Novartis AG Renovates Historic Factory for Biomedical Research

Swiss pharmaceutical maker Novartis AG has renovated the historic 1927 New England Candy Co. factory in Cambridge to create a 500,000-sf biomedical research facility. The renovated building now houses labs, offices, breakout rooms, a 180-seat auditorium, two conference rooms, and a six-story atrium. Designed to foster interaction and collaboration, the labs and offices are co-located, with breakout rooms and kitchens on the perimeter of each floor. The building features state-of-the-art power, water, air handling, communications, and security systems. One of the challenges of the renovation was the removal of decades of small sugar spores imbedded in the facility that would interfere with research operations. The Stubbins Associates was one of the project architects.