400 WOOD ROAD BALANCE ARCHITECTS
Balance Architects embarked on the ambitious conversion of an outdated office and warehouse complex into a best-in-class , Class-A GMP / advanced manufacturing and life science facility in Braintree , MA . In addition to the complete transformation of the building , significant infrastructure investments were made in both the power and water systems to meet the needs of future tenants . Today , the building is fully leased to two tenants : Integra LifeSciences , a leader in neurosurgery , and First Electronics Corporation , an advanced manufacturing company specializing in high-grade cabling .
The initial phase of the project involved stripping the building down to its core elements : the slab , steel columns , and roof . Prior to this intervention , the building , which housed a combination of office , lab and warehouse areas , was clad in dented and damaged metal panels , with outdated
8 - www . refurbandrestore . co . uk architectural concrete masonry units ( CMU ) at the entrance . The overgrown landscape had obscured the building , and the limited fenestration allowed minimal natural light to penetrate the interior . The interior space functioned as a dismal labyrinth of cubicles and corridors , completely devoid of natural light .
With the primary goal of bringing light deep into the building , the Balance team designed large windows across the facade and created a fully glazed , doubleheight entry . On the warehouse side , typically associated with artificial lighting , we introduced a double-height curtain wall along the entire length of the loading bay . To create a highly energy-efficient envelope , the design team used a combination of insulated metal panels and a terra cotta rain-screen system , placing all insulation on the exterior . By carefully selecting the size and color of the terra cotta tiles , Balance created subtle shifts in color and movement along the expansive facade . Weston Architectural Supply oversaw the Herculean effort of unloading and installing the custom terracotta pieces , which were shipped out of order — the parking lot resembled a giant jigsaw puzzle for nearly a month .