BE+ Team is Growing!

BE+ Team is Growing!

As we gear up to tackle some of the biggest challenges we have ever faced, BE+ is thrilled to welcome new talent to our small and mighty team. Please join us in welcoming the newest additions to the BE+ staff: Clay Tilton, Claire Wigglesworth, and Kay Mammo! 

Clay will be heading up the Massachusetts Building Performance Exchange, Claire will support that work as our Existing Buildings Research Associate, and Kay will be supporting our thriving BE+ topic communities, the heartbeat of this powerful community.

We are eager to see what we’re capable of accomplishing together.

Clay Tilton
Claire Wigglesworth
Kay Mammo
Join together with BE+. It’s all about the PLUS.

Join together with BE+. It’s all about the PLUS.

At Built Environment Plus, we are more than a community – we’re a powerful collective of green building leaders and aspiring leaders who strive to design, build, and operate a sustainable and regenerative built environment. We want to focus on the “plus” in Built Environment Plus, and that is where you come in.

We’re looking for practitioners, leaders, and aspiring leaders that are pushing the envelope for healthy, sustainable, resilient, and regenerative buildings. In 2024, we made significant strides through trainings and events, and now you can be a part of it.

As an individual BE+ member, you can cultivate connections with other members and take your work to the next level. But there is more, by being a Company Member, you can demonstrate your leadership within the industry while unlocking collaborative opportunities for your employees and your bottom line.

We offer different membership levels, each with its own set of benefits. Take a look at our Year-Ahead Prospectus to plan how you want to engage with BE+ and connect with other companies.

Our goal is to add 20 new Company Members this winter. Take 50% off your first-year Company Membership at every level. Plus, you’ll get at least 2 individual memberships for any membership level at no additional cost.

By joining BE+, you’ll have a stronger network and a set of expertise to tackle seemingly impossible challenges together in the built environment. BE+ is the place to grow and thrive while propelling you and your organization. Join now!

MA Ranked #1 in Top 10 States for LEED Certifications in 2024

MA Ranked #1 in Top 10 States for LEED Certifications in 2024

Massachusetts reclaimed its top spot in USGBC’s ranking of the Top 10 States for LEED certifications in 2024, continuing to lead the charge for greening the built environment. In 2024, Massachusetts certified 34 million square feet of building space with LEED, with a total of 132 projects and LEED gross square footage per capita of 4.95.

Massachusetts has been a leader in pushing for building codes that help the decarbonization of the built environment. As early as 2009, the state introduced the first energy stretch code and later adopted the specialized stretch code in 2023 to reduce fossil fuel use and improve energy efficiency. Ultimately, Massachusetts has made significant strides in hopes of achieving our goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

As USGBC quoted Meredith Elbaum, BE+ Executive Director, “We’re thrilled to see Massachusetts back on top of the list of states for LEED certifications because it’s a real measure of leadership toward a sustainable and regenerative built environment.”

State and federal level investments have helped support the state’s net zero efforts. Studies and reports, such as Massachusetts is Going Net Zero, outline the state’s climate objectives. As USGBC mentioned, “BE+ found that, in the past three years, Massachusetts has seen a sixfold increase in the number of net zero and net zero ready buildings.”

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has prioritized combating climate change. Compared to other states, Massachusetts has a large clean energy workforce. However, an expansion of the climate workforce is still needed to actualize the infrastructure, according to a 2023 report from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

Recently, Mayor Wu’s Net Zero Carbon Zoning Initiative was approved, taking effect in July 2025. Boston is now the first U.S. city to require new large buildings to meet net zero carbon emissions standards from day one of their operations. The code also requires reporting on embodied carbon, with Large Projects requiring an embodied C02e emissions life cycle assessment analysis.

As Massachusetts continues to set standards for sustainability, various projects showcase the state’s dedication to green building: Gillette Stadium, One Boston Wharf (home to the 2024 Green Building Showcase), and 300 3rd Avenue Waltham.

