Project of the Month: The Richmond Group completes expansion of Cubist Pharmaceuticals headquarters

The Richmond Group (Richmond) has completed the expansion of Cubist Pharmaceuticals' (Cubist) headquarters. Richmond managed the design/build project, which provides an additional 104,000 s/f of laboratory space for Cubist's staff focused on the development of antibiotics and acute care products. Due to site restrictions and the existing building's footprint, the most cost effective solution for expansion was to build vertically. Richmond oversaw the planning and construction of two floors of laboratory, administration, and technical support space, a new central utility plant, a new mechanical penthouse, and renovations to existing laboratories on the building's first floor. The project also incorporated a pre-cast concrete 300-car parking garage. High-efficiency plumbing and light fixtures, distribution-controlled heating and cooling systems and updated mechanical equipment combine to offset the constant operations of the lab facility, which is designed to USGBC LEED Silver standards. Previously, Richmond managed construction of the Level 1 laboratories in 2007. The concrete footings and steel columns incorporated during construction made it possible to complete this most recent expansion above the occupied first floor lab and avoid additional cost and schedule impacts. By conducting work in the afternoon and evening hours, Richmond also minimized disruptions to employees performing critical research activities. Project team members include R.G. Vanderweil Engineers, Spagnolo Gisness & Associates, Inc. and Olson Lewis + Architects, Highpoint Engineering, Goldstein-Milano, and Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc. "It is such a great pleasure to work with the entire Richmond Group design-build team and especially to work with both David McGirr and Steve Lewis at Cubist," said Al Spagnolo, AIA, founding partner, Spagnolo Gisness & Associates, Inc. "Their vision and mission is apparent in everything that they do as a world class pharmaceutical company and a Massachusetts employer. I am so glad we were able to create a workplace and research facility that is reflective of their culture and commitment to what they do."