Unisphere
Silver Spring, MD
United Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing innovative products to address the unmet medical needs of patients with chronic and life-threatening conditions and its unwavering commitment to sustainability and innovation rises in the heart of downtown Silver Spring, Maryland. Unisphere is one of the nation’s most ambitious net-zero commercial buildings—a 126,000-square-foot landmark of environmental stewardship and cutting-edge design.
Talent recruitment is critical in the biotech industry. Creating spaces that are inspiring, beautiful, and physical manifestations of the company’s values is one of the main avenues that United Therapeutics uses to recruit and retain the best talent.
More than a workplace, Unisphere reflects United Therapeutics’ core mission: saving lives through breakthrough medical solutions while safeguarding the future of our planet.
Shaped by Science and Sustainability
From the project’s inception, United Therapeutics envisioned an elliptically shaped building, an architectural symbol representing the ever-expanding universe and the limitless potential of scientific discovery. This bold geometric form posed a significant challenge: achieving net-zero energy performance within a dense urban context.
The result is the Unisphere, a Net Zero-certified marvel that expands United Therapeutics’ downtown campus. It houses offices, clinical operations for pulmonary disease, heart failure, organ transplantation, and a virtual drug development lab. The primary structure supports 75,000 square feet of structured parking, 10,000 square feet of retail space, and a stunning 5,000-square-foot atrium.
Harnessing the Sun
Achieving net-zero energy within an urban landscape requires a multifaceted approach. Central to Unisphere’s success is its array of 3,000 solar panels, which generate 1,175 MWH annually—enough to power 110 homes. The lid of the building is at the highest allowable elevation above grade, maximizing the number of solar panels on its roof, which receive constant solar exposure. Through multiple software programs, we determined that sloping the roof 5 degrees, with solar panels mounted flush to the ceiling, maximized PV output. This slope and its elliptical shape create gentle changes in plane that minimize the effect of eastern and western glare. Additionally, each floor steps back as the building ascends, maximizing solar exposure and reducing self-shading.
Every design element serves performance:
- Enhanced insulation, triple-paned glazing, and low-e coatings optimize Unisphere’s thermal efficiency.
- A thermal chimney atrium channels warm air upward, driving natural airflow.
- A 20-meter lap pool in the atrium acts as a heat sink and features a removable insulated panel to minimize heat loss.
- Operable windows empower employees to control their environment.
A Living Building That Teaches and Inspires
Unisphere informs occupants of the functionality of its energy-saving mechanisms and teaches users how to better understand the impact of their decisions on overall building performance. Each office has individual controls, including control of lighting level, temperature, window position, ceiling fan speed, and window tint level. An interactive feedback system informs building occupants of the current mode of operation and the amount of energy used versus produced.
A hallmark feature of Unisphere is its atrium’s energy dial—a giant sundial-like display that visualizes real-time energy performance. Light beams move inward when consumption exceeds production and outward when output surpasses demand. This living metric fosters awareness and accountability among building occupants.
“Architecture helps United Therapeutics realize our goal of fostering a culture where people want to work.”
— Martine Rothblatt, Ph.D., J.D., Founder & CEO, United Therapeutics.
A stairwell unites four office levels, encouraging and spontaneous collaboration. Every element reinforces United Therapeutics’ belief that architecture can shape culture.
Sustainable Systems in Sync
Unisphere’s high-performance systems work in concert to maintain efficiency:
- 3,000 photovoltaic panels generate clean energy.
- 52 closed-loop, dual-circuited geo-exchange wells (500 feet deep) provide energy storage.
- Dynamic glazing manages daylight and reduces glare.
- Daylight harvesting dims when sunlight is sufficient.
- 200 active chilled beams offer precise cooling.
- A water-to-water heat pump recycles waste heat to create chilled and heated water simultaneously.
- Energy recovery ventilation systems achieve 80% heat transfer efficiency.
- A 1/4-mile-long concrete labyrinth beneath the building tempers air entering the atrium.
- Stormwater management systems capture and release rainwater gradually to prevent overburdening city infrastructure.
- Vegetated roofs combat the urban heat island effect and aid stormwater control.
The closed-loop, dual-circuited geo-exchange wells (500 feet deep) provide energy storage, cooling the building in the summer, and providing heat in the winter.
A Complex Technological Network
Unisphere is more than the sum of its sustainable parts—it is a seamlessly integrated system. A sophisticated building automation platform synchronizes a network of over 11,000 devices across six systems, enabling the building to learn and adapt over time. Each component influences the others. For example, when electrochromic glass tints, daylight sensors adjust accordingly to prevent unnecessary artificial lighting.
A Model for the Future
Unisphere stands as a testament to what is possible when vision, technology, and sustainability converge. It is a building designed not only to serve its occupants but also to inspire the next generation of scientists and researchers. It proves that net-zero energy performance can be achieved—even under challenging circumstances.
Meet the Design Team
