From Sweets to Science

The Transformation of 250 Massachusetts Avenue

2 From Sweets to Science

Transforming an almost 80-year-old candy factory into a state-of-the-art laboratory to enable, stimulate, and excite world-class scientists to research and discover innovative drugs, took the dedication, creativity, and inexhaustible energy of hundreds of people.

The former candy factory owned and operated by the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO), at 250 Massachusetts Avenue, was identified as the headquarters of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) in August 2002. Novartis communicated to an experienced team of architects and designers at The Stubbins Associates, Inc., the need to “invent” an interior environment that would encourage, foster, and facilitate collaboration and the exchange of ideas and knowledge between scientists. To operate as an efficient and productive organization, the building would have to:

• Emphasize openness and transparency • Promote informal social interaction • Integrate interacting scientific disciplines • Make an efficient use of space • Energize the scientists

The architects and designers planned a renovation that set new standards of laboratory design. John Moriarty & Associates, Inc. was contracted to do the job, and they fulfilled their task on budget and in record time. The NIBR global headquarters has been occupied and operational since April 2004.

From Sweets to Science 1

History of 250 Massachusetts Avenue

Until the middle of the 19th century, the land the former NECCO building occupies was tidal marsh. In 1853, railroad tracks were laid, and in 1890, Massachusetts Avenue was constructed, spurring commercial development.

The former NECCO building and its accompanying buildings were completed and occupied in 1927 and became the world headquarters for NECCO.

At the time of its completion, the building was the largest and most modern factory in the world dedicated solely to the manufacture of candy. The factory had its own power plant, fire protection, laboratories, engineering offices, and a staffed medical center.

Today, this building, which once produced candy hearts and candy wafers, has been transformed into the world headquarters for the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research.

"The NECCO building will exist for the new generation not merely as a document in the growth of a new style, but as one of the most living and beautiful buildings in New England."

— May 1928, The Arts, Alfred H. Barr, Jr.,
Founding Director, Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Transformation

In May 2002, Novartis announced that it was moving the headquarters of its global drug discovery and research operations from Basel, Switzerland to Cambridge, MA, establishing new laboratory space for more than 1,000 scientists. Within a year, close to 300 scientists filled a new laboratory building at 100 Technology Square.

A search to find space large enough for additional scientists was started. The building had to be structurally sound, with interior space amenable to conversion into laboratories, and in close proximity to existing facilities in Technology Square.

The NECCO building and adjacent structures proved suitable to meet Novartis needs. The former factory has been converted into a laboratory building and the former power plant has been converted into an amenities building housing an auditorium and café. In addition, a parking structure was added for 400 cars. In December 2007, a fivestory office building for Novartis associates was constructed on a parcel adjacent to the NECCO site, completing the build out of the NECCO space.

Timeline

The design, demolition and renovation proceeded on a very tight timeline in order to accommodate the scientists NIBR was transferring and recruiting.

June 2001 May 2002
NECCO sells building to The DSF Group Novartis announces establishment of new research headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Demolition and environmental remediation of NECCO building begins
July 2002

August 2002

Tenant Improvement Lab design started

September 2002

Novartis signs a 45-year lease with The DSF Group

Building permit issued by the City of Cambridge, floor cutting begins for new atrium in main building
March 2003

April 2003

Transformation of power plant to amenities building begins

May 2003 June 2003
Construction of parking structure begins Design plans complete Last floor is cut for atrium in main building, demolition and environmental remediation completed in main building
September 2003
March 2004 April 2004
Certificate of occupancy: Main laboratory building First scientists arrive and research begins, amenities building completed, parking structure completed

Certificate of occupancy: Amenities building and parking structure
May 2004

January 2005

Novartis purchases building from The DSF Group

:TC
FA

:TC
FA
14,000

electrical eak and installed
75 miles of THHN/XHHW e installed wir ed wir ser br

Interior Spaces

Atrium

Located in the center of the building, the atrium serves as the building’s “nucleus,” connecting the two arms of the building’s U-shape. Many of the common use areas are also located adjacent to this space. The atrium spans all six floors and is topped off with a 1,571 square foot skylight.

Constructing the atrium required cutting through six reinforced concrete floors and removing two support columns at each floor. The shape of the atrium is rounded and irregular, resembling that of an amoeba. Four glass elevators and a curving stairway are located in the atrium to facilitate the flow of people. Because of the skylight, natural light permeates all the open spaces adjacent to the atrium, as well as the building’s lobby on the ground floor.

Lobby

The lobby, formerly the factory’s loading dock, is marked by an inlaid stone design of a DNA molecule that starts in the sidewalk outside of the building and winds through the lobby, then out into the courtyard, ending at the parking garage.

Interior Spaces

Bubble Rooms

Two short hallways leading to each arm of the building’s U-shape begin in the atrium. These hallways connect with a perpendicular hallway that runs down the center of each arm of the U-shape. On every floor, at the junction of each hallway, is a conference room, called a “bubble room.” The walls of the circular bubble room are glass with three sliding white board panels.

Lab/Work Spaces

In direct contrast to individual, walled laboratories and offices found in older laboratory buildings, the new laboratories are large open spaces. The largest laboratory is 240 feet long, running about two-thirds of the length of the longer arm of the building. The laboratories are placed next to the exterior of the building, with individual offices for laboratory heads, desk areas for scientific staff, and additional conference rooms between the hallway and the laboratory. To emphasize openness and transparency, all offices have at least one glass wall.

Interior Spaces

Auditorium

The original power plant, which enclosed early 20th century coal-fired boilers for candy production, was converted to a 20,000 square foot amenities building, which houses a 180 seat auditorium equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment that allows activities to be transmitted across the building or across the world.

Cafeteria

Also housed in the original power plant is a full service cafeteria, open for breakfast and lunch, with capacity for 150 people.

