Kymera Therapeutics

Kymera is a clinical-stage biotechnology company working to reinvent the treatment of human disease through the development of innovative, highly differentiated medicines. Since its founding, Kymera has built a preeminent discovery engine capable of identifying new drug candidates at an accelerated pace. Spurred by the growth of both their research operations and their pool of talent, Kymera engaged OTJ Architects to lead the relocation of its headquarters and develop an agile new laboratory and workspace that would catalyze collaboration and the open exchange of ideas in the fight against immunological diseases.

Kymera takes its name from a mythological creature composed of several powerful animals. This concept has been adopted by the organization to reference small molecule medicines that hold the promise to transform patients’ lives across the world. Focus groups held with individuals at all levels of Kymera’s hierarchy revealed the need for seemingly distinct programmatic elements that, like the Greek chimera, coalesce into a sum greater than its parts. Accordingly, the flexible program reconciles seeming contradictions such as the imperative for visual and acoustic privacy versus the need for daylight penetration deep into the floorplate. In addition, a diversity of space typologies, that includes a mix of workstations as well as huddle, conference, telephone, and board rooms, empowers staff to quickly transition from hands-on lab work to meetings of different sizes or heads down work.

Central to our solution is a staircase that intersects the full three floors occupied by Kymera to create a high-visibility thoroughfare where glass-fronted laboratories, complete with specialized equipment and movable work-surfaces, allow science to be on full display. While working within the limitations of ceilings crowded with mechanical equipment as well as a narrow plan-west floorplate, our design balances the laboratory and workplace requirements of the program and made it possible for the client to expand its storage and animal care facilities while adding a Tech Ops zone. Atop the stairs, a rapidly reconfigurable work café that can accommodate all-hands meetings maximizes panoramic views of the Charles River and invites team members to congregate outside of more formal settings. Adjacent to the café is a spacious outdoor terrace with ample seating areas.

Contemporary and playful, the design weaves together signature Kymera brand elements such as the company logo, their K pattern (visible on the reception entry floor and within the labs), and digitized representations of animals that, like the lion, make up the company’s mascot. Noise is mitigated by felt wall coverings in offices and meeting rooms, as well as Arktura sound clouds in the reception, café, and open collaboration area, which also add subtle pops of branded orange. Lastly, the project meets LEED certification requirements.