Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Commissioned by BioMed Realty, the 585 Kendall building designed by CBT/Childs Bertman Tseckares has been intentionally designed to reflect the multiple uses of the project, while also paying homage to the maritime history of the site and the Canal District.

As a super-hybrid building where science and art converge, 585 Kendall brings nature, performance, music, community, and life sciences together in the heart of Kendall Square.

Inspired by the pleats in theatre curtains and colors of the regional landscape, 585 Kendall’s colorful, dynamic exterior is emblematic of its diverse program.

The first three levels feature multiple public functions: a 380-seat theater, winter garden, retail, multi-function space, and lounges.

Upper levels house 500,000 square feet f of lab, creating a new, community-focused design paradigm for next-gen lab buildings.

Its curved façades are reminiscent of the water minimizing shadow, boosting sunlight, counteracting wind corridors, and providing further aesthetic variation for the building.

The exterior transitions in color from the public, arts-focused first three floors to the lab and office spaces above.

Coordinating design elements such as colors and plantings encourages interplay between indoors and outdoors on the ground floor, creating a unified, all-season park for community members and visitors alike to enjoy.

Prioritizing sustainability as a key focus throughout, the design team created a sustainability framework that prioritized three major components: experience and comfort creating spaces where people are healthier, happier, and more productive.

Resiliency and efficiency maximize the resource efficiency of the building, including reduction of water and energy consumption; and community and arts building a community where science meets art.  

Pursuing LEED Platinum certification, the design considers quantitative and qualitative metrics in the reduction of operational and embodied carbon, water consumption, the useful life of building systems and infrastructure, and the building’s greater environmental and community impact. 

Project: 585 Kendall
Architects: CBT/Childs Bertman Tseckares Inc.
General Contractor: Suffolk Construction Company
Client: BioMed Realty, LP.
Images: Courtesy of the Architects