176 Lincoln - MA

176 Lincoln is a three-building mixed-use development in Boston designed by CBT Architects, combining laboratory and residential uses on a single site. The project's diversity requires distinct envelope strategies tailored to each building type's operational demands.

The two lab buildings employ unitized triple-glazed curtain wall systems optimized for the controlled environment requirements of laboratory spaces. Lab buildings demand precise climate control, frequent air changes, and robust envelope performance to support sensitive equipment and research activities. The triple-glazed unitized approach provides superior thermal resistance and air-sealing compared to stick-built alternatives, minimizing infiltration and condensation risk—critical for lab environments where moisture can compromise equipment and experiments. Unitized fabrication also enables efficient production and quality control across multiple identical floor plates typical of lab buildings.

The multifamily building takes a fundamentally different approach, targeting Passive House certification and utilizing high-performing uPVC triple-glazed windows sourced to European specifications. The residential program prioritizes occupant comfort, daylighting, and views—design criteria that complement Passive House's emphasis on minimal mechanical conditioning and reliance on passive solar gain and ventilation strategies. The uPVC framing's superior thermal performance compared to aluminum addresses the thermal bridging challenges inherent in residential buildings with balconies and individual unit operable windows. The Passive House strategy also aligns with emerging market expectations for multifamily housing, positioning the project competitively for environmentally conscious tenants and investors increasingly factoring operational carbon and thermal comfort into leasing and investment decisions.