BioMed Realty with Hacin
Dorothy Deák and Matt Arnold of Hacin, an interdisciplinary architecture and design studio located in Boston’s Soth End, collaborated with BioMed Realty, a leading provider of real estate solutions to the life science and technology industries, for the interior design and architecture of their East Coast headquarters, completed in 2022.
Photo Cred: Trent Bell Photography
Originally hired to renovate BMR’s existing space in a nearby office building, Hacin pivoted to assist them in relocating their expanding Cambridge presence to the newly completed 314 Main Street, located at the nexus of innovation in Kendall Square, at the gateway to MIT. Hacin designed the unoccupied, open-plan 14th floor to function as a warm, organic, and welcoming workspace with natural materials and hospitable amenities.
Photo Cred: Hacin
Photo Cred: Trent Bell Photography
A Blackstone portfolio company, BioMed Realty’s offices required both private and shared workspaces and the design team utilized the building’s unique angular footprint and glass-walled exterior to define the program by deploying a rectangular ‘pinwheel’ concept. The floor features 360-degree views of Cambridge, Boston, and the Charles River and individual private offices occupy defined zones of the perimeter floor-to-ceiling windows.
Photo Cred: Hacin
Photo Cred: Trent Bell Photography
Custom shared workstations, additional offices, multiple conference rooms, and community spaces fill the rest of the floorplan, all of which enjoy striking views and abundantly shared natural light. A large, prominent meeting room visible upon entry from the elevator lobby boasts a 32’ telescoping door and frames a sweeping panorama of Boston’s Back Bay skyline.
Photo Cred: Trent Bell Photography
The warm oak color palette and decorative lighting fixtures, paired with functional seating and tables, were inspired by a hospitality aesthetic and bring an increasingly domestic atmosphere to the workplace. The floor houses three kitchenettes, fostering a residential aesthetic and supporting the company’s avid coffee culture. Natural materials are prominently featured in the design, utilizing wood, wool, and felt to convey texture and enhance the space’s acoustics. The varied striations of light, reaching into the office from the windows at any given time of day, inspired some of the architectural forms and BioMed’s brand identity is expressed throughout the space in a monochromatic palette with accents of the company’s signature deep blue.
Photo Cred: Trent Bell Photography
The art displayed throughout the office complements the interior design concept and was sourced through Art in Giving, an organization that raises funds for cancer research through the sale of fine art. Lighting (in collaboration with LAM Partners), materials, and acoustical design elements were rigorously selected with a focus on sustainability and the office has achieved LEED Gold status, mirroring the building it is housed within.
Photo Cred: Hacin
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