From legislative efforts to municipal projects, Massachusetts’ leadership is clear. The Commonwealth is committed to achieving a more sustainable environment and aims to lead as an example for other states to follow.

Welcome 2025 BE+ Board of Directors!

Welcome 2025 BE+ Board of Directors!

As we enter 2025, the BE+ community gathered to celebrate the past year’s achievements and welcome the new Board of Directors. During the Annual Meeting & Volunteer Celebration, we honored individuals and companies that have demonstrated commitment and leadership in various ways in 2024 by acknowledging their contributions, planting trees in their honor, and welcoming new faces to the leadership team.

The awards went out to the following:

1. Company of the Year: WSP
2. Net Zero Hero: Noah Klammer and Rand Lemley
3. Living Building Champion: Jim Newman
4. Member of the Year: Cameron Burkacki
5. Health & Wellness Champion: Mandy Miller
6. BE+ Community Leader:  Yanni Tsipis
7. Emerging Professional of the Year: Michelle Silverwood
8. Women in Green Warrior: Elizabeth Venuti
9. Most Studious Company: Fennick McCredie Architecture

BE+ also announced the new Board Members and the BE+ community would like to congratulate and give a warm welcome to Hessann Farooqi (Boston Climate Action Network), Julian Groenendaal (Thornton Tomasetti), and Jennifer Lawrence (Hideo Sasaki Foundation). Additionally, we would like to congratulate the re-elected board members Kate Bubriski, Sarah Michelman, and Jacob Knowles.

As we bid farewell to 2024, we would like to thank our departing Board Member Axel Jeremie for his dedication, passion, and invaluable contributions. A tree will be planted in his honor, along with 90 others in honor of our volunteers who make our community so special.

Congratulations to the award winners, new board members, and everyone continuing their hard work. Here’s to a year of furthering our success and progress within the BE+ community!

BE+ is hiring. Join our growing team!

BE+ is hiring. Join our growing team!

We are living in an era of deep systemic challenges and major opportunities for transformative change at every level. While Built Environment Plus has evolved over the years in order to better meet our mission, we are thrilled to have an unprecedented opportunity to quickly expand our capacity, our programming, and our impact.

Thanks to new funding from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, we are able to build on our track record to deepen our programming on decarbonizing existing buildings. Starting with Boston and Cambridge, and expanding across the state, we’ll be engaging and supporting new audiences and stakeholders to tackle large building retrofits and meet the growing push towards building performance standards.

In addition, we are hiring a Communities lead to support our six thriving topic communities, which have really been the heartbeat of BE+ since the pandemic. The BE+ community has never been more vital, and the policy and industry landscape has never been more aligned with our mission. That is why we look forward to continuing our role in building connections, sharing knowledge, and growing and leveraging the group genius of our mighty community.

It’s all about the plus. For us, the plus represents relationship, possibility, and a community far greater than the sum of its parts.

Check out our open positions and help spread the word!

About Built Environment Plus
Built Environment Plus (BE+) is a member-based community driving sustainable and regenerative design, construction, and operations of the built environment.  BE+ provides green building education, networking, advocacy and leadership opportunities for the sustainable building practitioner community and beyond. Our events and programming are supported and enhanced by the volunteer efforts of our community members – the leaders and aspiring leaders in the green building industry.

Introducing the Newest Members of the BE+ Team!

Introducing the Newest Members of the BE+ Team!

Join us in welcoming the newest additions to the BE+ staff: Lilli Markle, Dan Pham, and Kaitlyn Chan! We are so excited to have them on board and help us advance our mission to drive the sustainable and regenerative design, construction, and operation of the built environment. Learn more about their interests, passions, and skills. Our community keeps growing, and we’re eager to see what we accomplish together!

Lilli Markle
Dan Pham
Kaitlyn Chan
Decarbonization Price Index is Live

Decarbonization Price Index is Live

The following post was provided by Turner.

