Skanska, a leading global development and construction firm, today announced that it has signed a 43,821-square-foot lease with Shell TechWorks, at Two Drydock, the firm’s sixth commercial development in Boston. Shell TechWorks is an entrepreneurial research and development branch within Shell that was created to find faster, more cost-effective ways to deliver technologies that the industry needs for environments where safety is paramount, to produce more and cleaner energy now and in the future.
Once completed, Two Drydock will be a 13-story, 230,000-square-foot, Class-A office building that includes 9,000 square feet of retail space. The building, targeting LEED® Gold and Fitwel certifications, will offer tenants access to an 8,000-square-foot rooftop terrace with a 5,500-square-foot interior amenity space that features a state-of-the-art fitness center and conference and lounge space with panoramic views of Boston Harbor and the city skyline. It will also include bike storage and 150 above-ground parking spaces strategically placed on floors two through four for potential repositioning given the anticipated increase in driverless cars and other ride-sharing services. Shell TechWork’s new Seaport location will span floors five and six and include research and development space, as well as an exclusive outdoor terrace on the fifth floor.
“Two Drydock was built for innovative, thought leaders like Shell who are at the cutting edge of developing new technologies to enhance the energy sector and drive progress forward for the industry globally,” said Russ DeMartino, executive vice president of Skanska’s Commercial Development operations in Boston. “Shell’s commitment to safety in every aspect of its business is very much aligned with our Care for Life values at Skanska, further making them a natural fit for the building.”
“Shell TechWorks, which opened its doors in Cambridge in 2013, looks forward to joining the exciting ecosystem in Boston’s Innovation District early next year,” commented Julie Ferland, General Manager of TechWorks. “Two Drydock will provide an inspiring home for Shell’s expanding presence in the Northeast. It has been a pleasure to work with Skanska on this project, for both their outstanding safety culture and their commitment to building a stimulating, healthy, and environmentally efficient workplace.”
Located at 2 Drydock Avenue in the Seaport, the building is proximate to the MBTA’s Silver Line that travels to and from South Station in nearly 10 minutes; and a short drive from I-90, I-93, and Logan International Airport. There will also be a shuttle that provides direct access to North Station.
Two Drydock broke ground in June 2018 and will be completed in the first quarter of 2020. To commemorate the project start, Skanska joined Mayor Martin J. Walsh to present a $100,000 donation to The Martin Richard Foundation for the creation of Martin’s Park, a public green space steps from the Boston Children’s Museum that was completed in June 2019. The foundation provides opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and lead through volunteerism and community engagement. It was established in honor of the late Martin W. Richard, the youngest victim of the Boston Marathon bombings, who enjoyed playing in Boston’s fields and playgrounds while growing up in Dorchester, MA.
Skanska’s other developments in Greater Boston include 121 Seaport, the first and only LEED Platinum elliptical tower in the city with 400,000 square feet of Class-A, flexible office space that is home to PTC and Alexion; 101 Seaport, the North American headquarters for PwC; Harbor Way, a 70-foot-wide pedestrian promenade with 20,000-square-feet of tree-lined open space and retail between 101 and 121 Seaport; Watermark Seaport, a 300,000-square-foot, LEED Gold residential building with ground-floor retail; The Harlo, a 17-story, 183,000-square-foot residential tower with 212 apartments and approximately 7,000-square-feet of ground-floor retail; and, 150 Second Street, a lab and office building in Cambridge.
Skanska has developed, built and restored New England’s landmarks for more than 70 years, from its developments in the Seaport and Gillette Stadium, to the Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research and the Longfellow Bridge. Skanska continues to leverage its local knowledge and global expertise to shape the region's commercial real estate and healthcare and life science facilities, as well as enhancing and expanding essential transportation and energy infrastructure.