After outgrowing its Waltham facility, Transform Pharmaceuticals relocated to an existing building on Hartwell Avenue in Lexington. OLSON LEWIS + Architects adapted the building as a workplace and research facility that makes the company’s identity and development process visible from the moment visitors arrive.
A glass-and-steel cube marks the public entrance, translating the company’s logo into a three-dimensional architectural form. The cube gives prominence to a previously indistinct entry while functioning as a weather-protective vestibule that improves mechanical performance during New England’s changing seasons.
Inside, a central corridor becomes a “narrative walk” with controlled views into secure laboratories and computer areas. Visitors and investors can follow the company’s R&D process without entering the technical spaces. The path ends at an angled mahogany display wall with illuminated niches for research models, awards, and industry developments. Its materials and geometry recall the mahogany reception desk, connecting the front and rear lobby areas.
