Designed by SGA, a New Life Sciences Building Approved in Watertown, MA
July 13, 2020
BOSTON—SGA, a Boston and New York City-based national award-winning architecture, interior design, planning, branded environments and virtual design and construction practice, announced that the town of Watertown, MA has approved a new life sciences building, designed by SGA.
Located at 85 Walnut Street, the 215,000-square-foot core and shell building will provide state-of-the-art, lab-ready facilities attracting elite talent and tenants. In addition, a parking structure and a lush public park will be situated on the five-acre property.
The owner of the property is an affiliate of Westbrook Partners, a privately-owned, fully integrated real estate investment management company. Westbrook has investment offices located in London, England; Boston, MA; Tokyo, Japan; New York, NY; Paris, France; Washington, DC; San Francisco, CA; Berlin, Germany; Los Angeles, CA, and operations offices located in West Palm Beach, FL (Global Financial Control and Operations Office) and Luxembourg.
Westbrook’s professionals are responsible for acquisition, value enhancement, financial accounting and risk management. Westbrook’s experience includes the operation and management of office, multi-family residential, hotel, industrial and single-family residential development properties.
“SGA worked closely with Watertown’s local city officials to design a commercial site that is mindful of its surrounding environment, with special consideration given towards its neighbors,” said John Sullivan, AIA, Partner and Director of Architecture at SGA. “The design aims to allocate the use of the buildings towards Arsenal Street and to keep the mass of the structures away from the residential area.”
Another important feature of 85 Walnut Street is the creation of a large park abutting Walnut Street. SGA is using the existing, under-utilized green space that wasn’t accessible to the public and turning it into a unique, shared outdoor environment. Highlights include a central open green space, amphitheater seating, and paths for pedestrians and bicycles.
Several existing shade trees will be preserved and worked into new landscaping, as a sustainable and environmental decision.
The structured parking facility efficiently solves the property’s parking needs so more space can be devoted to the park and abundant open space throughout the site. In accordance with Watertown’s existing solar power requirements, the roof of the parking structure will be dedicated to solar panels.