KENDALL SQUARE BIOTECH LABORATORY BUILDING A

Located on a 10-acre site adjacent to MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this 300,000 square foot, six-story life sciences laboratory building is one of six buildings that will comprise one of the country's leading biotechnology centers. Collaborating with Steven Ehrlich Architects, HLB designed the lighting for the building exterior as well as the 100-foot tall central atrium around which the labs and offices of this facility are arranged creating a lively, yet maintainable environment from every vista.  Stairs, balconies, lounges, and overlooks provide places for gatherings and informal interaction.

A striking combination of wood and steel is brought to life with long life fluorescent sources set into structural beams providing a luminous staccato rhythm of light for circulation catwalks, cumulatively reflecting into the atrium below.  Metal halide wallwashers provide illumination onto mesh panels as well as the skylight walls.  Fixture locations and associated detailing assured that all luminaires are accessible for maintenance, either from the floor level, via ladder, access panel (metal halide uplights in skylight), or small lift (metal halide up/downlights at metal screen).  Detailing of support elements and finishes were carefully coordinated with the architectural team to ensure an integrated look, all the while utilizing standard luminaires throughout.

This project's lighting design has received a Lumen West Award of Merit.