Adimab Laboratory Building

When leading biotech firm Adimab needed more space, they set out to design a building that would itself be inspirational—helping to attract top scientists and creating an environment where employees could do their best work. The result is a beautiful 28,000-square-foot facility that blends seamlessly into the woods of their New Hampshire location. Large expanses of glazing, natural lighting, and an exposed timber structure connect Adimab’s scientists with each other and with the nature that surrounds them, reflecting the company’s culture of collaboration and connection.

Built as an addition to an existing structure, the three-story, Type V-B building is framed using glue-laminated timber (glulam) columns and beams, CLT floors, walls, and roof, and light-frame wood exterior walls. Used in both load-bearing and shear wall applications, the CLT walls were strategically positioned to support the post-and-beam structure while the light-frame walls helped create a well-insulated exterior.

Vibration control is an important criteria for lab space, and the mass timber system, together with a concrete topping slab, easily met Adimab’s requirements. The team conducted vibration analyses and confirmed that their design needed only to isolate the corridor framing from lab bench areas to account for higher walking speeds. Then, to provide extra protection for sensitive equipment, they added vibration isolation mats. The electrical conduit was set into the concrete topping, reducing clutter while still meeting the lab’s complex electrical demands.