A high-performance facade for a best-in-class science and engineering center.

To reinforce its growing strength in scientific research, Northeastern University is developing an Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex, a multi-building addition to its campus that spans Boston’s Fenway and Roxbury neighborhoods.

An anchor of the new complex is EXP, a 350,000 SF state-of-the-art building that will feature a variety of flexible research spaces when complete. The nine-story facility will also house a roof garden, lounges, kitchenettes, makerspaces, and other programmatic elements intended to build community and foster collaboration.

Designed by architect Payette, the building’s envelope was inspired by the image of water moving though tributaries—a reference to the streams of people and ideas that will converge in the building. More than 7,000 curving stainless steel fins twist across the structure, exposing spans of the all-glass facade, to display the active collaboration and research anticipated inside.

In keeping with project goals for LEED Platinum certification, the high-performance curtainwall system features triple-glazing with multiple Low-E coatings and manages solar heat gain through custom-fabricated sunshades.

Each of the 1,600-plus unitized curtainwall panels was fabricated in Island’s New York headquarters prior to marshaling to site for installation. The project’s location on an active university campus, adjacent to a busy rail line, necessitated careful planning for staging and installation, as well as tower-crane usage to install specific portions of the unitized system.

Project Information:

• Location: Boston, MA

• Year Completed: 2022 (Island scope)

• Certification: Targeting LEED Platinum

• Facade Area: 135,000 SF

• Panel Count: 1,600

• Island Services Provided:

  • Design Assist

  • Shop Drawings & Engineering

  • Mockups & Testing

  • Fabrication

  • Installation

Learn More:

• Payette, EXP - Payette

• Northeastern, About – Northeastern University Site

• Boston Planning and Development Agency, Northeastern University EXP