In Short : Innovation Square 3, a collaborative project between SGA and DREAM Collaborative, is set to bring a net-zero life sciences building to Boston’s Seaport district. This cutting-edge facility represents a significant step toward sustainable architecture, aiming to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint. By integrating innovative design, energy-efficient technologies, and sustainable practices, the building aligns with the broader global efforts to combat climate change. It exemplifies the future of eco-friendly construction and underscores the commitment to creating environmentally responsible spaces in urban environments.
In Detail : A new, net-zero life sciences building built-to-suit for Vertex Pharmaceuticals is coming to Boston’s Seaport district: Innovation Square 3. The new building will be used by Vertex Pharmaceuticals for its work on developing medicines for people with serious diseases.
Upon completion, Vertex Pharmaceuticals will become the first life sciences company in Boston’s Seaport, according to SGA. The architects note that the building could catapult the Seaport into a new life sciences cluster, following suit to other nearby towns, such as Watertown, Massachusetts where earlier this year SGA unveiled renderings of another life sciences building: Arsenal on the Charles.
By the numbers, Innovation Square 3 will deliver 320,000 square feet of new, state-of-the-art, flexible lab space. The seven-story building, with two levels of parking below grade, will have a deeply-toned, steel-framed facade; a high-performance envelope to reduce energy consumption; and an on-site renewable energy generator vis-a-vis rooftop photovoltaics.
Located in Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park and the emerging Northern Avenue Life Sciences Corridor, Innovation Square 3 is slated to become Boston’s first LEED Zero Carbon Certified building, helping advance the city’s initiatives to become carbon neutral by 2050.
SGA partnered with Dream Collaborative, Boston’s leading minority-owned architecture firm, for the project. To provide much needed civic space in the Seaport, where public amenities are presently lacking, the architects prescribed a generous plaza at Innovation Square 3 to create an engaging environment for both the scientific community and public at-large.
At present, Innovation Square 3 is located in a flood-prone area. The architects lifted the foundation five feet above grade to protect the building. At the ground level, there will also be classroom space for Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI), a nonprofit that brings scientific exposure and opportunity to underserved communities.
Innovation Square 3 is set for completion in late 2025. It’s slated to achieve LEED Platinum Certification and LEED Zero Carbon certification.