Margulies Perruzzi Architects (MPA) received a 2013 Environmental Design + Construction (ED+C)Excellence in Design Award for its sustainable design of the new LEED Platinum corporate headquarters for Forrester Research, Inc. MPA was recognized with an Honorable Mention in the commercial category. ED+C Magazine holds its annual Excellence in Design Awards to honor projects that demonstrate a clear commitment to green building and sustainable design.
Forrester Research had outgrown its former home at 400 Technology Sq. and sought a space that could accommodate its flexible work style and growth needs. Having collaborated for 10 years on multiple projects, MPA provided interior architecture and corporate design services for Forrester's new six-story, 190,000 s/f headquarters at Cambridge Discovery Park that features alternative workplace design for collaborative work.
Forrester's new headquarters was certified LEED Platinum for Commercial Interiors by the USGBC, one of the few commercial interiors projects in Cambridge to earn the distinction. The project also achieved exemplary performance for use of FSC certified wood, regional materials, and the availability of alternative transportation. Forrester specifically selected a location that is a short walking distance from the Alewife Station in Cambridge, a major hub for the MBTA Red Line into Boston as well as area buses. Built specifically for Forrester, the new base building was certified LEED Gold and provided the opportunity for green design that older, existing buildings couldn't offer.
Forrester's new office emphasizes a connection to the green outdoor space adjacent to the building. The building overlooks a newly restored "Urban Wild," a naturalistic designed landscape that can be used for recreational purposes. Forrester's office was designed to provide views of nature to everyone: all enclosed rooms are on the interior, and the perimeter windows are accessible to all employees and guests.
The design team chose materials thoughtfully to ensure that the project aesthetic would be maintained while achieving Forrester's sustainability goals. The office features cork flooring, FSC certified wood, and many recycled, recyclable products. The use of LED lighting and daylight harvesting allowed a 35% reduction in lighting power. The careful selection of plumbing fixtures achieved a 35% reduction in water use. The construction team was able to divert 80% of construction waste from entering landfills.
Cambridge Discovery Park is a 27-acre master planned campus owned and developed by The Bulfinch Companies, Inc., a real estate investment and development firm. Leggat McCall Properties provided project management services, AHA Consulting Engineers provided mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering for the project, and Richard Moore Environmental Consulting provided LEED services. Forrester Research was represented by Richards Barry Joyce & Partners, LLC.
The ED+C Excellence in Design Awards recognizes commercial, government, institutional, educational and residential projects that meet a variety of environmental building criteria, including innovative interior and exterior green design; energy efficiency; indoor air quality; water conservation; sustainable or recycled materials and resources; site selection; and other green design factors, such as budget, company mission, certifications or design intent.