows continuous circulation throughout lab and office. With a selection of a huddle and collaboration areas in both the lab and office, the design encourages teamwork and communication, while giving employees flexibility and versatility throughout their workday.

Affinivax was acquired by GSK in August, 2022.