Svigals + Partners Blends Modern Style with Magnetic Warmth in New Research Headquarters
A new agile lab and office setting for cutting-edge biotech leader Quantum-Si is bringing together scientists, researchers, engineers, and other staff in a productive home for their transformative work.
Designed by architecture, art and advisory firm Svigals + Partners, the completed first phase for the protein sequencing company’s new headquarters in Branford, Conn. consolidates the firm’s two prior facilities into a single, technologically advanced research base and welcoming workplace that merges its technical edge and crisp style with engaging art, branding, and collaborative work opportunities.
Following a programming exercise and prior test-fit for the client in a different location, when fully built out, the new headquarters will add more workspaces and dedicated facilities for employee training, storage, and warehouse area.
Svigals + Partners drew from its portfolio developed over 40 years and well-honed process to envision the home base for Quantum-Si’s team, including nearly 20,000 square feet of space in the low-key, business park setting. The bright workspace with common areas, private offices, and touchdown spaces accommodates sensitive, cutting-edge equipment for both wet and dry laboratories, offering a springboard for Quantum-Si's anticipated growth and its core system, Platinum™, the world’s first next-generation single-molecule protein sequencing platform.
The open interiors present a healthy, easy-to-adapt environment equipped with key conveniences and safety features, from flexible lab benches and adjustable lighting systems to efficient fume hoods and mechanical systems. Highlights include an instrument farm – a showpiece workspace of over 60 devices used in their research – plus a microscope room, machine shop, and clean room for the company’s laser team. Other enclosed zones accommodate specialized robotics and tissue culture work. Drawing employees and scientists into the 10,000 square feet of lab and research space are magnetic work and collaboration zones: The glass walls surrounding the instrument farm, for example, are punctuated by vertical slats of light- and dark-toned wood.
“Centralizing the instrument farm in such a highly viewable location makes it a real centerpiece of both Quantum-Si’s operation as well as whole headquarters experience,” says Alana Konefal, AIA, Associate Principal with Svigals + Partners. “Visitors entering into the main reception area, and those elsewhere in the headquarters, instantly recognize the importance of that technology hub, bringing Quantum-Si’s innovation story forward to connect visually with everyone who visits.”
Showcasing a Technology-Driven Brand
Crisp and clean design elements enhance the sophisticated lab and research environments plus new enclosed offices and collaboration zones, including phone booths, conference rooms, and common areas. Svigals + Partners’ wood-look elements counterpoint the company’s geometric, white-on-black brand motif, seen first on a wall panel behind the reception console. Overhead, a wood plane with linear light fixtures hangs below a white-painted exposed ceiling, while a graphic of gradient purple and blue zigzags along the central corridor that separates office and lab zones.
The theme extends through other circulation areas, a breakroom, game room, and new restrooms, complementing Quantum-Si’s crisp, geometric brand identity with cool grey, blue, and white hues along with metallic finishes and wood-toned accents. In the collaboration zones, eye-catching horizontal acoustic blades in dark finishes hang from the exposed ceiling. The tech-inspired, hospitable aesthetic enhances Quantum-Si’s graphics in shared areas, with memorable flourishes, such as a trellis-like, wood-hued grid overhead in the breakroom. Perimeter offices and other destination zones take advantage the windows access to natural daylight.
“Our ongoing communications with the client’s facilities team was essential in maintaining the project’s tight schedule, and it’s a real reward to see inspired scientists and researchers working comfortably in their new headquarters,” says Director of Interior Design Katherine Berger, NCIDQ, WELL AP. “We are looking forward to collaborating with Quantum-Si as they expand further with future phases of their new headquarters.”
Team:
Architect: Svigals + Partners
Design engineers for electrical, plumbing, and fire protection: AKF
Photography: Halkin Mason Photography, courtesy Svigals + Partners
Materials used:
1. Wood-look ceilings: Fortina (B+N Industries)
2. Acoustic planks: Acufelt
3. Workstations: Teknion
4. Phone booths: ROOM
5. Furnishings: Interscape CE
