Exponent turned to RP Masiello to build a new regional headquarters for the Greater Boston area on a former industrial site in Natick, Massachusetts. The property overlooks Lake Cochituate and is bounded by a former railroad line that was converted to a rail trail, giving Exponent employees direct access to a natural recreational experience.

First, we demolished an old industrial building on the site then reconfigured the landscape to accommodate the new building, new utilities and access points from the road. We worked closely with the Town of Natick to protect the nearby lake and rail trail during construction.

The new building is a pre-cast concrete structure with expansive use of glass to maximize natural light and capture views of the lake and adjoining woodlands. The interior is a mix of offices and testing laboratories with fume hoods, gas lines, a controlled burn area, and other infrastructure. All floors are designed to carry heavy loads and the roof is structural concrete to accommodate the mechanical equipment that serves the laboratories and the building’s co-generation plant (electricity and hot water).