One Milestone West

One Milestone West is located at the southeast end of the Enterprise Research Campus—a new mixed-use district in the Boston neighborhood of Allston. The district combines inviting public spaces for year-round use with stronger links between industry and researchers. The lab’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 Allstonway, the campus’ central green axis.

The main entrance opens onto a welcoming, transparent three-story atrium that connects to the adjoining laboratory, One Milestone East—both designed by Henning Larsen. The atrium can host a range of programs from small talks to public performances and increases opportunities for tenants and visitors to interact both intentionally and spontaneously. 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 laboratory use, while on the north, the stepped form opens up inviting terraces, offering workers access to fresh air and expansive views of the campus and Greater Boston.

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. Façade 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.