Watertown, MA

85 Walnut Street

Scope/Solutions

The project at 85 Walnut Street redevelops a five-acre site with construction of a new four-story building with speculative office and laboratory space tailored to life science tenants, a parking garage, and a public park. SGH provided structural engineering and building enclosure consulting services for the project.

Our work included studies of potential structural systems and layouts, developing construction documents, and providing construction administration services. SGH served as the structural engineer of record and designed the following structures:

  • The composite steel-framed building constructed with two wings
  • A mechanical penthouse with 18 ft tall cantilevered screens
  • The detached four-level, 370-car precast concrete parking garage with two stair towers, one elevator, and a partially below-grade level

We also consulted on the enclosure design for the building, including below-grade waterproofing, facades primarily comprising curtain wall frames set in large punched openings and surrounded by metal panel cladding, sections of multistory curtain wall, waterproofing for a rooftop terrace, and membrane roofing. Our work included reviewing the proposed design; helping select systems and develop details; and providing engineering support during mockups, performance testing, and construction.

Project Summary

completion-date

2024

Completion Date
building-size

215k Building

Project Size
Solutions
New Construction
Services
Structures | Building Enclosures
Markets
Commercial | Health Care & Life Sciences
Client(s)
Phase 3 Real Estate Partners | Spagnolo Gisness & Associates
Specialized Capabilities
Building Design

Key team members

Derek McCowan
Derek McCowan
Principal
Michael Hughes
Michael Hughes
Associate Principal