The company purchased the seven-story, 320,000-sf building, called the Solomon Willard building, this past August from State Street Corp. for $39.3 million. At the time, Blue Cross Blue Shield said the deal is the first major step in its long term South Shore real estate plan. Blue Cross Blue Shield plans to consolidate its existing local leases into this new space by the end of late 2005.

The building is currently occupied by State Street Corp., which plans to relocate next year. The facility will house approximately 1,400 Blue Cross Blue Shield employees and be used for customer service, member enrollment and clinical coordination.

Janet Morra, AIA, principal at Margulies says that the firm plans to keep the shell of the main building intact while completely redesigning the interior space "to meet Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts's requirements" which include improving the building's accessibility and reducing its environmental impact. Plans also involve replacing the existing parking garage with a new 1,400-car garage.

Two years ago, Margulies & Associates completed the interior design of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts' 525,000-sf corporate headquarters in the newly redeveloped Landmark Center in Boston's Fenway District.