University Research Park (URP) recently partnered with Valerio Dewalt Train (VDT) to produce a master plan meant to enliven and densify the office park’s existing facilities. A master plan was created with the intention of carving a new road from a bordering main artery street and adding below-grade parking to leave the ground level open for public space and amenities accessible by foot.
The master plan caught the eye of Exact Sciences, a molecular diagnostics company, which led to the company committing to working with URP and VDT to design an office building to serve as its headquarters. The new facility would bring together their executive and R&D teams into a single, collaborative, amenity-rich space.
The 135,000-sf building’s final design, which was shaped by biophilic design principles, comprises two interconnected volumes that sit on the northeast corner of the newly platted site, directly linking to the R&D labs on the south-eastern side. The curving enclosure of the primary volume is composed of bands of glass, ceramic print panels, and a zinc cladding that will patina over time. The exposed concrete structure lifts the organically shaped upper floors to give the appearance that the building is floating over the ground plane and exposing the wooden finish of its underbelly.
A double-height lobby is inset underneath while the second floor connects to the southern volume with a large cafeteria space expressed on the exterior with a rectilinear balcony that meets the street. The adjacent glass and steel volume, dubbed “the link,” connects to the labs with a stair and backlit panels that glow during evening hours.
Levels three through five feature desks, meeting rooms, and office amenities. Vertical circulation and services are tucked into the building’s core, which pushes the desk areas to the periphery to provide employees with unobstructed access to natural light and exterior views via floor-to-ceiling glazing. Additionally, three levels of parking are tucked beneath the ground plane.
Along with VDT, the build team also included Potter Lawson (interior designer), Findorff (general contractor), Smith Group (civil engineer), Thornton Tomassetti (structural engineer), and AEI (MEP and fire protection).
Related Stories
| Jan 3, 2012
Rental Renaissance, The Rebirth of the Apartment Market
Across much of the U.S., apartment rents are rising, vacancy rates are falling. In just about every major urban area, new multifamily rental projects and major renovations are coming online. It may be too soon to pronounce the rental market fully recovered, but the trend is promising.
| Dec 29, 2011
Seismic safety in question at thousands of California public schools
California regulators responsible for enforcing earthquake safety laws have failed to certify more than 16,000 construction projects in California public schools, increasing the risk that some projects may be unsafe, according to a state audit report.
| Dec 21, 2011
BBI key to Philly high-rise renovation
The 200,000 sf building was recently outfitted with a new HVAC system and a state-of-the-art window retrofitting system.
| Dec 20, 2011
Research identifies most expensive U.S. commercial real estate markets
New York City, Washington, D.C. and San Mateo, Calif., rank highest in rents.
| Dec 20, 2011
Aragon Construction leading build-out of foursquare office
The modern, minimalist build-out will have elements of the foursquare “badges” in different aspects of the space, using glass, steel, and vibrantly painted gypsum board.
| Dec 19, 2011
Chicago’s Aqua Tower wins international design award
Aqua was named both regional and international winner of the International Property Award as Best Residential High-Rise Development.
| Dec 19, 2011
Davis Construction breaks ground on new NIAID property
The new offices will total 490,998 square feet in a 10-story building with two wings of 25,000 square feet each.
| Dec 14, 2011
Belfer Research Building tops out in New York
Hundreds of construction trades people celebrate reaching the top of concrete structure for facility that will accelerate treatments and cures at world-renowned institution.
| Dec 13, 2011
Lutron’s Commercial Experience Center awarded LEED Gold
LEED certification of the Lutron facility was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include: optimization of energy performance through the use of lighting power, lighting controls and HVAC, plus the use of daylight.
| Dec 12, 2011
AIA Chicago announces Skidmore, Owings & Merrill as 2011 Firm of the Year
SOM has been a leader in the research and development of specialized technologies, new processes and innovative ideas, many of which have had a palpable and lasting impact on the design profession and the physical environment.