Satellite Biosciences

Satellite Biosciences is pioneering a new approach to treating diseases through regenerative medicine. 

Working with Griffith Properties, VIVO Architecture designed Satellite’s 25,000 SF of tenant improvement space within a former warehouse building. Located along the Charles River Greenway, 580 Pleasant St. in Watertown, MA provides tenants combined office and research facilities, with a generous lobby and grab & go food area.  

One of the major design moves of the tenant improvement project was to incorporate biophilic design by visually linking interior functions with the outdoors.  Open office areas were placed along the western face of the suite, maximizing the number of staff with exposure to daylighting and views of the Charles River.  The GMP suite, in turn, was located at the heart of the suite, adjacent to utilities, and visually connected to office space.

As with all corporate interiors projects VIVO Architecture designs, careful consideration was given to the incorporation of company culture and brand strategy in the design of interiors. Satellite’s branding includes a hexagonal pattern, which was used as inspiration for office ceiling layout. Brand colors and geometry are woven throughout the space as accent walls, column enclosures and lighting design.

The GMP space includes glazing to open collaboration and meeting space. This design element is an important feature, allowing guests and office workers visual access to the lab, enabling them to witness the life-saving processes being created by Satellite Bioscience.

During the design phase of the project, VIVO was tasked with a value engineering effort initiated to meet the project budget. Hexagonal ceiling panels (a design feature) were placed on the chopping block. We felt that eliminating this design feature would negatively impact the overall success of the project. To meet budget requirements, while also maintaining the design intent, the VIVO team strategically removed a select number of ceiling panels and utilized void space as a design element along with lighting fixtures to continue the visual rhythm and effectively communicate design intent.

The completed spaces effectively communicate corporate branding while also providing community building spaces that connect employees to each other and the outdoors.

Location:

580 Pleasant Street,

Watertown, MA

By the numbers:

Office & Research Facilities
1st Floor
25,000 RSF
completed April 2023