A Case Study
Longfellow Real Estate Partners
Bioterra
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CLIENT GOALS
OUR SOLUTION
Longfellow sought to create a standout amenity experience within Bioterra—one that would:
Enrich the building’s shared spaces with a cohesive “up in the treetops” concept.
Blend playful, nature-inspired storytelling with elevated architectural finishes.
Deliver a refined, curated, and immersive environment that felt like a tree-top club.
Position Bioterra as a market leader capable of attracting top biotech tenants.
Create amenity spaces that spark delight, discovery, and connection.
Additionally, the broader campus aimed to promote sustainability, wellness, and community, aligning with Longfellow’s environmental commitments and LEED goals.
Project Approach & Methodology
Hyphn took a deeply collaborative and intentional approach:
1. Narrative-Driven Design
We leaned fully into the “treetop” storyline—curating materials, textures, lighting, and accessories that evoked whimsy, elevation, and nature without sacrificing sophistication.
2. Strategic Budget Allocation
To maximize impact:
Investment focused on custom handmade feature walls
Sourcing vintage components added richness, authenticity, and character
Replica and real greenery were blended to balance cost, maintenance, and aesthetics
3. Collaborative Concept Development
The client contributed interactive ideas—such as:
A hidden book lever that opened a secret doorway
Custom artwork integrations
The selection of a vintage copy of Madame Butterfly as a thematic storytelling anchor
4. Integrated Team Execution
Fringe, Furniture, and Hyphn’s technical teams worked as one unit, coordinating installations, styling layers, and furniture solutions to create a seamless environment.
KEY RESULTS
A Fully Realized Experiential Environment
The finished Bioterra spaces feel both transportive and elevated, a place designed not just to support work, but to inspire.
Key outcomes include:
A distinctive amenity experience that sets a new benchmark for Longfellow’s national portfolio.
Strong alignment between architecture, furniture, and styling.
High-performance environments adaptable for future tenant customization.
Elevated spaces that promote productivity, wellness, and community.
A full-building identity strengthened through cohesive design.
During the grand reveal, the client and tenant teams expressed genuine delight, sharing feedback about surprise, joy, and the sense of discovering a hidden gem.
THE IMPACT
For Longfellow
Strengthened market positioning within San Diego’s competitive life science environment.
Elevated brand identity through memorable, story-rich spaces.
Created an amenity experience that rivals leading national developments.
For Tenants
A high-performance, wellness-forward environment.
Curated community spaces that inspire innovation.
Flexible layouts that adapt to varied research needs.
THE SCOPE
Longfellow Real Estate Partners is a nationally recognized developer and operator specializing in life science environments designed to accelerate scientific discovery, foster community, and support next-generation research. Their portfolio spans major biotech hubs across the U.S., and their mission centers on creating sustainable, flexible, and human-centered spaces that resonate with the evolving needs of life science organizations.
Bioterra—located in the heart of San Diego’s thriving research corridor—is one of Longfellow’s flagship West Coast campuses. Designed to serve as a leading-edge life science destination, Bioterra combines innovative research facilities, environmental responsibility, and thoughtfully curated community-forward amenity spaces.
ABOUT THE CLIENT
Project overview
Hyphn partnered with Longfellow to transform and enrich Bioterra’s shared amenity spaces, creating a memorable, experiential, and market-differentiating environment rooted in a whimsical “up in the treetops” narrative. Initially scoped as a furniture project, it quickly grew into a major cross-team collaboration between Hyphn’s Furniture & Interiors, Fringe Styling, and supporting partners. Together, we delivered a uniquely immersive, story-driven environment that elevates the entire campus experience.
KEY PRODUCTS & MATERIALS
Real and replica potted greenery
Hanging greenery rings (custom installed)
Vintage books and accessories
Custom artwork & plaster art
Preserved insect specimens (64 custom-framed pieces created by Hyphn’s Chyanna Thomas)
Area rugs, decorative lighting, pillows, and drapery
Hospitality wares
Steelcase + ancillary partner furnishings
Custom feature wall elements
Project Size
Hyphn completed work across approximately 15,000–20,000 SF within the 323,000 SF campus, including lobby and amenity spaces on multiple floors.
Hyphn Services Provided:
Furniture & Interiors
Design
Space Planning
Specification
Installation
Fringe Commercial Styling & Brand Storytelling
Custom Solutions
Project Partners:
HOK – Architect
PGAL – Architect
JB Pacific – General Contractor
Additional vendors for furniture, accessories, and custom builds.
Fringe Commercial Styling & Brand Storytelling
Greenery (real + replica)
Accessories
Decorative Lighting
Rugs & Flooring
Art & Custom Artwork
Pillows & Drapery
Hospitality Wares
Vintage Sourced Items
Custom-crafted insect installations, book features & more
Occupier Services
Asset Management
"Working with Hyphn on this project was a seamless and enjoyable experience. The team was incredibly collaborative, creative, and organized from start to finish. Their process was streamlined and simple, providing clear and concise presentations that made decision making easy and efficient.
What I really appreciated was how thoughtful they were with every detail. Nothing felt generic, every design choice felt personal to our space and aligned perfectly with our vision. The Hyphn team truly cares about creating something that feels right for each client while incorporating both functionality and style.
We’re thrilled with how everything came together and would highly recommend Hyphn to anyone looking for a design partner that’s not only talented and professional, but also a joy to work with!"
Jessica Haberer
Senior Manager, Marketing
Longfellow Real Estate Partners
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
