Cambridge, MA – Timberline Construction has completed an office expansion project for Sage Therapeutics. It has renovated approximately 30,000sf of space for the phased occupancy of the company as it continues to grow and hire more employees within the historic Athenaeum Press Building. Timberline worked closely with Sage and its internal vendors, as well as Sage’s design team, Spagnolo Gisness & Associates.

The contemporary reception area welcomes employees and visitors to the office. The office project includes multiple workstation configurations, such as break-out areas, private offices, phone rooms, and conference rooms to provide options for working independently and collaborating as a team.

Additionally, two private wellness rooms were introduced to offer comfortable seating, a sink, refrigerator, microwave, ample lighting, and storage. The scope also involved renovating two sets of base building bathrooms within their space. The renovated bathrooms received updates to all finishes, partitions, vanities, and accessories.

Within the project, two separate adjoining areas connected the first phase of the project to the second phase. Close coordination and communication between all parties was required for the removal of these walls for tenant safety, while keeping the space clean and staying on schedule.

A proud feature component of Sage’s renovation is the new staircase, designed and built to connect the existing floor to newly fit-out space on the floor above. The staircase and handrail was a custom design by Spagnolo Gisness & Associates. The delivery required working in-between the building structural columns, while avoiding the main network room.

Timberline’s innovative solution challenged conventional methods to respond to the unique spatial constraints, while working around tenant activities. This involved building and installing the steel on the third floor above, from which the floor joists could then hang.

The new employee cafeteria was designed to be multifunctional to allow plenty of space for company gatherings, meals, and storage. Timberline was able to reconfigure the existing café to allow for a temporary wall to be built to separate the construction from the actively utilized space.

—

The construction team worked off-hours and around the clients’ schedule to minimize inconvenience. For example, the rigging of all structural steel was performed through the second and third floors windows, on the tight urban site, during weekend hours.

Working in an occupied and historic building has its challenges; Timberline’s expertise and experience has positioned the company to have become a trusted and reliable partner in the building for high-end tenant improvements, sensitive laboratory fit-outs, and common area renovations.

Timberline has completed projects at 215 First Street for Sage Therapeutics, Surface Oncology, and Sarepta Therapeutics. The team has also completed projects for Sarepta’s North Andover location and is currently working with R.E. Dinneen Architects and CSL Consulting on the 7,000sf laboratory expansion for the well-known RNA-targeted biopharmaceutical company.

Sage Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing novel medicines to improve the lives of patients suffering from central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Located in one of the world’s largest biotech hubs, Sage Therapeutics calls Cambridge home.

Photo Credit: Robert Umenhofer Photography