by Tim Bailey
A global cloud-based technology company with a local presence had an expiring lease for its office in Waltham when it decided to relocate to accommodate its growing workforce. In addition to needing an expanded workspace, the goal of the office relocation was to create a workspace that: 1) meets the needs of its current workforce and helps to attract and retain talent and 2) enhances the company’s brand and presence in the Boston technology community. The firm accomplished both objectives by leasing 33,360sf at 275 Wyman Street in Waltham from sublandlord and primary tenant Cimpress/Vistaprint.
In the new space, the firm wanted to shed its corporate aesthetic and stay true to its roots as a technology company. It also wanted to create a unique identity for the Boston office while respecting the design of its corporate headquarters in Santa Clara, California. The resulting design features an open office environment rich with common spaces and amenities. To offset the smaller individual workspaces, an emphasis was placed on adding various-sized amenity spaces to foster collaboration, communication, and interaction. An array of casual seating types support informal meetings and social gatherings of all sizes and compositions. Meeting rooms and private workspaces provide space for conference calls and in-person collaborations.
Large common areas, such as the café, game room, and collaborative “boulevard” attract employees to socialize and relax, keeping the space active and engaging while mixing business with fun. A training room and a variety of sized conference, huddle, and phone rooms serve the company’s technology needs to maintain communication with clients all over the world. Balancing acoustically sensitive large meeting rooms and private workspaces with the open office environment was crucial to the success of the space.
The design of the new office harmoniously merges exposed mechanicals that open to the structural deck above with polished concrete floors and a green moss wall in the reception area. Pops of color found in nature offset the industrial feel of the surroundings, with hues of yellow, green, and blue bringing life to the space. Playful, geometric lighting enlivens all parts of the space, from the executive boardroom to the open workspace. Washed-oak wood tones help to soften the inherent harshness of the exposed mechanicals. The open plan office features height-adjustable benching to provide flexibility for future expansion and layout modification.
The new office provides the expanded space, amenities, and visibility in the technology community that the company sought.
Tim Bailey, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is a senior architect and associate partner at Margulies Perruzzi Architects (MPA).
