Restructuring Expense - 2003 Restructuring Liability (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended				144 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2003	Dec. 31, 2015
Restructuring activities
Restructuring expenses	$ 1,524	$ 1,826	$ 2,128	$ (3,272)	$ 4,164	$ 40,843	$ (270)	$ 6,188	$ 2,206	$ 50,925	$ 40,521
2003 Restructuring
Restructuring activities
Liability, beginning of the period				$ 11,596				$ 19,115	11,596	19,115	23,328		$ 69,526
Cash payments									(14,625)	(17,494)	(15,255)	$ (17,816)	(211,071)
Cash received from subleases									11,089	12,912	10,670		99,709
Credit for portion of facility Vertex decided to occupy in 2005									0	0	0		(10,018)
Restructuring expenses									(116)	(2,937)	372	91,824	59,798
Liability, end of the period	$ 7,944				$ 11,596				$ 7,944	$ 11,596	$ 19,115	$ 69,526	$ 7,944