Bristol Myers Squibb’s new 480,000-square-foot R&D facility has brought over 600 researchers to Cambridge Crossing.

The challenge was to create a dynamic and exciting visual environment, and meet rigorous lighting requirements for laboratories and offices, while aggressively reducing LPD.

Connections and Color are themes that guided the design. Entering the facility, you are greeted by a dynamic ceiling, lit with color-changing fixtures. An illuminated stair provides a continuous visual connection between nine floors. The stair is crowned with cloud-like color-changing fixtures. At the prominent corner of the building, conference rooms each have a color-changing soffit that also serves as façade lighting. All of these color-changing features and the rooftop sign are centrally controlled by a building-wide DMX network.

Fixtures in the offices are custom colored. A different color for each floor provides visual interest and floor identity. Colorful murals throughout are illuminated with fixtures integrated into ceilings where the plenum depth is often inches. On every floor, the striking lighting effect in the central corridor energizes this connecting spine. In the laboratories, modular lay-in fixtures meet the Owner’s requirements for ease of space reconfiguration.

The lighting control system features digital-addressable drivers for maximum flexibility if spaces are reconfigured in the future. Lighting in all meeting rooms is zoned and dimmed, so occupants can adjust the lighting to their needs. In larger rooms, preset-scene dimming interfaced to the AV system is used.

Labs comprise half of the project, but the overall LPD is only 0.72w/ft2, 27% below code. Although not required in labs, occupancy sensors are used. These measures supported LEED Gold certification.

The lighting in labs, offices, and conference rooms was designed to meet Owner and IES illuminance criteria. Lens luminance was carefully controlled to prevent glare. 90CRI throughout, provides best color rendition and meets Owner and LEED criteria.