Flexible-Sustainable-and Leased Millennium Pharmaceuticals
"R&D's 2003, Lab of the Year"

Donald M. Haiges, Shooshanian Engineering, Inc.
David P. Manfredi, Elkus/Manfredi Architects

Our project case study is that of Millennium Pharmaceuticals' 35 Lansdowne Street project in Cambridge MA. This 220,000 square foot pharmaceutical research facility just received the R&D 2003 "Lab of the Year Award." The building is owned by Forest City Commercial Group yet leased by and built to suit for Millennium. This seven-story facility is dedicated to drug discovery in the areas of cardiovascular, oncology, inflammation and metabolics. Additionally the facility includes specialty labs such as process development radio synthesis, formulation labs and a vivarium.

Objectives:

The objective of our presentation is to convey:

1. The unique attributes of this laboratory are that it is developer owned and built yet fully occupied by a single pharmaceutical client on a built to suit basis, that the building is designed for maximum flexibility yet with maximum chemistry densities, that the building is located in a dense urban environment, is high-rise and built to a high hazard code classification, that the building sits in a University Park context in the heart of the Harvard/ MIT community, and that the building must respond to an extremely competitive environment both in attracting qualified researchers and demanding good science.

2. That successful projects must have committed players in order to meet project objectives. All parties including the client, owner/developer, designers and contractors must work as a team to bring the project from a conceptual program to a commissioned, operating, functional and efficient building.

3. That high-quality pharmaceutical laboratories can be sustainable. Sustainable design begins as a project goal, not only with the owner's commitment but also through the project delivery methods of the entire team. Sustainable design is not a shortsighted objective but rather a commitment to excellent environmental performance over the life of the building.

Findings:

Our presentation is a case study of a recently completed, commissioned and occupied Pharmaceutical Research Facility. We will outline the basic building metrics such as GSF, overall efficiency, lab/office ratios, and costs for the base building shell and core as well as fit out costs. The space program for both current occupancy and extreme fit out loading will be identified.

For the engineering systems we will also identify the metrics of the systems provided, their gross capacities as well as unit capacities. A detailed overview of the sustainable design features will be provided.

Labs21 Connection:

From a "Labs 21" approach, this Millennium Pharmaceuticals laboratory used an integrated "Whole Building" sustainable approach in that the owner views this building for the long-term. This single 220,000 square foot facility represents approximately 20 percent of Millennium's real estate in this urban location.

The design began with sensitivity to its contextual urban setting and its dependence on public transportation. Building systems engineering addressed building wide airside management in order to prohibit unnecessary use of outside air. Engineering solutions included cascading airstreams, VAV hood controls, manifold supply and exhaust systems, modular and right sized equipment. Water efficiency was achieved through process cooling loops and reuse of cooling tower water blow down and other measures. Operational protocols were put in place to assure that nasty materials are not put into the waste stream, as well as safe guard measures of waste treatment in case of a spill. Continuous monitoring of waste effluent is provided.

The facility incorporates enhanced control and monitoring systems to assure continued efficiency as well as ongoing system diagnostics. The facility was completely commissioned identifying proper operational trends that will be used for future baseline reference and recommissioning.

Biographies:

Donald M. Haiges, PE, a Principal of Shooshanian Engineering, Inc. in Boston, is a nationally recognized leader in research and pharmaceutical facility design and regularly lectures on these topics. Haiges received his degree in Architectural Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and has directed the mechanical and electrical engineering design on many of today's leading research facilities. Shooshanian Engineering, a 110-member firm, is ISO-9001 certified and specializes in technically advanced building designs.

David P. Manfredi, AIA is a founding partner of Elkus/Manfredi Architects, a 135 person architectural design firm working in a diverse mix of building types. Elkus/Manfredi has recently completed three biotech research facilities at University Park at MIT.