A new 10,000 sf innovation center on Babson’s Wellesley campus includes the program areas of “Exploration Areas” (vestibule, ideation, teaching space, workspace), “Resources” (residential style kitchen, small tools, digital lab, sewing, small electronics, restrooms, conference, office) and “Service” (service/storage, mechanical). The areas are flexible, with doors and openings designed to accommodate multiple functions.

Vanderweil provided MEP/FP and sustainable design services for the new construction.

MEP/FP systems include air-handling units with energy recovery, specialty exhaust systems, high-efficiency gas-fired HVAC and domestic hot water production, supplementary solar hot water production, low-flow fixtures, ceiling cord reels for flexible power and communications services, emergency lighting with battery back-up, and fire protection / fire alarm systems per code requirements.

This project is designed for LEED Silver® certification.

Recipient of the Engineering New Record (ENR) New England, Merit Award, Higher Education/Research Category, 2019 and the BSA, Education Facilities Design, Citation, 2019