Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biotechnology company specializing in the development of improved versions of existing drugs and the discovery of new biological processes. Our initial mandate was to develop a multi-phased Master Plan for their facility expansion. The plan was divided into a four phased move to 301 Binney Street over a three year period. Today, Ironwood occupies 160,000 RSF on three floors.

Phase I consisted of 23,000 SF lab and support spaces such as tissue culture labs, media preparation, multiple environmental rooms, radiation use facilities and a mass spectrometry facility shared by biologists and chemists. Workstations for scientists  are provided within 12,000 SF of adjacent, flexible office space. Demountable partitions for private offices and conference rooms, as well as systems furniture product provides flexibility to expand the lab areas as required.

Phase II includes chemistry, biology and analytical labs supported with numerous specialized environments such as tissue culture, GMP and QC suites, fermentation lab, hot room, humidity control and spray drying. This 15,000 SF facility also accommodates an animal care facility (mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits). This phase also addressed the office needs of corporate management and the development of client contact spaces such as reception area, boardroom, client meeting rooms and food service facilities.

The third expansion provides R&D space to support Pharmaceutical Development, independent labs for analytics, formulation and chemistry. In addition, an expansive laboratory suite was developed to support twenty-four chemists. Two NMR facilities, dedicated reagent storage and consumables storage complete this research suite for the Medicinal Chemistry group. The corporate office environment was expanded vertically to an adjacent floor. This expansion increases staff to 100 employees, and provides amenities such as multiple meeting spaces, training facilities, food service areas and a strong connection to the adjacent floor, by way of a new communicating stair.

Finally, with Ironwood’s successful launch of LINZESS and the treatment for gastrointestinal illnesses, we were retained to design facilities for a newly formed marketing group who would exclusively concentrate on this new drug.

Ironwood wanted an environment which would support team collaboration, and a staff which was on the road the much of the time. The goal was maximum flexibility for both individuals and teams. With about 1/3 of the group being mobile, unassigned hoteling, touchdown spaces and huddle rooms would replace many cubicles and private offices. The result was a plan which supports people working in both the physical and virtual space, accommodates telepresence and videoconferencing. Centering the space is a café forming a lively social hub.