Custom QMark® Infrared Heating System Helps Preserve Design Intent at Boston Life Sciences Development

When the project team at Landmark Center Phase 3 in Boston needed to heat eight floors of exterior patio terraces, the challenge was about more than comfort. The building, part of the larger 401 Park redevelopment in the city’s Fenway neighborhood, was designed to support Boston’s growing life sciences market while maintaining the clean, modern aesthetic expected of a high-profile commercial development.

The terraces were an important amenity, but in New England, outdoor space only delivers value if it can remain comfortable well beyond the shoulder seasons. The heating system needed to perform in cold, windy conditions without interrupting the building’s exterior sightlines or compromising the architectural vision.

Enter Matthew Goodrich of Goodyear HVAC Sales, who worked closely with Marley Engineered Products, QMark, Cox Engineering, WSP, Suffolk Construction, Samuels Associates and the project’s electrical team to help deliver a recessed electric heat solution that met the owner’s design goals, satisfied the project’s technical requirements and demonstrated the kind of creative problem-solving recognized by Marley’s Silver Fox Award.

From the start, this was a project where the heating solution had to do more than work,” said (Insert Name, Title, Marley Engineered Products). “It had to fit the architecture, support the project schedule and give the owner the level of control they expected.”

Preserving the Design Intent

The original heating approach called for hanging infrared heaters, a common solution for outdoor radiant heat applications. But once mockups and renderings were reviewed, the project team identified a concern: the units projected too visibly from the ceiling areas and created the potential to disrupt the clean exterior appearance of the terraces. For a premium office and lab development, that was a significant issue. The project required a system that could deliver targeted heat while remaining visually restrained.

Goodyear HVAC Sales helped guide the team toward a better approach: recessed, flush-mounted infrared heaters from QMark. Instead of hanging below the ceiling plane, the heaters would install into the ceiling or soffit, allowing the equipment to blend into the structure while still providing directional radiant heat to occupants and surrounding surfaces.

The change helped preserve the building’s architectural character without sacrificing performance.

A Custom Solution Under Pressure

The redesign came with timing and technical challenges. The QMark hanging infrared heaters had already been manufactured and were ready to ship. Rather than scrap the existing units and start over, Marley and QMark worked quickly to re-engineer the heaters into the recessed configuration now installed at the site.That effort required coordination across sales, engineering, production, management and field partners. It also required a willingness to keep solving until the final system matched the application.

Controls added another layer of complexity. The project required a 480-volt control solution capable of handling the electrical load while providing balanced, modulating heater output. Off-the-shelf options could not fully meet the project’s needs, so Marley’s team used Thermazone-based control technology to provide custom SCR control panels designed around the application.The result was a complete system that addressed voltage, load management, heater output and aesthetics in one coordinated package.

Performance-Driven Product Selection

Infrared heat was especially well suited for the Landmark Center application. Unlike systems that rely primarily on heating the surrounding air, infrared delivers warmth directly to people and surfaces. For exposed terraces in a cold-weather city like Boston, that distinction matters.

The final installation included 146 recessed infrared heaters and 33 Thermazone phase-angle SSR control panels. The broader Marley and QMark package also included wall heaters, cab heaters, unit heaters, SmartSeries wall heaters and SCR controllers serving areas throughout the property, including garages, vestibules, bathrooms, elevator bays, patio spaces and outdoor dining or pergola areas.

For the terrace applications, the recessed infrared heaters were customized with finishes that helped coordinate with surrounding building materials. The approach supported the project’s design goals while delivering the heating performance needed for occupant comfort.

A Win for the Project Team

Once installation began, feedback from the field was positive. The heaters were described as simple to install and wire, with crews able to install multiple units per day and complete work ahead of schedule.

The finished solution also received strong feedback from ownership and construction stakeholders. The system delivered the look and level of control the team had envisioned while helping make the terraces more usable in colder weather.

“From day one, the eight floors of patio terraces drew keen attention from project managers to senior executives alike,” said a Samuels Associates representative. “We are thrilled with the heaters’ discreet integration into the façade, which maintains the building’s architectural purity while providing vital comfort and warmth.”

For consulting engineers, the project offers a strong example of why exterior heating should be treated as part of the building design conversation, not as an afterthought. For contractors, it shows the value of close manufacturer and representative coordination when voltage, controls, installation and aesthetics all matter at once.

Recognizing Creative Problem-Solving

For his role in helping the project team overcome design, schedule and technical challenges, Matthew Goodrich and Goodyear HVAC Sales earned the 2026 Jim Herring Memorial Silver Fox Award from Marley Engineered Products.

The award honors the legacy of longtime Marley colleague Jim Herring, who was known for developing creative customer solutions for specialized applications. It recognizes representative partners who demonstrate ingenuity, collaboration and solution design excellence using Marley products.

“The Silver Fox Award recognizes the kind of partnership and problem-solving that turns a difficult project challenge into a better outcome for everyone involved,” Pesce said. “Matthew and the Goodyear HVAC Sales team helped deliver a solution that supported the owner’s vision, met the project’s technical requirements and reflected the creativity at the heart of this award.”

As 401 Park continues to establish itself as a destination for Boston’s life sciences community, Landmark Center Phase 3 stands out as a model for how building systems can support both performance and design. The terraces retain their clean architectural appearance, the heating system performs in challenging weather and the project team found a way to make a complex technical solution feel seamless.