For over a decade, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has leased space in Cambridge at 60 Hampshire Street and One Kendall Square. As the lease neared its term, the drug discovery company had to make big decisions about its real estate options. Sam Wilde, Idenix’s Facilities Director, hired Lab / Life. Science. Architecture, Inc. (LAB) to assist in determining their space requirements and to explore how they would fit into a number of available properties in and out of the city.
Initially, the lure of the suburban R&D properties, with bigger footprints and lower rents, held sway over the company. Upon closer examination of the company’s priorities, however, the leadership determined that Kendall Square best suited their strategic needs. This was primarily due to the access to academic research in the area and the collaborative partnerships Idenix has enjoyed with other Cambridge-based biotech companies.
Never losing sight of the financial aspects of the decision to remain in Cambridge, Idenix started to focus on a real estate solution that had retained value through the reuse of existing laboratory space. This led them, eventually, to a deal with BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. (BMR) whose portfolio of space included an existing lab/office at 320 Bent Street that very closely approximated the office / chemistry / biology ratio that Idenix needed. According to Wilde, this solution best met the strategic objectives to “upgrade our facility and create a space that better suited our processes for R&D Research with an open environment more suited to open collaboration among our personnel.”
The existing space was not ideal in many ways, either from a functional or an aesthetic standpoint, so it was clear that a transformation was needed. Having developed a strong working relationship with BMR in the past, Idenix decided to have BMR deliver the space on a turnkey arrangement. BMR assembled a team that included The Richmond Group /TRG Builders and AHA Engineers, and was led by Mark Reed and Stephanie Goldberg, principals at LAB, as designers and architect of record.
Task One was to evaluate the existing conditions and determine the areas that had the best potential for laboratory re-use. Task Two was to clarify the circulation patterns and clear up a clutter of opaque support labs. Task 3 was to re-conceive the rabbit warren of office space as a light filled, open office environment. All together, this approach yielded a project plan that met the functional and aesthetic needs of Idenix at a construction cost that was substantially below industry standard. As Dave Mello of the Richmond Group said, “this is a great example of how to reposition a space on short money.”
Key features of the 40,000sf plan are the restoration of large areas of open lab environments for fume hood intense chemistry and bench based biology research. Second is the consolidation of support labs into simple rectilinear bands that reinforce the circulation concept. Third is the creation of an open and glassy lobby, conference, and office space that brings all personnel into easy access of one another. Finally, a 100-person lunch room / conference area sits in the heart of the floor plan, linking the lab and office zones. The vibrantly green furniture in this area evokes a city park and serves as the community hub of the company.
The turn-key renovation of lab and office space was delivered on time and on budget in April by the highly communicative and project-focused team of tenant, landlord, architects, engineers and builders. According to Wilde, “The project from design to construction to close-out went very smoothly. The process was open, the communication was very good and the follow up, when necessary, was very thorough. The entire project went as smooth as you’d because of the team atmosphere and open communication. When it came time to relocate the personnel and introduce them to the new space the company was delighted and energized.”
This piece was written by Mark Reed, Principal at Lab/Life.Science. Architecture of Charlestown, Mass.