GSK 200 Cambridgepark Drive Facility Expansion | Cambridge, MA

DPR executed the scope under a Design-Build approach in collaboration with design partners HOK and Genesis Engineers. DPR, HOK and Genesis attended kick-off meetings alongside GSK to ensure complete alignment of expectations, design intent and project goals to ensure the team could hit the ground running to deliver this groundbreaking space. 

One example of the benefits of this early engagement was the proactive identification and procurement of long-lead items during the preconstruction phase. This forward-thinking approach was instrumental in maintaining the project timeline and delivering more predictable outcomes, ensuring that critical materials and equipment were secured in advance and potential supply chain delays were avoided.

VDC was essential to delivering the GSK project on schedule, enabling the team to manage a complex sequence of construction, coordinate intricate MEP systems within an existing facility, and minimize disruption to ongoing research. Digital prototyping, laser scanning, and robust dashboard tracking empowered trade foremen and superintendents to execute precise installations and respond to evolving project demands.

Our Virtual Design approach allowed the team to scan the existing conditions of the building to help locate existing conditions while incorporating the new infrastructure needed to support GSK’s program. With a full scan of the building allowed construction teams to model new MEP infrastructure around existing utilities to limit the impact to the occupied facility and daily GSK operations.

DPR’s self-perform (SPW) team was instrumental in achieving the accelerated schedule, delivering critical scopes—including firestopping, installation of doors, frames, and hardware, framing and drywall, and specialty services—while ensuring a commitment to safety, quality and efficiency throughout the project. Careful planning allowed trades to move efficiently across floors, minimizing downtime and maintaining steady progress toward on-schedule turnover.

Supporting nine separate turnovers throughout an active building required the highest level of coordination. To ensure the occupied lab and office spaces remained undisturbed from construction activities, DPR worked closely with the Building and Fire Departments to outline the approach to the project as well as to develop a strategy for GSK to occupy floors during the construction phases. To eliminate unplanned impacts to the base building or active systems, DPR coordinated with key trades to develop Methods of Procedure (MOP) to document and communicate any shut-downs, or utility tie-ins well ahead of time to ensure zero impact to the building's operations. The MOPs served as a clear outline of how and when the work was to be conducted, and ensured alignment, documentation, and clear notice for all stakeholders. All MOPs were reviewed and approved by key stakeholders from a technical and safety lens before work was conducted.

Working with existing building utilities and infrastructure posed multiple challenges. In one instance, to mitigate disruptions within the occupied facility, the team was required to impair the existing system and implement a temporary heat loop. DPR developed a detailed fire alarm impairment plan (NFPA241) in coordination with Code Red Consultants, the Cambridge Fire & Building Departments, and associated Trade Partners. It was imperative that the team developed detailed plans weeks in advance of any testing, cutovers or shutdowns occurring within the occupied facility, so as to avoid any disruption to day-to-day activities for building tenants.

Safety was paramount throughout the project. DPR’s team implemented rigorous protocols to protect both construction crews and GSK’s research teams, maintaining the highest standards in an active laboratory environment. More than 300,000 labor hours with zero lost-time incidents prove the team’s commitment to a safety-first culture. The DPR and GSK teams worked hand and hand to ensure that both the Construction Personnel and the GSK Staff were safe and protected throughout the different phases of construction. Through the lifecycle of the project, DPR hosted two annual National Construction Safety Weeks where DPR, Trade Partners, Vendors and GSK worked in conjunction to show commitment to the construction industry and the project team members.

Due to the team’s collaborative project execution and commitment to safety, schedule, budget and quality, the team was able to turn over the fast-tracked, multi-phased project on schedule and at budget, allowing GSK to continue driving their life changing research and medicine development.