EF EDUCATION FIRST
NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

Skanska USA and Simon Design team up on EF Education First’s new North American headquarters which employed BIM from early design through construction.

Simon Design Engineering (SDE) was approached by Skanska USA to participate with them in a select design-build competition for EF Education First’s new North American headquarters adjacent to the famous Leonard P. Zakim Bridge. SDE redesigned and value engineered the entire structural system – the lower parking levels were converted to steel framing similar to the building above and the building’s lateral load resisting system was changed to braced frames located in fixed wall locations around the cores.

The signature feature of this 12-story, 300,000 square foot building is an architectural glass “waterfall.” This three-dimensional steel pipe frame truss creates an atrium the height of the building and is enclosed by glazing that wraps the south and east facades of the building.