The Decarbonization Price Index is live! This comprehensive resource provides up-to-date pricing and lead times of critical equipment—like Packaged Terminal Heat Pumps, Commercial Induction Woks, and 6-Pipe Heat Recovery Chillers—vital for reducing operational carbon emissions in commercial buildings. It also includes sample costs for electrical gear, such as substations and transformers, for projects requiring upgrades.

The Large Building Decarbonization Price Index is a collaborative effort between NYSERDA and Turner. This resource will help guide the industry towards more accurate pricing and lead times for critical equipment necessary to develop and implement decarbonization projects. The goal of the Price Index is to mitigate obstacles to advancing decarbonization projects, ultimately helping to combat climate change, improve health, resiliency, and deliver benefits equitably to all.

The primary goal is to foster market transparency and simplify the financial complexities of decarbonizing large commercial buildings. To kick things off, we’ve included a Technical Insight from BR+A Engineers on “partial” electrification, which explores strategies to reduce costs while transitioning away from fossil fuels.

While pricing may vary based on individual project requirements, this report provides project teams with a valuable head start and a level playing field for conducting conceptual pricing exercises. Our aim is to empower industry professionals with the knowledge and insights needed to navigate the complexities of decarbonization effectively.

Download the Index here.

Turner Large Building Decarbonization Price Index
Congratulations to the 2024 BE+ Green Building Showcase Award Winners

Congratulations to the 2024 BE+ Green Building Showcase Award Winners

Green building industry celebrates accelerating change

Over 300 people gathered in the raw theater space on the second floor of One Boston Wharf Road in Boston’s Seaport District to take stock of the accelerating progress in sustainable buildings in Massachusetts and across the region. The 2024 Green Building Showcase celebrated groundbreaking success stories in transforming the built environment into healthy, sustainable, and regenerative spaces for our communities.

Hosted for a second year in a row by WS Development, the location highlighted significant milestones being made in the city and the exciting transformation of the Seaport neighborhood.

Outstanding project submissions demonstrated the growing pace of market transformation led by policy, practice, and shifting priorities. Judges from across the country selected the standout projects, while local judges chose a Change Agent of the Year recognizing someone making a significant positive impact on the environment, social equity, and the economy.

For the third year in a row, an exemplary public school project won Green Building of the Year.

GREEN BUILDING OF THE YEAR

Boardwalk Campus
Submitted by Arrowstreet

Boardwalk Campus

Boardwalk Campus is leading the charge to a greener future for students in the Commonwealth. Designed as the first Double Zero school in Massachusetts, Boardwalk Campus serves as a new model for sustainable, healthy, and resilient schools for communities nationwide. It is the first all-electric Net Zero school, funded by the Massachusetts School Building Authority, at the cost of typical non-net zero schools.

Boardwalk Campus was the first building to participate in a verification period and surpassed the target EUI. Located near Fort Pond Brook, the school minimizes environmental impact and highlights the local ecosystem. Its design reflects themes of ground, vegetation, and sky, with three schools occupying different floors and distinguished by unique colors and forms.

By consolidating schools, the district aims to enhance the learning environment while reducing operational costs. Extensive community engagement shaped the project’s sustainability goals. Spanning 175,000 square feet, Boardwalk Campus is the first Mass Save net zero building, initiating a new utility incentive program for similar projects.

According to the judges, “Every community has a school. This demonstrates all that can be achieved within a typical public-school budget and how to fully leverage that investment to benefit the community and generations of learners. Biggest bang for the buck.

CARBON & ENERGY

Cape Cod Community College, Wilkens Science & Engineering Center
Submitted by Vanderweil Engineers

Cape Cod Community College, Wilkens Science & Engineering Center

The Wilkens Science & Engineering Center at Cape Cod Community College is a state-of-the-art, 38,500 square foot facility designed to elevate science and engineering education. Achieving LEED Gold certification, the center showcases an all-electric, net-positive energy framework that significantly reduces its environmental footprint.

Key innovations include the reduction in embodied carbon through the use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) roof slabs, natural wood siding, and stone gabion retaining walls, which eliminate significant amounts of cement and enhanced the biophilic occupant experience. In addition, MEP/FP systems and a hybrid roof structure demonstrate sustainable engineering principles to students.