Interior Spaces

Break Areas

On each floor, comfortable break areas located adjacent to the atrium promote informal social interaction. Each break area has tables and chairs, a kitchenette, vending machines, bulletin boards, and digital signage which promotes company news, initiatives and live streaming events.

Wintergarden/250 Café

The Wintergarden is the associate entrance to 250 Mass Ave. This space is home to several varieties of plants used for medicinal purposes such as therapies for inflammatory diseases and cardiovascular disorders. Also found in the Wintergarden is the company store and a café, where associates meet informally over coffee

Energy, Safety & Environment

Novartis is committed to providing its associates with the safest possible workplace and to protecting the environment. This building was designed and constructed in accordance with this commitment.

Safety

The building meets all of FM Global’s requirements for safety. As a result, 100% of the maximum achievable risk rating has been awarded to Novartis. In addition, to ensure associate comfort, a state-of-the-art air humidification system was installed.

Environment

Heating, ventilation, cooling and electrical equipment exceeds Massachusetts building requirements, resulting in substantial reduction of CO2 emissions to the environment (4,500 tons annually). A heat recovery system was also installed to minimize the amount of energy needed for heating in winter months.

Energy Efficiency

An $850,000 rebate from NSTAR was awarded to Novartis for electrical efficiency measures incorporated in the building’s design. These measures include:

• Individually air-controlled fume hoods • Installation of high performance light fixtures • Installation of high performance chillers to ensure efficient energy

:TC
FA

use in production of chilled water

3,000 light es fixtur

installed

Historic Place

While the building’s interior has been transformed into a 21st century state-of-the-art laboratory, its exterior has been restored to reflect its proud industrial past. Great care was taken to ensure eligibility for listing the building on the National Register of Historic Places.

Properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places possess historic significance and integrity. Significance may be found in four aspects of American history recognized by the National Register Criteria:

• Association with historic events or activities, • Association with important people, • Distinctive design or physical characteristics, or • Potential to provide important information about prehistory or history.

A property must meet at least one of the criteria for listing. Integrity must also be evident through historic qualities including location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. Generally, properties must be 50 years of age or more to be considered historic places. Renovating the structure to maintain its historic character and appearance made Novartis eligible for a tax credit on renovation costs. The following measures were taken to obtain the listing as a Historic Place and retain the tax credit:

• Replace windows. The original windows were constructed of single panes separated and supported by solid mullions. To meet current codes and for energy savings, the new windows were constructed of large, double panes of plate glass filling the entire window space. The outside pane was heat strengthened. The mullions, placed on the surface of the glass, are purely decorative, but retain the look and dimensions of the original mullions.

• Set back ceilings. To maintain the historic look of the building’s façade, ceilings on each floor were set back four feet from the windows.

• Define roofscape. Modern buildings, especially laboratories, require sophisticated airhandling and electrical plant equipment to be installed. To retain the original appearance of the building, the number of exhaust stacks and other equipment had to be minimized. In addition, the dome of the skylight over the atrium could not be visible from the street.

• Re-use wood paneling. About 5,000 board feet of dense grained heart pine timbers were reclaimed and remilled for sale as antique wood.

• Retain water tower. The roof-top water tower had to be retained and restored. • Restore masonry. Exterior masonry on the building’s façade was restored.

Marking a New Era

In 1996, as part of the celebration marking its 150 year anniversary, NECCO painted the water tower on the roof of its factory to resemble its popular multi-colored wafer candy roll. The tower became an instant landmark on the Cambridge skyline and has become an important part of the city’s architectural fabric—serving as a colorful beacon for one of the community’s long standing businesses.

Novartis was committed to maintaining the tower as a colorful landmark, but wanted to ensure that the tower’s design reflected the new life of the building beneath it. To achieve this goal, Novartis reached out to the community through a design “competition of ideas,” soliciting ideas from the arts, design and school communities. The criteria for entering the competition was simple—the design had to incorporate the Novartis color and logo, could not alter the tower’s dimensions, and had to be designed in the tower’s “colorful” spirit.

The response was overwhelming—more than 500 designs were submitted from artists and designers of all ages in Cambridge, and from as far away as Michigan and California. A jury of experts awarded cash prizes to multiple entrants in six categories. In addition, each Cambridge public school that submitted at least one design was awarded $500 for the purchase of art supplies; each Cambridge public school student who submitted a design was given two complimentary tickets to Boston’s Museum of Science.

The selected design was created by local artist Joe DePasquale, and was unveiled October 2004.

Teamwork

Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research would like to thank the following companies for their dedication and efforts in transforming 250 Massachusetts Avenue.

Architects

Interior, Courtyard, Amenities Building The Stubbins Associates, Inc., Cambridge, MA

Exterior, Parking Garage

Tsoi/Kobus & Associates, Cambridge, MA

Construction Management

John Moriarty & Associates, Inc., Winchester, MA

Building Developer

The DSF Group, Boston, MA

Project Controlling

Hanscomb Faithful & Gould, Boston, MA

Engineering Companies

Interior, Amenities Building

Bard, Rao & Athanas, Consulting Engineers, Boston, MA

Exterior, Parking Garage

AHA Consulting Engineers, Boston, MA

Structural

McNamara/Salvia, Inc, Boston, MA

Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research

The Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) is the global pharmaceutical research organization for Novartis. NIBR’s research network is comprised of more than 6,000 scientists, physicians and business professionals working together across more than ten locations to discover innovative medicines to treat diseases with high unmet medical need

\

NECCO and NECCO wafers are registered trademarks of The New England Confectionery Company, 135 American Legion Highway, Revere, MA 02151. Illustrations supplied by The New England Confectionery Company.

03.2015

Published by the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Inc.
250 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139 USA