EMD Serono receives gold LEED rating

ROCKLAND, USA: EMD Serono Inc., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced that the company’s state-of-the-art research center in Billerica, MA, is LEED Gold certified under the US Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. The Billerica research facility supports the company’s commitment to developing and discovering innovative treatments in oncology, neurodegenerative diseases and fertility, and is one of only five laboratories in Massachusetts to achieve this high rating.

“This distinguished certification from the US Green Building Council is a reflection of our commitment to leadership, innovation, sustainability and making a difference in society,” said Fereydoun Firouz, president and CEO, EMD Serono, Inc. “From the project’s inception, we were committed to constructing a research facility that was founded on environmental responsibility and cutting-edge technology, to create a pioneering spirit among our scientists that fosters creativity and ingenuity in the development of new therapies in our core disease areas.”

“EMD Serono’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The EMD Serono research facility efficiently uses our natural resources and makes an immediate, positive impact on our planet, which will significantly benefit future generations to come.”

In February 2011, EMD Serono announced the completion of its Billerica research facility - a three-year construction project that included a $65 million expansion plan. Approximately 200 scientists work at the facility focused on expertise in cancer biology, cancer immunotherapy, oncogene signaling, medicinal chemistry, molecular modeling, protein engineering, therapeutic antibodies and manufacturing cell lines across the core therapeutic areas of neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and fertility.

The 140,000 square-foot research facility incorporates environmentally responsible design features throughout the offices and laboratory. The building’s green features include high efficiency variable speed chillers; energy efficient cooling towers; high efficiency boilers; low flow fume hoods; low velocity/pressure drop, energy efficient air distribution systems; energy recovery systems on exhaust; low flow water system; and energy efficient lighting and controls. Natural light is maximized throughout the building with solar panels utilized to generate electrical power for the lobby area, along with a daylight monitoring system incorporated throughout the building to reduce electrical usage.

In addition, more than 20 percent of the building contains recycled content, 95 percent of the building construction waste was recycled including brick and steel materials, and more than 50 percent of the wood is Forest Stewardship Council certified. It is estimated that the EMD Serono research facility utilizes 19 percent less energy and approximately 72 percent less water than a comparable conventional building.

EMD Serono worked with a number of Massachusetts businesses on this project. The architect on the research facility was Ellenzweig. The construction manager was Jones Lang LaSalle, a global real estate services and construction management corporation. The mechanical engineers of the facility were BR+A and the civil engineers were BSC Group.

The Billerica facility is one of four Research & Development hubs within Merck Serono; other R&D centers are located in Germany, Switzerland and China. These state-of-the-art facilities foster enhanced collaboration and synergies to discover and develop innovative therapies.