Founded in 1989 in Cambridge and renowned for developing treatments for hepatitis C and cystic fibrosis, the global biotech firm envisioned a campus that would attract the brightest minds in its hyper-competitive industry. Wish list items included a cafeteria serving gourmet meals, a waterfront patio where employees can dine during warmer weather, a state-of-the-art gym, 200-seat auditorium and ground-floor retailers curated to appeal to employees short on leisure time. To encourage future scientists and engage the community, Vertex also requested a 3,000-sf research lab space for use by students from local high schools.

AHA delivered each of these program elements by designing the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems both buildings. Each 16-story structure includes spaces for retail, office and laboratories, as well as three levels of underground parking. To successfully research treatments for conditions like cancer and osteoarthritis, Vertex required innovative engineering for its vivariums, BSL-2 labs, chemistry labs, MRI spaces, radiology labs, wet labs and other specialized spaces. AHA understood its business and offered workable design solutions for each of Vertex’s multi-purpose spaces.

This high-profile campus project presented unique challenges to AHA in the form of a tight design-build schedule that offered little wiggle room for delays, the location of the lower-level labs and the aspiration to achieve LEED Gold.

AHA tailored the mechanical system design for each component of the campus while servicing the entire campus appropriately. Vertex’s labs, which feature fume hoods, require far more airflow than the offices. Since the labs are located below the office space and the ductwork needed to terminate to the roof, AHA brainstormed over how the ductwork could be installed.

“The most difficult part of the design was the geometry of the ductwork,” said Joseph P. Kazlauskas, Vice President at AHA. “Making the extensive system fit into the ceiling while ensuring it could handle the air flow tested our engineers’ creativity.” To visualize the final product during design, AHA utilized Building Information Modeling (BIM) to solve the complex ductwork and plumbing requirements early in the design process.

AHA evaluated several energy solutions for the buildings to achieve the lowest energy costs. “To reduce the power draw, we used multiple air-handling units, chillers and boilers, so the units could be staged and operate based on building demand,” said Kazlauskas. “Motion sensors in each of the hoods activate only when people stand in front of them. When the hoods are not in use, the air flow is reduced by 35%.” AHA also specified the use of low-flow plumbing fixtures throughout the Vertex campus.

The energy and water savings contributed to the overall environmentally friendly footprint of the campus and enabled it to achieve Gold LEED Certification. “This was one of the largest projects we’ve ever done,” said Kazlauskas. “It started to come out of the ground in 2010, and we completed construction work for Vertex in late 2014. It was also one of the most fun projects we’ve ever had.”

The campus meets a variety of corporate needs for Vertex. It provides working and collaborative space for chemists, biomedical researchers and administrative employees into one enviable location in Boston’s Innovation District. And it does so in a pretty spectacular fashion, featuring impressive architectural details like floor-to-ceiling windows that offer sweeping views of the city’s skyline and iconic harbor.