Quick turnaround: Partners HealthCare

This administrative building, the largest in Somerville, Mass., consolidates 4,500 employees from 14 locations across Boston into one place. The project’s 30-month schedule was half of the typical time frame for such a building. So the Building Team had little margin for delays or mistakes.

Twice-weekly meetings that included the client, AEC firms, and consultants were guided by seven core values that served as a roadmap during the design process. Once construction began, project leaders established a risk assessment group that identified and assessed potential problems weekly. 

The building creates an “all-under-one-roof” organizational concept and culture, with a training center, multipurpose auditorium (available for use by campus residents, the local community, and the Partners’ network), community hubs, and outdoor spaces that include two acres of green space and walking paths. The facility is near a new subway stop, which connects the building to Somerville’s developing mixed-use Assembly Row.   

By corralling its operations into one building, the client is realizing considerable savings on rent, and provides its employees with more convenient meeting spaces. Courtesy Robert Benson Photography.

Ten floors are devoted to workplace “neighborhoods” that foster engagement and collaboration. The first floor offers leasable retail space. 

By consolidating activities and events in its new central amenity hub, Partners HealthCare, which provides at-home health and nursing services to the elderly, has eliminated rental fees it was paying for multiple locations. Partners estimates that it will save $10 to $13 million annually from consolidating its operations. 

To prepare its workforce for the move, a comprehensive communications program engaged all 4,500 users with targeted, customized messaging. Before their arrival into the building, employees received details about their work environment and on-site food and snack options, which include a full-service cafeteria.

Building Team – Submitting firm, architect Gensler Developer Leggat McCall Properties Structural engineer McNamara/Salvia MEP engineer Buro Happold Engineering Contractor Suffolk Construction

General Information – Size 825,000 sf Cost: $465 million Construction time January 2014 to June 2016 Delivery method CM at risk

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