One Milestone West

Located at the southeast end of the Enterprise Research Campus—a new mixed-use district in the Boston neighborhood of Allston—One Milestone West is part of the university’s initiative to deepen links between research and industry leaders and provide a mix of inviting public spaces for residents and visitors to use year-round. The design’s carved form and transparent façade respond directly to this mission. At ground level, the façade subtly steps back to create sheltered areas for dining and socializing, activating the building’s edges and the campus’ central greenway.

Welcoming people inside and increasing opportunities for different tenants and visitors to interact, the main entrance is shared with One Milestone East—the building’s adjoining laboratory designed by Henning Larsen—and opens onto a transparent three-story atrium that can host a range of programs from small talks to public performances. The upper floors are dedicated to flexible lab and workspaces. Carving is kept to a minimum on the south side to maintain optimal depth for lab use, while on the north, the stepped form opens up inviting terraces, offering workers access to fresh air and expansive views.

Carefully tuned to balance thermal performance year-round, the building’s strata-like façade is made up of long bands of solid zones interspersed with glazing, bringing ample natural light inside. As you move along the façade, the panels shift subtly in color, establishing a dynamic presence on campus. The building’s carved form also allows sunlight to reach the public green spaces below where bio-swales and -retention tanks are integrated throughout the revitalized landscape—demonstrating that laboratories can not only be welcoming and engaging workspaces but also integral to the development of a more sustainable civic realm.