位於肯德爾廣場紀念大道一號的微軟新英格蘭研發中心（NERD）長期以來一直是肯德爾廣場社區的技術創新中心。作為微軟全球六個研發中心之一，它非常注重跨多個平台的新軟件產品的工程開發。對於微軟來說，保持他們的技術品牌是日常生活中不可或缺的一部分，並且隨著在招聘和留住最優秀人才的壓力越來越大，以及劍橋房地產市場的緊張，微軟選擇重新思考它在NERD中心的地位。
The Microsoft New England Research and Development Center (NERD) at 1 Memorial Drive has long been a center of technology innovation in the Kendall Square community. As one of six Microsoft global R&D sites, it has a strong focus on the engineering development of new software products across multiple platforms. It was important for Microsoft to remain true to their brand of technology being an integral part of daily life, and with increasing pressure on recruitment and retention of the best talent, as well as from the tight real estate market in Cambridge, Microsoft chose to rethink its sense of place at the NERD Center.
這方麵的努力主要集中在三個方麵：重新構思員工的工作方式。徹底重新思考辦公環境應該是什麼樣的，以支持高強度的工作過程。並向外界展示微軟的身份和價值觀。在之前，NERD中心是100％的私人辦公室。 一切都集中在個人工作上。員工間缺少合作交流，所以在偶爾的正式會議室之外的團隊聚集是一項挑戰。在新的布局中，工作空間設計為多個樓層，支持不同級別工作的團隊互動交流和個人工作。
This effort focused on three aspects: reimagining how its employees work and come together to invent; a complete rethinking of what an office environment should feel like to support an often intense engineering process; and the representation of the Microsoft identity and values to the outside world. In its previous incarnation, the NERD Center was 100% private offices. Everything was focused on individual coding. People were extremely isolated, making it a challenge to come together as teams outside of the occasional formal conference room. In the new layout, workspace is imagined as layered, supporting different levels of interaction and individual focus.
空間本身是封閉式的，但辦公桌造型非常開放，沒有工作台麵板隔開。它們也具有高度移動性，允許團隊隨意配置出他們所需要的組合。
While the suites themselves are enclosed, desks are very open with no work station panels. They are also highly mobile allowing teams to configure their suites at will.
第三層空間是主要的交通樞紐，它將所有團隊相互連接，然後聚集到一係列分散的大型會議室，最後到兩層主要的社交中心。微軟的辦公場地分布在大樓的不同樓層，大多數工程師都在10-11和14-15層。社交中心是這些社區的主要焦點，就像客廳一樣把所有人聚集在一起。它們也是微軟重新思考辦公室理念的象征：創造一個不那麼企業化，更加熱情和舒適的地方。
The third layer is the main circulation route, which links all teams to each other, then to a series of scattered larger conference rooms, and finally to the main two-story social hub. Microsoft’s space is distributed throughout the building, with floors 10-11 and 14-15 housing most of the engineers. The social hubs serve as major focal points for these communities, acting as living rooms to bring everyone together. They are also emblematic of Microsoft rethinking the idea of an office: to create a place that feels less corporate and more welcoming and comfortable.
貫穿始終的是各種溫暖的、有圖案的材料、獨特的照明和家具，讓人想起精品住宅或酒店環境，而不是一個工程總部。這種氛圍也延伸到主要的客戶和接待層，但這一層不隻是會議空間，而是強調了微軟對探索和創新的關注。一樓是微軟車庫的所在地，設有原型製造商空間、虛擬現實和綠色屏幕房間，還有實習、社區拓展和與編程等團體合作的空間。
Throughout, there is a variety of warm and patterned materials, distinctive lighting, and furniture evocative of boutique residential or hospitality environments, rather than an engineering headquarters. This atmosphere extends to the main customer and reception floor as well, but instead of just meeting space, this floor highlights Microsoft’s focus on exploration and innovation. The first floor is home to Microsoft’s ‘Garage’—with prototyping maker space, virtual reality and green screen rooms, and spaces for internships, community outreach, and partnerships with groups such as Girls Who Code.
∇ 一層平麵圖 1F plan
∇ 十層平麵圖 10F plan
∇ 十一層平麵圖 11F plan
∇ 十五層平麵圖 15F plan
∇ 十六層平麵圖 16F plan
完整項目信息
項目名稱：Microsoft New England Research & Development Center
項目位置：美國馬薩諸塞州
項目類型：辦公空間/科技公司辦公室
完成時間：2018
項目麵積：10219平方米
設計公司：Sasaki
攝影：John Horner
