Allston Labworks

Allston Labworks is a landmark mixed-use development transforming Allston-Brighton’s Western Avenue into a vibrant destination for research, housing, retail, and community space. Developed by King Street Properties and designed by DiMella Shaffer, the $915 million project includes two high-performing lab buildings, a 35-unit residential building, 20,000 SF of retail space, and a public plaza that strengthens connections to the surrounding neighborhood. Acentech provided acoustics and noise & vibration consulting services to support tenant acoustical comfort, lab functionality, and satisfy community noise regulations. Our team established vibration criteria appropriate for laboratory use and evaluated predicted footfall-induced vibration performance across lab and office floor plates to inform structural design decisions and ensure compatibility with future tenant research operations. In addition, Acentech created a campus-wide computer model for all three project buildings to evaluate potential noise impacts on the community.  We collaborated with the project team to identify appropriate noise control measures to meet City of Boston and MassDEP requirements.  

Our acoustics experts collaborated with the architect on designs for sound-isolating constructions to ensure building occupants in both the residential and lab/office buildings remain undisturbed by unwanted noise from adjacent spaces. We also recommended room finishes to control reverberation in common spaces, and designed noise control strategies for mechanical equipment throughout the complex. 

Allston Labworks demonstrates how leading-edge life science space can be thoughtfully integrated into a dense and evolving urban setting—delivering high-performing building environments while contributing positively to the broader community.