The 165,000-sq-ft biotech production facility has a conferencing center, shipping and logistics areas, underground parking, collaboration spaces and multiple roof terraces. The building’s largest footprint, the production floor, was built below grade to reduce impact on the surrounding meadow.

This required technical expertise, heavy site design, excavation support and systems coordination. The building foundation wall and support of excavation structure are separated by a crevasse, ensuring that soil loads are not impacting the building and that groundwater never infiltrates the foundation. The building is protected by a perimeter drain that funnels groundwater to a retention pond.

Photo courtesy Columbia

A once-through air handling unit services the entire building, accommodating varying air change requirements. A backbone within the building for process gases allows for maximum use, future growth and isolation points for tie-ins without impacting operations. Most systems in the production areas were surface-mounted, enabling future changes without introducing particulates into the clean environment.

The project was sequenced to turn over in phases, allowing New England Biolabs to use components throughout construction. The $115- million project finished at budget and on schedule in 30 months.