Biopharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb has opened a new state of the art 480,000-square-foot research and development center at Cambridge Crossing, bringing the Boston BMS teams together under one roof for the first time. The LAB at Rockwell Group was tapped to transform the lobby and pre-function area of the new facility to inspire employees by demonstrating the impact their work has on the world. Driven by BMS’s values, the LAB developed a design that explores the inextricable connections between patients, science, and life.
Our design for BMS is comprised of three components: a kinetic chandelier; digital proscenium displays; and a display titled “Magnifying Community” in the pre-function area of the event space. The lobby is always transforming, inviting curiosity and discovery at each visit.
Kinetic Chandelier
The kinetic chandelier in the lobby was inspired by the visual language of the instruments and tools that BMS scientists use every day. Comprised of 84 16”-diameter Fresnel lenses, the chandelier transforms with a choreography that represents connections between people and science.
Guests move through a series of digital prosceniums made of LED screens designed to inspire scientists through imagery, demonstrating the innovation happening at BMS. As people exit, they experience visuals about community, highlighting the influence of their work.
A milled Corian wall backlit with LEDs welcomes guests and employees alike into the multiuse event space, which is located off the lobby.
This installation extends the design gesture across the entire ground-floor of the building, with a series of subtle interactions responding to passersby.
Pre-Function Area
A series of milled reliefs depict micrographs of key drugs, such as Penicillin, to showcase the rich history along the BMS timeline—the foundation for groundbreaking discoveries in the years to come.