Welch’s Offices – Waltham
SGA designed Welch’s offices in Waltham, as a dynamic 60,000-square-foot headquarters that seamlessly integrates office and lab spaces to foster collaboration, innovation, and sustainability.
At its new 60,000-square-foot headquarters in Waltham, MA, Welch’s—a leader in the fruit-based food and beverage industry—partnered with SGA to create a forward-looking workplace where office and lab functions converge. The result is an integrated space that fosters connection, flexibility, and visibility, creating an environment that empowers employees and celebrates the company’s scientific mission.
Designed to support a wide range of work styles and operational needs, the office incorporates a variety of meeting and social spaces, and a thoughtful balance of private and communal zones, ranging from casual lounges to high-top seating and traditional conference rooms to encourage interaction and well-being. Most notably, the company’s R&D culture is honored through interior windows and open sightlines, placing its scientific activity on full display.
Occupying the lower level is the lab suite, a streamlined and highly functional environment informed by its end-users. Scientists played a central role in the programming, working alongside SGA to embed their operational needs into every detail of the design. The team arranged a series of specialized labs for fluid workflows, including a Product Development Lab, a Pilot Plant for small-scale production and testing, a Sensory Lab for evaluating new concepts, a Packaging Lab for advancing material solutions, and a flexible Test Lab to support emerging research. Within the suite, some lab spaces were positioned along exterior walls to provide natural light and views, requiring thoughtful equipment placement to maintain efficiency and access to daylight.
With a strategic outlook on growth, infrastructure for power, plumbing, and gas was scaled across these spaces for current and future capacity. The design also accounted for future equipment, allowing the implementation of upgrades without major renovations. This flexibility was paired with careful attention to sustainability and high-performance lab requirements. Early engagement with sustainability experts ensured that LEED certification goals were integrated throughout the design, allowing the building to be both environmentally responsible and fully equipped for scientific research.
The Welch’s Waltham headquarters combines adaptability, collaboration, and sustainability into a cohesive workplace that serves both employees and science. Flexible lab layouts, integrated office and lab spaces, and a focus on environmental responsibility create a setting that embodies innovation and supports evolving research. By aligning operational needs with long-term planning, the facility positions Welch’s to continue to build on its legacy within an engaging, innovation-driven culture.
Design: SGA
Photography: courtesy of SGA
Now editing content for LinkedIn.