Photo Courtesy of Warren Patterson Photography

Iron Mountain, Boston

The relocation of this information management firm's headquarters from a 128,000-sq-ft, nine-floor office to a two-floor, 112,000-sq-ft space required advanced planning and ongoing communication. The project began at the same time that Iron Mountain launched a mobile work force program, dubbed Mobile Mountaineers, which resulted in design changes, including the deletion of one floor from the total office space.

The fit-out, on the sixth and seventh floor of a 38-story building, more than doubled the number of conference rooms and added an executive briefing center. It included space for 450 in-office employees and 150 telecommuting workers.

The project also featured high-tech collaborative space for both large and small groups, with technology including flat screen panels, video conference systems and a cafeteria with a full kitchen. A two-story, open, interconnected staircase to unite the main reception area with the café and training center was a key component of the project.

The team worked around the base building's existing mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems, adding the items that Iron Mountain needed for a high-tech office. Every MEP component was mapped out and coordinated prior to installation, a process that also wound up saving time and costs. The project was completed in seven months and included several energy-saving strategies. These included moving private offices away from perimeter positions in order to boost daylighting; installing motion-sensing task lighting at all work areas, which helped cut required energy use by 33%; and using low-flow plumbing fixtures, which decreased water use by 33%. The project has been submitted for LEED-Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's rating system.

Key Players

Owner Iron Mountain

General Contractor and Construction Manager StructureTone

Lead Design Firm Margulies Perruzzi Architects

MEP Engineer Richard D. Kimball Co.

owner's project manager Fort Point Project Management Inc.

leed consultant Entegra

furniture Red Thread

leasing representative JLL

food service design Colburn & Guyette