United Therapeutics Organ Manufacturing Group
Manchester, NH
BEST PROJECT
Sent by: EwingCole
Owner: United Therapeutics
Principal Design/Structural Engineer and MEP/Lighting Design/Life Safety and Fire Protection: EwingCole
General contractor: Milestone Construction LLC
Civil Engineer: Fuss and O’Neil
A 19th-century wooden building, which once served as a tannery, now houses an R&D facility developing 3D-printed lungs for transplantation. United Therapeutics had occupied 1.5 floors in the structure built in 1897, and with this project, became the sole occupant of the building.
The project includes three floors of laboratories, a work floor, as well as a gym, a wellness room and a large cafeteria. The project team aimed to respect the history of the original factory building. The design team adopted the industrial aesthetic, leaving the perimeter masonry walls and wooden ceiling with the original gears and pulleys exposed outside the sterile laboratory spaces.
The original mill equipment was used to create tables. The open office areas use large globe lights to provide an airy aesthetic while nodding to the historic Millyard globe lights seen on campus. The team evaluated the 50-foot-wide by 434-foot-long structure to make sure it could support advanced lab equipment.
Photo courtesy of EwingCole
Studies were conducted to mitigate the risks associated with the aging structure, including vibration analyzes and material sampling. Extensive mechanical upgrades were essential to transform the building into an efficient laboratory space. The gradual implementation of new units on the roof improved ventilation. Energy recovery systems and variable air volume controls increased efficiency.
Plumbing designs focused on environmental impact, using existing infrastructure to minimize ground disturbance. Displacement pumps were used where necessary and biological wastewater was treated before disposal.
Electrical upgrades include new distribution systems and telecommunications infrastructure. Uninterruptible power supply systems with bypass isolation improve reliability. A new utility has been installed with a natural gas generator for backup power.
Wireless lighting controls are connected to the building’s IT network. The voice and data network remained operational during construction. Dual overhead projectors in the cafe and town hall required coordination with audiovisual consultants and contractors.
The two-year project was completed on budget and on schedule in May 2024.
