Work Category v2: Workplaces

TRIA’s holistic approach to PureTech Health’s new headquarters at Innovation Square (iSQ) in Boston’s Seaport district creates a workspace with a seamless connection between lab and office. By incorporating an abundance of glass walls to convey light and transparency, visitors are welcomed with a view into the lab to witness the discoveries taking place there. The design of the space is dramatic and sophisticated featuring dark exposed ceilings, brick columns, deep grey walls. A centrally located café provides an outdoor garden experience with mossy wallcoverings and light fixtures resembling lanterns. Nearby, the staircase connecting PureTech’s two floors is a focal point of the space with rope-like features surrounding the open stair. Coinciding with the breathtaking design of the office and amenity spaces, all-black casework provides PureTech’s open lab with a stand-out design that is unique for the industry.

TRIA provided interior architecture and corporate design services for Cresa’s relocation of its Boston office to the 10th floor of Atlantic Wharf, a mixed-use tower in Boston’s vibrant Waterfront District. The need was to create an open, modern, and collaborative workspace that maximizes natural light and spectacular views of Boston Harbor.

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. TRIA did so by incorporating varied work areas, a mix of meeting spaces, utilizing the cafe as a collaborative zone, and a focus on technology and AV.

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 and adjoining conference room features a fully integrated, seamless technology system, with on flat-panel screen for branding facing reception and another screen facing conference room participants.

In the end, the energetic physical space reflects Cresa’s evolution and growth as a company while showcasing the workplace strategy design elements its clients seek.

TRIA was hired by Forest City Realty Trust to renovate and update its lobby with restrooms for a building repositioning. The design needed to blend with other tenants’ decor. We loved working with the winding glass staircase that has a stretch fabric light on the ceiling to help mimic natural daylight and reflect light off the glass.

TRIA was awarded a 2018 IIDA New England Design Award in the Research Lab category for this project.

TRIA provided architectural design services for Blueprint Medicines’ new 130,000 square foot headquarters. Featuring a mix of lab, office, and amenity spaces, the design showcases the company culture by integrating a modern aesthetic with a warm and inviting palette, which came from the all-employee visioning session. The flow of the space was created to accommodate “a day in the life of a Blueprint-er.” This employee focus helped to develop a headquarters that truly considers all aspects of the space. It removes the separation from lab and office to create a cohesive space that employees are happy to work in.

TRIA completed Phase II in 2019, which completed renovations for the remainder of the building.

TRIA provided design services for a new workplace for Folium Capital, a forestry and agriculture investment firm. The design team 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. The design 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 Boston’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.

This project required full architectural and engineering services to renovate approximately 70,000 SF of office and lab space for Ocular Therapeutix’s new headquarters in Bedford, MA. TRIA had been engaged during the pre-project phase to create test-fits of Ocular’s high-level program into the existing space at 15 Crosby, which continued on to design and construction.

The intention of this project was to use the inherent value in the building and create a more open, brighter, and updated space to support the work style, culture, and scientific function that Ocular needed. The project scope included several cleanrooms on the first and second floors, office space, and a new lobby staircase.

TRIA partnered with DPS for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering and fire protection services.

For Seqirus’ lab and office relocation, TRIA designed the interior fit-out of the 20,880 SF space for 70 percent office/support function and 30 percent laboratory function. The office portion has lower height cubicles with glass-lined conference rooms and offices around the perimeter of the space. Breathtaking views of the Boston skyline help create an open and inviting atmosphere. The large kitchenette contains an open conference/collaboration area. Research rooms include cleanrooms, FACS room, virus room, cold room, analytical room, and a BSL-3, which joins the handful of BSL-3’s located in Cambridge.

Takeda’s vision as a pharmaceutical company is to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments, guided by its commitment to patients, people and planet.

In the workspace, the company wanted to support different work styles. As such, a variety of multi-use spaces were created, including telepresence rooms, “train cars,” and an outdoor roof deck. Transparency from office to lab, and spreading the lab across multiple floors instead of just one floor, allowed for a connectedness to the company’s core mission.

One of the key drivers of this project was to create an open office space, much different from what currently existed on campus. To achieve this goal, minimal closed offices were constructed to maximize floor efficiency, access to natural light, and collaboration.

Sherwood Butler was the managing principal of this project at Perkins+Will where this project was completed.

Relocating offices to accommodate its growing team, TeraRecon, a tech firm that provides advanced visualization and artificial intelligence technology in the healthcare industry, wanted its new space to feature an open workplace design that was pleasing and comfortable for employees. To accomplish this, a majority of walls were removed and the kitchenette was designed completely open to the rest of the open office. This open concept also allowed light to penetrate the space, as many windows lined the perimeter of the office. Strategic pops of vibrant color were integrated into the space to offer a fun and casual feel.

Wayfair, an e-commerce company selling furniture and home goods, relocated and expanded from its previous space on Huntington Avenue to its current space at Four Copley Place, now serving as its global headquarters.

The design needed to encourage designer collaboration and interaction. Open floor plans and interconnecting stairs, in conjunction with kitchenettes and cafeterias dispersed throughout the floors and towers, encourage employees to move through the space and engage with their peers. Another key requirement was to allow the workplace to showcase Wayfair’s furniture and home goods. In addition, it was necessary to maintain brand consistency throughout all the phases and at the same time offer a workspace that encourages designer creativity.