Efficient energy recovery, strategic controls, and air-source heat pump heating reduce energy consumption by 77% compared to typical teaching labs. These design choices, a 225 kW array of rooftop solar panels, and adjacent new parking canopy PV, enable the facility to operate as a net-positive energy building—producing more energy than it consumes.

The Wilkens Science & Engineering Center at Cape Cod Community College represents a paradigm shift in sustainable and educational building design, setting a new standard for innovation in total carbon reduction. It significantly reduces fossil fuel consumption, operational carbon emissions, and embodied carbon. In total, embodied carbon was reduced by 20%, and operational carbon reduced by 100%, for a 20-year-total carbon savings of over 11,500 MT CO2e, equal to the 20-year carbon sequestration potential of a forest six times the size of CCCC’s campus!

The judges were impressed with the project’s integration of multiple solutions to achieve lowered embodied and operating emissions. In particular, the creative approach to integrated passive and active building solutions and the consideration of equipment selections that would align with local labor resources made this our top project.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper Schools
Submitted by Perkins Eastman

Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper Schools

The new Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper Schools will house three programs: Tobin Montessori School & Special Start, Vassal Lane Upper School, and DHSP Preschool & After School Programs. This project replaces an outdated brutalist building and upgrades Father Callanan Playground, enhancing outdoor spaces with play areas and multi-purpose fields, along with improved access for bicycles and pedestrians.

Infrastructure improvements include a 1.25-million-gallon underground stormwater tank to mitigate street flooding, an active indoor air quality monitoring and management system, renewable energy infrastructure and electric vehicle charging stations, and built-in handwashing stations strategically located to promote cleanliness and facilitate pandemic readiness.

In conclusion, this project offers a comprehensive approach to sustainable and resilient design, making it a valuable model for proactive planning for climate change and public health emergencies. The design aligns with Cambridge’s high standards for educational success and aspirations for being the most sustainable and energy-efficient school building. The 359,100 square foot building and indoor parking garage are designed to be Net Zero Emissions under Cambridge’s Net Zero Action Plan and is projected to achieve at minimum LEED Gold certification.

The judges commented, Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper Schools exemplifies health and wellness with its focus on IAQ monitoring, daylighting strategies, and service to the community at all scales and needs.

EQUITY & INCLUSION

Front Street Affordable Housing Phase 1
Submitted by Utile, Inc.

Front Street Affordable Housing Phase 1

Front Street Phase 1 revitalizes an existing property with 60 new units of family-focused housing and community spaces. The project is specifically designed to address the needs of the area’s population of large families, including those who have immigrated from Somalia. Multigenerational living arrangements with active ground floors within the site plan stitche the community into the surrounding neighborhood.

Front Street Phase 1 is PHIUS + CORE certified, demonstrating thoughtful attention to a robust thermal envelope, energy efficiency, and air-tight construction detailing. The building’s structure and electrical infrastructure are designed to incorporate heat pump water heating for future conversion. The project utilizes all-electric space heating and heat recovery ventilation while hot water is provided through a future-electric-ready centralized gas-fired boiler. The project is also designed to be PV-ready, with roof space to offset common-space electrical use. The project’s second phase will include a 50 kW solar array.

Front Street Phase 1 is a model for quality in community-centered design, site revitalization, and energy performance for a public agency providing affordable housing. Furthermore, the project was built for $240/sf including extensive site and geotechnical work. This level of construction cost economy for a Phius certified project sets an ambitious benchmark for affordable, high-performance construction.

The judges highlighted, “Front Street Affordable Housing Phase I created curated outdoor spaces in a multigenerational housing project that is Passive Certified at $240/SF while prioritizing access to daylight and indoor air….well done!”

