Dassault Systemes opens 27-acre Boston Campus; project team included Elkus Manfredi Architects, Columbia Construction and Jones Lang LaSalle

Dassault Systèmes officially opened its DS Boston Campus, the company's new North American headquarters. The award-winning 27-acre campus is heralded as a showcase for sustainable innovation, the creation of lifelike experiences using 3D, and has been LEED-certified, demonstrating the company's commitment to conserving national resources. Public figures, such as His Excellency François Delattre, France's Ambassador to the United States and Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, joined Dassault Systèmes President and CEO Bernard Charlès and North America Managing Director Al Bunshaft at the opening event, which included an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, a tour of the campus and demos of the company's latest 3D technologies. During his welcome address Bernard Charlès said, "What you see behind me is not just a building. It is a living laboratory for our Dassault Systèmes vision. From this place, we will reach out to the world with our technology and services. This is where we will help creative people visualize solutions to the challenges that face the world, validate that those visions will work, and plan how to bring those visions to life in the most efficient, sustainable way possible." Added Al Bunshaft, "We wanted to create a healthy work environment where people would love the space they work in, while promoting creativity and collaboration." "Massachusetts has a rich history of innovation, and we continue to welcome new ideas and business growth across the state," said Mass. Lieutenant Governor Murray. "The Patrick-Murray Administration is thrilled to have Dassault Systèmes grow in Massachusetts, and we look forward to the success of their expanded footprint and latest 3D technologies." "As France's premier software company and a leading technology company internationally, Dassault Systèmes embodies the long history of friendship and cooperation between France and the United States," said Ambassador Delattre. "America, France and many other nations come together in Dassault Systèmes' culture of collaboration to bring technology, advancement and sustainable business practices to the world." The Boston Campus brings together employees who had previously been split between locations in Concord and Lowell. It includes 320,000 s/f of office, technology lab and data center space, along with a virtual reality center, the campus' breakthrough facility for implementing and experiencing unique virtual worlds with Dassault Systèmes technology. The campus was designed and outfitted with sustainable innovation in mind. More than 2,000 tons of recycled steel were used in construction and 61,000 tons of structural materials re-used as fill. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) units use a chemical-free electrostatic water treatment unit instead of chlorine. Overall energy use is reduced by 29% through a combination of high-efficiency rooftop HVAC units and boilers. The DS Boston campus has been awarded Gold LEED Construction Certification, along with the Commercial Brokers Association Suburban Office Deal of the Year; and the Massachusetts Alliance for Economic Development (MassEcon) Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Award. Dassault Systèmes engaged Jones Lange LaSalle as its leasing agent and also for project management. The interiors were designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, with Columbia Construction providing pre-construction and construction management services. Elkus Manfredi Architects used Dassault Systèmes' DraftSight and SolidWorks solutions to help fulfill the strict environmental requirements for LEED Gold Certification of the interior design. Shown (from left) are: Mass. Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, Dassault Systèmes' North America managing director Al Bunshaft, Dassault Systèmes president and CEO Bernard Charlès, and His Excellency François Delattre, France's Ambassador to the U.S.