Designing for Discovery: Forma Therapeutics’ Headquarters Focuses on Light, Connection, and Comfort
At Forma Therapeutics’ multi-floor headquarters, architecture and science intertwine to create a workspace that fosters innovation, connection, and well-being. OLSON LEWIS + Architects partnered with Forma to design a space where transparency, collaboration, and comfort support their groundbreaking work in rare blood disorders.
A Central Spiral Staircase Designed for Connection
At the heart of the headquarters, a unique central spiral staircase visually and physically connects multiple floors. More than just a circulation space, it offers:
- Views into laboratory spaces that highlight transparency and encourage curiosity
- Opportunities for informal interactions that spark collaboration and innovation
Above this focal point, a custom lighting installation takes center stage. Inspired early in the design process, the suspended artisanal glass discs—reminiscent of red blood cells—cascade down the center of the stair like glowing raindrops.
As Michele Brooks, Principal and Director of Life Sciences, explains:
"The final fixture gives an uplifting sense of vibrancy—a mood enhancer to all who pass by."
Visible from all three floors, the installation serves as both a design statement and a nod to Forma’s vital work in hematology.
Lighting Meets Acoustic Comfort in Employee Lounges
OL+ designers extended this thoughtful design approach into employee lounge spaces, focusing on both aesthetic appeal and acoustic comfort:
- Acoustic Lighting: Above perimeter seating areas, sound-absorbing structures are integrated within light rings, reducing ambient noise while providing soft illumination.
- Sustainable Materials: Acoustic panels are crafted from at least 40% recycled PET, combining sustainability with performance.
- Vertical Acoustic Panels: Installed throughout lounge areas, these panels with integrated lighting further support sound control, creating warm, welcoming spaces for relaxation and informal work.
These details ensure that comfort and productivity go hand in hand—hallmarks of OL+’s life sciences workplace design philosophy.
Creating Spaces That Support Scientific Discovery
At OLSON LEWIS + Architects, we design workplaces where function, beauty, and human connection converge. For Forma Therapeutics, that meant a headquarters where the architecture reflects their mission—supporting discovery, collaboration, and innovation every day.
