Synergy East

This 132,000 GSF office space and conference center embodies the client’s mission of “enhancing the health and well-being of pets, people, and livestock” by prioritizing employee wellness and using natural resources responsibly. The project expands on an existing campus in Westbrook, ME, and was completed on June 12, 2020. The project achieved LEED V4 Gold certification, the first in Maine.

Inside, enormous light wells bring daylight and interest deep into the core. Exterior glass uses a combination of diffusion panels and electrochromic tinting to provide exceptional daylighting and glare-free views to all sides of the building throughout the workday. Low-emitting, low-maintenance, high-durability surfaces, acoustically-sound finishes, and ergonomic furniture fill out an interior inspired by the employees’ microscopic photography and the surrounding ecology. Demountable partitions and an access floor allow for bold design, a variety of spaces, and constant change. Employee accommodations extend outside and include a fully plumbed pet relieving area and even an outdoor pavilion complete with fans to keep bugs away. These dynamic, inclusive, highly functional spaces inspire employees to collaborate and think creatively, and this employee-focused approach attracts the best employees in the region.

Outside, the roofs work triple-time, harvesting rainwater as well as producing renewable energy (earning LEED Exemplary Performance for both strategies). Native plants reduce irrigation needs while strengthening the project’s connection to local ecosystems.  A subtle variegation of cladding sizes and colors evoke the local landscape (and seascape) forms. The high-efficiency envelope and systems meet the AIA 2030 Challenge toward carbon neutrality. The embodied carbon of the materials used, as assessed by a Whole-building Life-Cycle Impact Model, was also reported for this challenge.