Press Releases

The Building for Transformative Medicine, with its innovative construction and state-of-the-art research and clinical space, welcomes its first patients on Oct. 3, 2016. The new facility, located at 60 Fenwood Rd., will bring together leading clinicians and scientists to promote, collaborate and advance care for patients suffering from neurologic, orthopaedic, and rheumatologic conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

“This is a translational research building, which means that our world-class physicians and researchers can go directly from the lab bench to the clinic and bedside, working together on discoveries and innovations that translate to new treatments for patients,” said Dr. Betsy Nabel, president of Brigham and Women’s Health Care.

Key elements of the new building include:

• 383,000 square feet of usable space, including research labs, clinics, an infusion suite, an imaging floor, a conference center and faculty offices.
• Five state-of-the-art MRIs, including a Magnetom Terra 7.0 Tesla MRI, the newest and most powerful MRI machine available and the first in a clinical setting in North America, installed within a year.
• The Brigham Innovation Hub, which fosters collaboration among leading experts to further enable partnerships within BWH and with industry.
• 400 underground parking spaces, including dedicated spots for electric and low-emission vehicles, and ample bicycle parking.
• A beautiful, centralized infusion suite for patients with a wide range of diseases, from musculoskeletal injuries to rheumatoid arthritis.
• A conference center with a variety meeting spaces.
• A third-floor roof garden designed as an extension of Boston’s Emerald Necklace.
• Green design, construction, and maintenance solutions to attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification; innovative features include a cogeneration plant that will provide 80 percent of the power and steam and the adjacent building (BWH’s Shapiro Cardiovascular Center), and a 40,000 gallon cistern to capture storm water for reuse in the mechanical systems will be installed.

All clinical teams move in before the end of October 2016; all others will be staggered. The building will be fully occupied by March 2017.

“We’re extremely proud to be opening this building, one of the most technologically sophisticated patient care and research facilities in the country,” said Paul Anderson, MD, PhD, chief academic officer and senior vice president of Research at BWHC. “The building is designed to provide as much access to natural light as possible, and an open floor plan for collaboration will provide scientists with research spaces that foster creativity, productivity and a robust exchange of ideas.”

Martie Carnie, BWH’s senior patient advisor, was involved in the planning and design of the building from the beginning, sharing insights from the patient and family perspective with building architects. “To address the needs of patients with cognitive concerns and limited mobility issues, front desks in patient waiting areas were designed for eye level contact whether patients are standing, sitting in a wheel chair or on a stretcher. Clear signage has been implemented and colors are designed to be calm and soothing. It’s important to know that the patient and family voice was incorporated,” said Carnie.

The Building for Transformative Medicine cost $475 million to build, and was supported in part by philanthropy. “We’re extremely grateful to all of our generous donors who helped make this building possible. It will allow the Brigham to build on its excellence in patient-centered, comprehensive and compassionate care while advancing the pace of research and discovery,” said Sue Rapple, chief development officer and senior vice president at BWHC.

Key vendors/partners:

• Architect: NBBJ Architects
• Construction Manager: Suffolk Construction
• Structural Engineer: McBanara/Salvia, Inc.,
• Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing & Fire Protection Engineer: BR+AConsulting Engineers, Inc.
• Civil and Transportation Engineer: Vanasse Hangen Brustlin
• Geotechnical Consultant: Haley & Aldrich
• Owner Project Management: Leggat McCall Properties

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