IDEXX Laboratories, Synergy Center
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Project Name
IDEXX Laboratories | Synergy Center
PROJECT CONTEXT
- World leader in manufacturing of instruments for veterinary medicine.
- 50 acre partially wooded, corporate campus in suburban industrial park.
- 750,000 sq. ft. existing office, laboratory, and manufacturing space.
- New 108,000 sq. ft., three story, corporate headquarters, including Welcome Center, Food Court, Wellness Center, Health Services, Conference, and Collaborative Work Spaces.
DESIGN MISSION
- Create model World Headquarters, empowering employees, promoting teamwork, and fostering innovation, by providing opportunities for formal and spontaneous collaboration.
- Attracting a talented workforce by promoting employee wellness and satisfaction through fitness, healthy foods, and the infusion of sunlight and nature.
- Use the new building and campus improvements to enhance the “Brand”, expressing the company’s commitment to science, innovation, authenticity, and sustainability.
DESIGN RESPONSE
Planning began by mapping campus circulation. The heart of the new building, a cascading central stair, is placed directly at the convergence of campus pathways, ensuring employee interaction. The attraction of this “Crossroads” is further strengthened by: a Food Court serving healthy local entrees; a comprehensive Wellness Center; and access and views to a wooded preserve with brook.
The building serves as a flexible armature, within which a variety of gathering and work spaces can be created in response to employee desires for community and privacy. Open second and third floor work spaces accommodate a diversity of furnishings, readily re-assembled to suit the optimized workflow of each department. Conference and private workrooms are enclosed with demountable glass partitions to ensure flexibility and preserve openness, light, and views.
Ease of workplace re-configuration is further assured by use of raised floor air distribution with local, adjustable diffusers; “plug and play” under floor modular electrical distribution; addressable lighting controls to eliminate re-circuiting; wireless technologies; and sprinkler system with flexible “whips” to enable relocation without drain-downs.
Natural light, views, and access to the outdoors are themes throughout. Gathering spaces are sun-filled and enjoy direct access to outdoor meeting and recreational spaces, including an accessible green roof. Even the cores of upper floors have been “skewed” to preserve connectivity and cross-floor views to the outdoors from every vantage point. External screens tuned for each elevation, internal solar controlled shades, and light shelves synchronized with daylight harvesting, all ensure that advantages are gained without unwanted heat and glare.
“Brand” is expressed in every detail. Surfaces are clean and bright, edges are crisp – “Scientific”. Materials are natural and authentic. Colors are warm, enlivening. There is nothing pretentious about this place. Its purpose is clear and intuitive – to honor and inspire the employees of IDEXX, as they go about their creative business.
MEASURES OF SUCCESS
- Company continues its remarkable growth, and accounts of employee satisfaction and productivity are exceptional.
- Building has become company-wide source of pride, symbol of shared values, and vital tool for recruitment of talent.
- Building has achieved LEED Gold Certification, operating 40% below ASHRAE baseline.