As I began the tour of Foundation Medicine’s new headquarters on my first day at the company, I was struck by the thoughtful details of the building’s design. I was fascinated by the spaces taking shape as I toured the HQ during its final stages of construction. Even then, it was evident that this design fosters connection and encapsulates the spirit of our work. Foundation Medicine’s Creative Director, Katie Noyes, shared insight into the design process that laid the groundwork for our future in Boston’s Seaport District.  

Katie has worked on this project with our facilities team and a team of external architects for over five years, dedicated to creating an inviting home base for our company. Katie brings a wealth of expertise to her role with strong design and brand experience — from having an art school education and curating art exhibits, to building immersive brand environments during her career through previous involvement in other building design projects. Off paper, Katie’s innate creativity, keen eye for aesthetics and caring nature make her a moving force in crafting an impactful interior design. Her meticulous approach is apparent in her work. She personally approved fabric and tiles, chose artists to feature in pieces throughout the building and thoughtfully selected quotes for our walls. These choices quickly add up, amounting to a space that reflects our company’s ethos. 

Katie Noyes (right) pictured with artist Liz Roache.

The interior design of our headquarters speaks directly to our core values: patients, passion, collaboration and innovation. Each floor embodies a unique theme, carefully crafted to represent the many facets of our mission to transform cancer care. These themes are connected through the prism of patients, representing the essence of our company, where patients are at the heart of everything we do. Our headquarters is a place where people can find inspiration all around them.  

Down to its architectural framework, our new headquarters encourages collaboration by creating spaces to innovate, engage, focus and learn. One remarkable aspect of their design is the abundance of areas that facilitate chance meetings — a key word in contemporary architecture which describes encounters that occur outside of typical workspaces. Our building’s shared spaces include dining areas, outdoor spaces and the “TechPort”, our company’s own IT support service area. These amenities offer opportunities to foster connections that spark new ideas and partnerships. Additionally, each team had a part in designing the neighborhood workspaces on their floors, personalizing their experience based on their unique needs. Another architectural choice made to encourage chance meetings is the interconnected floors that are joined by open stairwells to promote collaboration between teams. This blend of curated environments both inside and outside of workspaces ensures that our headquarters is meaningful and motivating, creating opportunities for growth as a company.  

In the shared spaces, Foundation Medicine proudly showcases a range of inspiring installations (coming soon) that serve as reminders of our collective journey. These pieces embody our strong sense of connection; to our mission, each other and the patients we reach. Among these installations, the Patient Stories Wall stands as a testament to the individuals whose experiences drive our mission. The Belonging Wall represents authenticity, empathy and inclusivity — the tenants of belonging ingrained in our culture. The Foundation Medicine History Wall commemorates our company’s significant milestones with archived items like our first tests and kits. The Patent Wall proudly displays the many patents that our company secures each year. These installations are reminders of our progress that inspire us to continue leading the transformation of cancer care.  

Me with one of the quotes Katie chose for our HQ!

As we highlight installations throughout our headquarters, one piece emerges as a powerful symbol — the mural on the TechPort wall created by local artist and patient advocate Liz Roache. For Katie, the choice of who to entrust with this mural was clear. Liz incorporates a profound connection to cancer care in her work and beautifully translates her vision into her unique style of art. A renowned color expert, Liz designed this piece to pop in contrast to the rest of the building, bringing a vibrant energy to the space. Liz’s mural is a heartfelt love letter to the employees at Foundation Medicine and a beautiful reminder of our company’s purpose. 

Foundation Medicine’s headquarters was a vision brought to life by many inspired and passionate minds. Katie’s creative direction guided the uplifting interior design that captures the sense of passion and pride we hold in our meaningful work, continually inspiring us all. Our new Boston headquarters is a place where people are drawn to be. Its design fosters collaboration, innovation and a shared dedication to our mission, setting the stage for our future of transforming cancer care.