As one of the world's foremost biotechnology companies, Genzyme Corporation, (a division of Sanofi) is dedicated to improving the lives of patients suffering from difficult diseases. Relying on a core set of values—innovation, transparency, collaboration and the entrepreneurial spirit—Genzyme has grown since 1981 from a small start-up to a global company with more than 10,000 employees in locations spanning the globe.
 
 

Genzyme wanted to build its Cambridge, Massachusetts corporate headquarters in a manner that reflected the company's mission of making a positive impact on people's lives. The goal was to combine innovative design and cutting-edge technology to create an exciting, healthy, and productive workplace for more than 900 employees. So the design for Genzyme Center focused on not only lowering operational, maintenance, and energy costs, but also on providing a work environment that honours employees' need for natural light and fresh air. The ambition was extraordinary, given the fact that the Center would be built on a highly contaminated vacant lot that was once a coal gasification plant.

The environmental requirements translated into a variety of design specifications, such as movable mirrors placed on the roof to direct sunlight inside, blinds programmed to follow the sun and then close at night, and windows that employees could open to let in fresh air. And that was just the beginning.
The project team faced a number of challenges − from integrating different systems and leveraging the corporate virtual private network (VPN) to adjusting to cultural differences and communicating among far-flung team members in Germany, Massachusetts, New York and Los Angeles. Nevertheless, these challenges were overcome by the collective expertise, passion and cooperation that resulted in a LEED Platinum certified, showcase green building, powered by renewable energy sources and controlled by integrated building systems that create an inspiring, comfortable and aesthetically beautiful work environment.

 The Genzyme Center earned a LEED Platinum certification, the highest rating issued by the U.S. Green Building Council, under the Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System^TM.

• energy-efficient features, including fans, motors, and an extensive BMS, reduced projected overall energy cost for the building by about 42%
• reduced water usage by 34% below the standard established by the 1992 Energy Policy Act
• 2 less building technicians required
• employees say that the environmental and collaborative features of Genzyme Center have made them more productive
• sick time reduced by 5%
• 88% employees report improved well being
• 72% report improved alertness and productivity
• easier recruiting and greater retention of employees
• enhanced corporate image

"We provided Schneider Electric with our requirements and they came up with a great plan. Their building management system takes care of 40,000 points of control - lighting, heating, air conditioning, and fire alarm monitoring. It is the brain that monitors everything in the building. Schneider Electric came up with a great plan. They catered to us and they did a great job."
 
−Lou Capozzi, Facilities Manager, Genzyme Center

Schneider Electric's Boston-based team collaborated extensively with key project stakeholders throughout the integrative design/build process. They proposed a solution that leverages the Schneider Electric Andover Continuum^TM building management system to control the main building systems and Andover Report Suite to measure and report energy trends. The integrated system manages 40,000 points of control, including lighting, heating, air conditioning, and fire alarm monitoring.

Genzyme awarded the project to Schneider Electric because we demonstrated our ability to handle the project's scope and had the expertise to integrate systems from multiple manufacturers.

Schneider Electric's Andover Continuum building management system (BMS) is fully programmable and leverages a Windows® front-end workstation connected directly to Genzyme's Ethernet VPN. This configuration enables Genzyme to monitor and manage a wide range of operations - from HVAC equipment, chiller and boiler interfaces, carbon monoxide/carbon dioxide levels and rainwater collection, to window, blind, and door controls, artificial lighting and building/tenant metering. Andover Continuum field controllers interface with lighting components to yield significant savings by eliminating the need for a separate network system to handle the lighting. In addition, Schneider Electric's Smart Sensors give employees individual room control for HVAC and lighting.

In this state-of-the-art green building, 900 stainless steel blinds are monitored on the Schneider Electric system. The blinds reflect the sunlight off the first two rows of ceiling panels, which are also stainless steel. As the sun moves, the blinds tilt to reflect more sunlight into the offices. Even more light is brought into the building by seven 5 ft. x 5 ft. rotating mirrors called heliostats, located on the roof of the building. The heliostats follow the sun and reflect the light through prisms, which in turn shines the light onto chandeliers that deliver sunlight to the entire building.
Schneider Electric's building management system is the brain that monitors everything in the building, including the mirrors and blinds, even though they operate on separate software. "Having the BMS enabled us to have two less technicians for the building. It monitors everything 24-hours a day and if anything goes wrong it sends out a message," reports facilities manager, Lou Capozzi.
The BMS also flushes old air out of the building. When the temperature is around 70 degrees and the wind is less than 5 mph. At 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., the BMS opens all the windows, pushes the old air out of the building, and takes in new air.
The crowning jewel of the Genzyme Center is its "green roof", with 6,000 sq. ft. of plant life that provides insulation, absorbs water and slows the amount of water going down the building's drains. Much of that rainwater is filtered, captured and stored in four 200-gallon tanks on the roof, and is used to water plants in the summer. Again, the Schneider Electric BMS monitors this process.