Genzyme Center (Corporate Headquarters)

Genzyme Center, shown in this photograph taken from the west, is the corporate headquarters for a biotechnology company, with offices, an employee cafeteria, a library, gardens, training rooms, a conference center, cafes, and public retail space.

Photo credit: Anton Grassl

Overview

Location: Cambridge, MA
Building type(s): Commercial office
New construction
344,000 ft2 (32,000 m2)
Project scope: 12-story building
Urban setting
Completed November 2003
Rating: U.S. Green Building Council LEED-NC, v.2/v.2.1--Level: Platinum

Genzyme Center is the corporate headquarters for a biotechnology company, with offices, an employee cafeteria, a library, gardens, training rooms, a conference center, cafes, and public retail space. The center was designed to symbolize progress and serve as an emblem for the company. The design goal was to develop a building from the inside out, from the individual working environment to the overall structure of the building. Close collaboration between the design team, developer, client, and construction team produced an environmentally friendly, highly communicative, and innovative signature building.

Environmental Aspects

The project team and client balanced aesthetics, cost, constructability, and reliability to create an environmentally responsible corporate headquarters. A number of environmental design strategies contribute to the building's LEED Platinum rating and create an open, spacious atmosphere for occupants.

The building envelope is a high-performance curtainwall glazing system with operable windows on all 12 floors. More than 32% of the exterior envelope is a ventilated double facade that blocks solar gains in summer and captures solar gains in winter. Steam from a nearby power plant provides central heating and cooling.

The building's central atrium acts as a huge return air duct and light shaft. Fresh air moves into the atrium and up and out through exhaust fans near the skylight. Natural light from the fully glazed facade and from the atrium (brought in by solar-tracking mirrors above the skylight) is reflected deep into the building.

The building uses 32% less water than a comparable office building, thanks to its waterless urinals, dual-flush toilets, automatic faucets, and low-flow fixtures. Stormwater supplements the evaporative cooling towers and irrigates the landscaped roof.

Building materials were chosen for their low emissions, recycled content, or local manufacturing. Nearly 90% of the wood is FSC certified.

Owner & Occupancy

Owned by BioMed Realty Trust, Corporation, for-profit
Occupants: Corporation, for-profit
Typically occupied by 920 people, 40 hours per person per week; and 480 visitors per week, 2 hours per visitor per week

Building Programs

Indoor Spaces:	Office, Lobby/reception, Cafeteria, Structured parking, Restrooms, Conference, Mechanical systems
Outdoor Spaces:	Patio/hardscape

Keywords

Integrated team, Design charrette, Green framework, Simulation, Green specifications, Commissioning, Performance measurement and verification, Operations and maintenance, Transportation benefits, Stormwater management, Water harvesting, Glazing, Passive solar, HVAC, Lighting control and daylight harvesting, Efficient lighting, Cogeneration, Benign materials, Recycled materials, Certified wood, Connection to outdoors, Daylighting, Natural ventilation, Ventilation effectiveness, Low-emitting materials, Indoor air quality monitoring

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