A Nora rubber flooring, which includes recycled material, was used in the lab at Novartis’ pharmaceuticals headquarters building in Cambridge, Mass.
When Novartis, one of the world’s fastest growing pharmaceutical companies, decided to significantly expand its research operations and relocate its global research headquarters from Basel, Switzerland to Cambridge, Mass., they called on The Stubbins Assoc., an architecture, interior design and planning firm to create an innovative, exciting and collaborative environment.
Novartis wanted a new world-class global research hub that satisfied the varied needs of its scientists and reflected the desire of the company to establish a new “sociology of science” – a culture of interaction between scientists that is key to generating new ideas and accelerating the discovery process. The architecture and interior design play a vital role in fostering interaction in a fluid and natural manner throughout the building; for Stubbins, it was a great opportunity to assist in forging a new identity for the forward-thinking biomedical company.
A 10-month design and construction schedule presented challenges, but the result is a high quality scientific research center and unique working environment that focused on the use of natural light and materials for comfort and inspiration. The goal of the design was to reflect an uplifting international spirit that was representative of the company’s global reach, to create a workplace in which people could recognize their professional ambitions and a motivating, creative, cutting-edge environment where the latest technologies are applied.
Novartis is also very environmentally conscious, so the materials used had to be sustainable, particularly in the large areas such as the floors and ceilings. The design team accomplished this by using high-quality durable materials, very cleanly detailed, with a splash of color.
As a matter of pragmatism and sociology, the choice of materials differed from the communal spaces to the laboratory spaces. In the spaces that were outside the lab, it was important to provide warm, inviting space for the researchers to interact, drawing them out of the labs.
The building’s layout is organized around a group of commonly used interactive spaces near the central core, such as break rooms, kitchens and libraries. Researchers eat and drink outside their lab environments in these interactive areas, thereby increasing the opportunities for collaboration. These vibrant areas are the “beating heart” of the building as vital zones for social and intellectual exchange. The kitchenette is concealed by a curved translucent glass wall, which can be used for spontaneously jotting down notes during impromptu discussions. Libraries with translucent glass partitions flank the break areas.
When it came time to choose flooring, the design team sought to be both innovative and sustainable. We began researching alternatives to the flooring materials traditionally used in labs such as vinyl tile or poured concrete. In the common areas, vertically sliced bamboo was chosen for the floor, with dark stained bamboo inlays in radial patterns at the communal hubs, drawing researchers and staff in to the center of activity.
Bamboo’s distinctive quality enlivens the open, fluid collaborative spaces and adds a sense of warmth. Environmentally friendly as a rapidly renewable resource, the vertical sliced bamboo flooring that was specified scored the highest rating for impact in the Janka Steel Ball Test. The next highest ranking is hard maple wood, which is still 20 percent softer than the bamboo. By using high-quality materials such as bamboo, along with accents of metal, glass and color, the designer was able to create a space that was pleasing for the users and visitors.
The laboratories needed even more resilient materials under foot, and we continued to explore other environmental-friendly materials. For two weeks, Novartis scientists personally tested several flooring materials for chemical reactions and durability, and the choice was Nora rubber flooring, which contains natural recycled rubber and renewable natural rubber, and does not require toxic cleaning and finishing chemicals. It has outstanding chemical resistance, is vibration free for rolling carts, will not shrink to expose seams, is slip resistant and is comfortable underfoot.
Other environmental-friendly finishes used throughout the project include high-performance ceiling tiles with recycled content, and paints, fabrics and furniture chosen for low-VOC emission.
Feedback from the scientists on this new research facility has been very positive. Use of these environmentally sustainable products, in concert with the other unique design features interwoven throughout the facility creates a comfortable, enjoyable, energetic environment for scientific collaboration and discovery.
