In the coastal town of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass., an abandoned rock quarry will be transformed into a new research and innovation campus designed by HGA. The campus will reuse and upcycle the granite left onsite.
The project for Cell Signaling Technology (CST), a life sciences technology company, will turn an environmentally depleted site into a net-zero laboratory campus, with building electrification and onsite renewables. The building’s heating, cooling, and hot water will be sourced from geothermal energy. The sustainable campus will target LEED, LEED Zero Carbon, and WELL certifications.
“This is an architect’s dream—to marry our design thinking and holistic approach with CST’s project aspirations while transforming an abandoned quarry into a new campus for life sciences research,” Samir Srouji, principal with HGA, said in a statement.
To support everyday life and employee wellbeing, the design includes a Quarry Garden and Upper Quad designed by landscape architects Studio 2112. These outdoor spaces will connect to a network of trails around the site. A primary circulation route will direct activity from the cloistered Upper Quad, the heart of the campus, to the Quarry Garden, located at the cliff’s base.
The project prioritizes low embodied carbon and healthier materials. Proposed materials include a natural granite base with brick cladding, curtain wall technology with vacuum-insulated glazing, and mass timber structure for the multipurpose lobby pavilion. To foster a thriving natural ecosystem, the project includes native plantings, resilient stormwater management, and a woodland environment.
Sightlines will extend throughout the building, providing natural light and an unobstructed view of the surrounding landscape and the scientists at work. In the flexible open lab environment, robust mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems will enable the facility to adapt to new technology and instruments in the future.
On the Building Team:
Owner: Cell Signaling Technology
Design architect and architect of record: HGA
MEP and structural engineer: BR+A
General contractor: Columbia
Related Stories
Laboratories | May 20, 2022
Brutalist former Berkeley Art Museum transformed into modern life science lab
After extensive renovation and an addition, the former Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive at the University of California, Berkeley campus reopened in May 2022 as a modern life science lab building.
Laboratories | Apr 29, 2022
Oracle Industry Lab in Chicago enables development of solutions for multiple industries
The Oracle Industry Lab in Chicago, which provides customers in multiple industries the opportunity to test new technologies, recently opened.
Laboratories | Apr 7, 2022
North Carolina's latest play for biotech real estate development
The Tar Heel State is among a growing number of markets rolling out the welcome mat for lab spaces.
Projects | Mar 11, 2022
Studying science in the sky
In sharp contrast to other types of commercial real estate, the life sciences market is booming, according to SGA, an architecture firm based in Boston and New York that has extensive experience designing life sciences buildings.
Laboratories | Feb 10, 2022
Historic building becomes a research science incubator
Svigals + Partners designed the project.
Laboratories | Feb 8, 2022
A new concept for science buildings emphasizes construction speed and design flexibility
The NEXT prototype—devised by Gensler, KPFF, and Buro Happold—also leans toward decarbonization and wellness.
Laboratories | Feb 3, 2022
New veterinarian building is Norway’s largest ever development in the university sector
The project is one of the largest and most complex ever undertaken in Norway.
Laboratories | Jan 28, 2022
3 must-know strategies for developers in today’s life sciences industry
While the life sciences industry had been steadily growing, this growth exploded when the pandemic arrived—and there is no indication that this lightning-fast pace will slow down any time soon.
Laboratories | Jan 17, 2022
A health crisis gives life to life sciences
Construction and renovation projects are heaviest in markets with consistent talent streams.
University Buildings | Jan 11, 2022
Designing for health sciences education: supporting student well-being
While student and faculty health and well-being should be a top priority in all spaces within educational facilities, this article will highlight some key considerations.
