The highly anticipated completion of Promega’s newest 280,000 square foot research and development facility in Fitchburg became a reality in December of 2020. This rare three-story building is Promega’s largest yet, and has been labeled “the most unique research and development building in the world in regards to sustainability and functional design”. The building has countless uncommon features and elements, including the “floating” walkway bridges that seamlessly connect the four quadrants of the building on every floor. The building envelope is one of only a few of its kind found anywhere in the world, and designed to make the building extremely energy efficient. The “double wall” has an interior wall of storefront glass and an exterior wall of curtain wall and brick, separated by a three-foot air space. By absorbing and reusing naturally generated heat, employing radiant heat in the floor, and utilizing a geothermal well, R&D’s energy savings add up to 2M kilowatts of power, equivalent to 1.6 billion pounds of coal, or 600,000 gallons of gas – enough to heat 250 single family homes. With its sustainable design, Promega can offset 1500 metric tons of CO2 and reduce their energy usage by 65%, compared to similar research and development facilities. Other sustainable features include a rainwater collection system, estimated to save 1 million gallons of water annually, a green roof that reduces heating and cooling loads, extending roof life, and 672 photovoltaic solar panels, providing an abundance of electricity for the building. With research and development its core function, this facility allows Promega Corporation to remain a global leader in providing innovative solutions to academic, industry and government scientists.

When German-owned Bruker AXS, a manufacturer of analytical x-ray systems, wanted to build a new manufacturing plant and office facility in the Promega Research Park in 1999, they selected Kraemer Brothers to provide both the design and construction of their new facility. The 46,000 square foot facility has 18,000 square feet of a high-bay manufacturing area, which is outfitted with a white reflective floor surface, requiring very precise finishing on the part of Kraemer Brothers’ cement finishers.  The balance of the space consists of offices and research labs for the growing company. The building layout was developed to reflect optimal workflow patterns to create a pleasant work environment throughout both the office and manufacturing spaces.  Bruker AXS selected us again for their interior renovations in 2019, which consisted of converting 11,000 square feet into new lab space, allowing Bruker AXS to consolidate the operations of multiple divisions of the company into one building. Bruker AXS was able to remain fully operational during our renovation activities that required creating laser safe labs for the company’s operations.

Named after chemist and x-ray crystallographer, Rosalind Franklin, this facility houses the large-scale manufacturing of proteins for various Promega products. Starting off this building program, Kraemer Brothers built out existing storage space into a wellness center and remodeled offices to an inviting open layout. Most recently Promega expanded their manufacturing operations to include production rooms, cold rooms, laboratories, and material storage rooms. Located in the large production room are four 4000-liter process tanks connected with a raised platform and the process panels used to control each tank. Sophisticated HVAC and specialized production equipment can be found throughout the addition. The mechanical systems used to run and power the production equipment, along with material storage rooms, are located in the basement. A ph-neutralization system, used for neutralizing all waste before being discharged, helps the surrounding environment and improves safety for the scientists. Finally, an automated CIP system is installed to help clean the 4,000-liter process and smaller portable tanks found throughout the production labs. Promega was able to remain fully operational during these renovations and additions.

Originally built by Kraemer Brothers in 1992, Promega’s BioPharmaceutical Technology Center (BTC) has undergone many renovations in the past 6 years. The Custom Dispensing ECR project, a renovation of over 48,400 square feet, included updates to mechanical, storage, shipping, mezzanine space, and clean room areas. In addition to many lab renovations, Promega selected Kraemer Brothers to complete a kitchen remodel, new workout facility, locker rooms, replacement storefront windows, and a redesigned entry to give a modern facelift to the adjoining office space. Completing Phase IIB, this renovation work included upgrading original labs to Controlled-Not-Classified (CNC), ISO-7, and ISO-8 clean rooms, used to support Oligo Synthesis processes. Our last phased work, Phase IIC, consisted of office space, and ISO-7 and ISO-8 clean rooms, used for manufacturing and quality control operations. Pressurized doors are used throughout the labs for safety and biocontainment purposes along with sophisticated ventilation and high filtration systems to meet ISO criteria. By completing all these building projects in phases, Promega was able to stay operational during the demolition and construction work.