Leading Research Innovation with Health & Wellness

EMD Serono Research & Development Hub

The Green Engineer has provided WELL Certification and LEED Certification project managment services on several projects at the EMD Serono Research & Develoment Hub in Billerica, MA. Two recent projects at the Research & Development Hub include the Project SagaMORE and the new Horizon building. Image: © Ellenzweig

Project SagaMORE: WELL Firsts

In so far as WELL Certification, the EMD Serono Research & Development Hub establishes many records. Both the existing office (Project Bridgeway) and its annex (Project SagaMORE) jointly achieved WELL Gold Certification™️ for New & Existing Construction from the International Well Building Institute (IWBI)™️. This was the: • 1st New & Existing Building WELL Certified Gold project in the US • 2nd New & Existing Building WELL Certified Gold project in the World • 3rd New & Existing Building WELL project certified in the US • 4th New & Existing Building WELL project certified in the World • 38th certified WELL project of any type in the US and the •80th certified WELL project of any type in the World. Image: © Ellenzweig

Project Horizon: A WELL Platinum Lab

In turn, the new Horizon Building at the Research & Development Hub has achieved Platinum level WELL Certification™️ through the IWBI, and Gold level LEED Certification through the US Green Building Council (USGBC). It is one of only three WELL Certified™️ projects in Massachusetts to reach the Platinum level designation. The 142,000 SF facility was designed to achieve the highest standards in health & wellness and environmental performance while encouraging research innovation. The building houses research labs, work spaces built for collaboration, and a new campus café. Image: © Andy Caufield

Health & Wellness Features

Some of the notable health & wellness features incorporated in the design of the new Horizon building include: a connection to nature through biophilic design, interior plantings, and surrounding pollinator-focused landscaping, the latter certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council. Art installed around the project was sourced from Artlifting, a program that supports artists impacted by housing insecurity and disabilities by helping them create and sell art. Lighting that was carefully designed to provide occupants with ambient circadian lighting in their workspaces to support healthy sleep cycles. This lighting upholds the hormonal response for alertness during the day provided by natural daylight. The building design also incorporates ample daylighting throughout. Passive exercise is facilitated through the inclusion of prominent, open stairways in the building design, and the encouragement of their use. These stairways in conjunction with the pedestrian bridges that connect the campus buildings serve to encourage occupant circulation and movement in conjunction with user-friendly building accessibility. Image and Cover Image © Andy Caufield

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