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V O L . X X V N O. V I I I A P R I L 1 5 , 2 0 1 9 34 R E A L E S TAT E / C O N S T R U C T I O N / D E S I G N F O C U S As each WEX business unit contin- uously evaluates its flexible work policy, Cobaj says the main goal is to keep people happy at work: "It's your second home, and if you're happy to be in a facility you're going to want to come in and spend time with your colleagues." IDEXX's Westbrook expansion Just five years after completing the $35 million expansion of its world head- quarters in Westbrook with a building called the Synergy Center, IDEXX is embarking on a $62 million project that will add 135,000 square feet and a 3,500-square foot outdoor pavilion. e latest expansion, known as Synergy East, comes amid growth that has seen the number of employees at its headquarters go from 2,100 five years ago to more than 2,500 today (out of nearly 3,000 in Maine and 8,000-plus globally). e add-on will create space for 600 more employees. e move-in date is foreseen for early 2020. IDEXX's chief human resources officer, Giovani Twigge, is most excited about adding electrochromic vision glaz- ing technology that will enable windows to automatically tint based on the sun's angle to provide natural lighting and » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E At IDEXX Laboratories (three images below), an outdoor pavilion; A lightwell allows natural light into the building; An area of 'nook pods' foster connectedness and collaboration. WEX Inc.'s Innovation & Analytics Center at the new headquarters. WEX's salt-water fish tank in the second-floor lounge. P H O T O S / T I M G R E E N WAY R E N D E R I N G S / C O U R T E S Y I D E X X

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