BOSTON– Sasaki unveiled the design of its new headquarters in downtown Boston’s historic 110 Chauncy building. The firm worked closely with MC Real Estate Partners (MCRE) on the redesign of 110 Chauncy, an architecturally significant 1890’s era building.
MCRE purchased the building in 2021 and simultaneously completed a 16-year lease agreement with Sasaki for the majority of the building’s office space. Sasaki is the primary tenant of the 8-story building, housing its 250+ Boston-based employees and the Sasaki Foundation occupying the top seven floors. Sasaki aimed to define the future of the workplace for its local employees as it designed the new global headquarters.
Designated as landlord’s architect, Sasaki led the design and buildout of its new office interiors and private roof deck, in addition to working with MCRE to redesign the lobby, retail space, and entrance. Significant base improvements to the vintage property were made, with the goal of creating a more modern space. Among other new features, enhanced HVAC systems were implemented to deliver an increase in fresh air, as well as the addition of bicycle storage and showers in the basement to increase transportation options. Each of Sasaki’s seven floors has a unique combination of small, intermediate, and large conference rooms, outfitted with state-of-the-art video conferencing technology for all manner of hybrid meetings. Integrated technology, including touchscreen monitors at all workstations, allows Sasaki’s workforce to be involved in the crucial everyday conversations that move our work forward, no matter where employees choose to work from that day.
The move to downtown Boston follows the sale of Sasaki’s old suburban headquarters in Watertown, MA which it occupied for decades, leveraging a new location to pursue business goals, drive collaboration, and increase employee happiness. Sasaki redesigned the 120-year-old building to meet the needs of a dynamic design team that has grown considerably while also allowing for the flexibility that remote work has afforded Sasaki employees.
“We believe in workplaces as fundamental to seeding collaboration and innovation—the lifeblood of a creative firm like Sasaki,” said Liz von Goeler, Chair of External Relations and workplace design principal at Sasaki. “We jumped at the chance to partner with MCRE on pioneering a sensitive, sustainable, and flexible recasting of historic 110 Chauncy as a model for the future of workplace design in Boston and beyond.”
Sasaki’s move into the city underscores its commitment to the enduring importance of urban centers and an embrace of a unique moment to redefine the future of workplace design for itself and its clients. 110 Chauncy Street puts the design firm at the nexus of dynamic Boston communities being only minutes from myriad transportation hubs, including Logan Airport, allowing the growing firm to continue cultivating an unparalleled diversity of clients, project types, and talent.
