Boston's Best-Connected Buildings
Facing the challenge to attract Boston’s top tenants, commercial real estate owners are focusing less on flashy amenities that go underutilized in favor of investments that appreciably improve tenants’ collective experience. Savvy business owners factor amenity usefulness into their cost-benefit analysis when evaluating space, and avoid glitzy buildings with obsolete digital infrastructure and spotty connectivity in favor of those with reliable, superior systems.
According to a WiredScore survey of office workers and corporate real estate decision-makers, three-quarters of respondents ranked access to reliable internet connection as the single-most important factor in selecting office space and doing business. That share, 78% in 2015, has likely increased further with data-demanding devices and applications becoming commonplace in the modern office.
As digital-native Millennials make up a larger share of the workforce, it is imperative that offices equip themselves to handle the digital needs of today’s top talent graduating from Harvard, MIT or any of the other local universities that enroll 250,000 students annually. Boston epitomizes the innovation hub, with more than 80 colleges and universities in the region, a per-capita rate of patents more than double the national average and over 20% of its residents holding advanced degrees. All this brainpower has significant bandwidth requirements.
To satisfy this need, over 80 buildings in the greater Boston area have now achieved Wired Certification for best-in-class connectivity and digital infrastructure. Here is a roundup of some of Boston’s best-connected buildings.
1. The Davenport
HubSpot's front desk and reception area
Location: Cambridge
Anchor Tenant: HubSpot
Certifications: Wired Certified Gold, LEED Gold, Energy Star
Description: This space was designed to maximize creativity and collaboration among tenants. Dependable, high-speed internet is a catalyst making that vision a reality.
Hubspot’s frequent media mentions and accolades may be attributed to its people’s innovative ideas, stimulated by their environment’s entertainment options, wellness features and relaxation amenities. Still, for this techie tenant, connectivity is king.
2. The District
The District building exterior
Location: Burlington
Anchor Tenant: Magnitude Software
Certifications: Buildings on campus are Wired Certified, Wired Certified Silver and Wired Certified Gold, with many achieving LEED Silver.
Description: This campus provides 1.1M SF of premier workspace in Burlington with solid connectivity infrastructure.
This office property proves that, although the city may be the nexus of innovation, the spirit is diffused throughout the surrounding area. The District is a vibrant business environment that demonstrably meets the needs of today's workforce.
3. Innovation and Design Building
Boston's Seaport District's Innovation and Design Building
Location: Seaport District
Anchor Tenants: Autodesk, MassChallenge and America’s Test Kitchen (arriving soon)
Certifications: Wired Certified Platinum
Description: Built in 1918 as a military warehouse, redevelopment efforts and substantial capital infusions have created some of the most sought-after office space in Boston.
This jewel of the Seaport’s innovation district lives up to its name by imbuing tenants with the tools for success with state-of-the-art connectivity. It has received the highest Wired rating, Certified Platinum, meeting and exceeding the workspace needs of local companies with open and flexible floor plans, high ceilings and natural, light-filled spaces.
4. Canal Park
A rendering of Canal Park
Location: Cambridge
Anchor Tenants: Houses over 150 life science and technology companies, ranging from startups to global corporations
Certifications: Wired Certified Silver, Energy Star
Description: This three-building waterfront campus in Cambridge is the ideal spot for STEM tenants seeking a range of services. Its flexible offerings span HQ-appropriate spaces to smaller blocks of Class-A office space for promising fledglings that benefit from all the tech-centric activity.
5. Alexandria Center at Kendall Square
Location: Kendall Square
Anchor Tenants: High-quality and diverse tenant base, including leading multinational pharmaceutical companies, public and private biotech firms, academic and medical institutions, government research agencies, nonprofits, medical device companies, digital health companies, venture capital firms and life science entities.
Certifications: Two properties are Wired Certified Platinum and five facilities have been sustainably built to achieve LEED certification.
Description: Located in the heart of Kendall Square’s R&D and technology center, Alexandria houses 1.7M SF of newly developed office and lab space. 50+60 Binney and 100 Binney have the coveted Wired Certified Platinum, leveraged by the varied tenants for research, communication and product development.
