Genzyme Corporation's headquarters in Boston highlights Buro Happold's talent for designing visually stunning, innovative buildings that set a new benchmark for environmental performance. Forming part of a mixed-use development on a brownfield site that includes offices, shops, restaurants and gardens, this extensive urban renewal project  has brought a new standard of architectural image to Boston. With wide experience of regeneration schemes, Buro Happold was asked to stabilise the land by undertaking a full remediation programme, as well as providing site infrastructure and transport planning.

Our engineers set out to develop the building itself from the inside out – that is, from the individual working space to its overall complex structure. Thanks to the close collaboration of the design team, developer, client, and construction team, a balance was achieved between aesthetics, cost, buildability and functionality. The result is a sustainable and people-friendly office in which occupants have a high degree of control over their personal working environments. In recognition of its success in meeting sustainability and performance goals, Genzyme was awarded a coveted LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum rating.

Genzyme boasts a raft of notable environmental design features, including a double façade and a high atrium that creates an open spatial atmosphere while bringing natural light deep into the building. The façade has operable windows that can be opened to allow for natural ventilation and save on air conditioning costs. The ability to capture solar gains and reduce heat loss adds to comfort levels and dramatically reduces energy use. To conserve natural resources in the operation of the building  other ‘green' features include the use of steam from a nearby power plant for central heating and cooling, rainwater collection tanks, low-flow toilets and photovoltaic solar panels to produce electricity.

Date: 2000 - 2003