Transforming R&D Culture With a Connected Technology Center
For this confidential global manufacturer, research and development is the heart of progress. The company sought to consolidate its R&D operations into a single state-of-the-art technology center—one that could adapt to changing needs, accelerate the pace of discovery, and reflect a forward-looking commitment to safety, wellness, and community.
HED partnered with the client to plan and design a multi-year, multi-phased expansion that redefined the campus. The project’s goals were ambitious: promote speed-to-innovation, create a flexible and responsive environment, safeguard safety and security, inspire and activate employees, and enhance overall wellness. Achieving these goals required a facility that could serve both the rigorous technical demands of global product testing and the softer, human-centered needs of a modern workplace.
At the core of the design is a “Main Street” connector that organizes movement and encourages chance encounters between teams. This spine links labs, offices, and social hubs, transforming circulation into an opportunity for collaboration. Two-story collaborative zones punctuate the building, connecting labs on the first floor with workplaces above, fostering visibility and shared energy across disciplines.
The labs themselves are designed for precision. More than 700 product testing stations support diverse functions, with dedicated pre-test rooms for advancing research and development. Certification labs required strict control of temperature and humidity, met through robust mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure. Each testing station accommodates varying voltages, amperages, and frequencies, enabling product development for a global market. Mechanical systems include advanced water systems and natural gas, while a unique hybrid HVAC strategy supplies both office and lab environments. This system improves energy efficiency while dramatically increasing fresh air—a critical factor in employee wellness.
The workplace complements these technical functions with social and collaborative spaces designed to inspire. Light-filled hubs and a monumental stair with integrated seating invite employees to gather, exchange ideas, and collaborate across departments. A public-facing layer of shared spaces connects the center to its community, while research and testing zones are protected and secure. Warm daylight, inspiring views, and flexible work neighborhoods pull employees away from their desks, promoting the kind of informal interaction that sparks innovation.
Architecturally, the expansion integrates old and new. The building’s exterior blends silver metal and charcoal brick, with stained original masonry and sleek metal panel accents creating a cohesive, contemporary identity. An all-glass extension to the lobby, anchored by a dramatic canopy column, establishes the entry as a welcoming, primary arrival point for guests and partners. The surrounding landscape design extends this arrival experience, using outdoor spaces as natural extensions of collaboration and community.
The result is a loft-like, two-story environment where contiguous labs, flexible workplaces, and collaborative hubs come together to accelerate discovery. By aligning technical precision with human-centered design across architecture, engineering, interiors, and landscape, HED delivered a technology center that is durable, adaptable, and inspiring—a place where speed-to-innovation is not just a goal but the everyday culture.
