5 Sites You Don't Want to Miss on Greenbuild Tours

By Rebecca Collins

While there's a lot to be excited about for Greenbuild, from Neil deGrasse Tyson, to the shared Greenbuild/ABX expo hall, to the many educational sessions, we here at USGBC MA are most excited about Greenbuild Tours. That's because we're proud of the plethora of sustainable and innovative buildings in Massachusetts, many created by our members and sponsoring partners, and we can't wait to show them off to green building professionals from around the world.

We know that the tour options (30 tours covering 80 sites) can be a little overwhelming, so we wanted to highlight a few of the coolest sites you don't want to miss on Greenbuild Tours.

Assembly Row

Assembly Row is a great example of urban transformation and revitalization. Once an abandoned brownfield, it is now a thriving mixed-use development that sees thousands of visitors a year. During the tour you'll learn how the public and private sector collaborated to make use of underutilized lands while keeping a holistic view of the sustainability and health of the community at the center of its design. 

See Assembly Row on tour TS11 – Some Assembly Required sponsored by VHB. 
Saturday, November 11, 1-5pm

Steelcase WorkLife Boston| Red Thread and Humanscale Boston Showroom

Interior design plays a large role in the overall sustainability of a building and has a direct effect on the productivity, well-being, and happiness of the building's occupants. The Steelcase Worklife Boston | Red Thread offices and the Humanscale Boston Showroom are two great opportunities on the same tour to see first hand how material transparency and interior design come together to create innovative workspaces.
See Steelcase WorkLife Boston | Red Thread and Humanscale Boston Showroom on tour TS04 –
                                                                                                  Seaport Interiors and Social Justice sponsored by Humanscale.
                                                                                                  Saturday, November 11, 8am-12pm

The John J Sbrega Health and Science Building

The John J Sbrega Health and Science Building at Bristol Community College is a 2017 AIA COTE Top Ten recipient designed as a net-zero energy building. It also won the Energy Efficiency Award at USGBC MA's 2017 Green Building Showcase. On the tour you'll learn how to design a net-zero laboratory space while simultaneously enhancing occupant health and safety.

See the John J Sbrega Health and Science Building on tour TS02 – Southland Science Tour.
Saturday, November 11, 8am-4pm

MassCEC Wind Technology Testing Center

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC) Wind Technology Testing Center is the largest indoor wind blade testing center in North America, able to test blades as large as 90 meters in length. On the tour you'll learn about the latest blade testing and prototype development methodologies as well as the careful engineering needed to support high blade weight and machine loads.

See the MassCEC Wind Technology Testing Center on tour TM07 – Clean Tech: Enabling the Future,
Monday, November 6, 8am-12pm

University of Massachusetts Lowell

Massachusetts is home to many higher education institutions leading the way in sustainability. U. Mass Lowell has experienced remarkable growth in recent years. At the same time, the University has reduced Green House Gas (GHG) emissions a remarkable 15% as a result of a clear and defined focus on sustainability. Tour the campus and learn how sustainability is at the core of their strategy for managed growth while transforming their campus.

See U. Mass Lowell on tour TM02 – Campus and Community Regeneration in Lowell.
Monday, November 6, 8am-4pm

 

These are just five of the 80 sites featured on Greenbuild Tours, but hopefully this gives you an idea of the diversity of green and innovative projects we're able to showcase. To see the full list of tours and to register for Greenbuild visit greenbuildexpo.com.