SITE & LANDSCAPE

Boston City Hall Plaza Renovation
Submitted by Sasaki

Boston City Hall Plaza Renovation

The new Boston City Hall Plaza recasts an open space into an inviting civic center in the heart of downtown Boston. For five decades the plaza hosted Boston’s largest gatherings but lacked human scale, offered limited amenities, consisted of impermeable surfaces, and was highly inaccessible. Improvements prioritize universal access, sustainability and resilience, renew the landmark’s cultural legacy, and provide flexibility for a variety of programming.

The spaces we build are a reflection of our city and our values,” she remarked, “and thanks to these incredible collaborations, we have built something here that embodies our vision for Boston, and builds on the legacies that we inherit from those that came before,” said Mayor Michelle Wu during the grand opening.

The design features a new accessible sloped promenade, ‘Hanover Walk,’ that reconciles grade change across the site and connects Congress and Cambridge Streets, new planting, seating and gathering areas breaking down the plaza’s scale, and a new Civic Pavilion. The planting design restores habitat, provides shade, and sequesters over 5,500 lbs of CO2 each year. Green infrastructure now manages stormwater via planting beds or permeable paving to filter rainwater and restore groundwater conditions. Rainwater from another 25% of the site’s surfaces is collected in a 10,000 gallon tank and reused as irrigation for the entire plaza.

The new plaza transforms the local environmental impacts of stormwater runoff, urban heat island effects, and carbon emissions. This project addresses social equity in one of Boston’s most iconic and well-visited spaces. The removal of steps and creation of Hanover Walk ensures universal access across the entire site and at building entrances. The renovation modernized the historic plaza with improved infrastructure, sustainability and programmable public spaces while simultaneously honoring its original intentions and history as Boston’s place to gather, celebrate, and make residents’ voices heard.

The judges commented, “All of the site and landscape submissions were exemplary and have wonderful replicable components. The Boston City Hall Plaza Renovation stood out as the winner in this category as a wonderful model of public space revitalization, accessibility, sustainability, and public education. The renovation project activates a space that individuals from throughout the city and country pass through regularly and provides an public opportunity to educate and normalize sustainable landscape practices in action.”

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING OPERATIONS

Orchard Gardens: Deep Energy Retrofit
Submitted by West Work, LLC

Orchard Gardens: Deep Energy Retrofit

Driven by a commitment to decarbonization, resident well-being, and community revitalization, the Orchard Gardens project represents a comprehensive approach to tackling climate change. The property includes a total of 331 units, of which 282 are public housing units. The campus spans 11 city blocks comprised of 41 buildings that represent four major building typologies, each with a different approach to retrofitting.

An occupied deep energy retrofit (DER) with a minimum energy use intensity reduction of 50% is the project’s central goal. The buildings will receive additional insulation along the walls and roofs, triple pane windows, and improved air barrier control layers. The project proposes adding ERVs and space cooling devices to all buildings and electrifying 100% of the cooking, 75% of the space heating, and 50% of domestic hot water systems. An on-site solar panel system is proposed across 26 of the site buildings. The DER improvements, made possible by additional grant funding, will reduce operational carbon emissions and help Boston remain on track for its 2050 carbon neutrality goals.

By upgrading to R-36 walls, R-66 roofs, and triple-pane windows, operational energy costs are predicted to decrease by 27-40% across multiple building typologies. These envelope enhancements, combined with the electrification of space heating, cooking, and domestic hot water systems (where feasible), substantially lower the reliance on gas systems. These upgrades are critical in reducing overall energy consumption and improving the comfort and sustainability of the housing units.

The judges commented, This project demonstrates what it means to truly operate sustainably: deep energy conservation while maintaining affordability and well-being. Impressive most is the intentional collaboration that went into this design.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING RENOVATION

Stone Mill Lofts
Submitted by WinnCompanies

Stone Mill Lofts

Stone Mill Lofts is a 150,000 square foot, 178-year-old mill building in Lawrence’s North Canal Historic District. This iconic building is Lawrence’s oldest mill, originally constructed in 1846. The historic adaptive reuse project transformed the mill building into 50 new one-bedroom units, 28 two-bedroom units, and 8 three-bedroom units, and includes a variety of community amenities.

Stone Mill’s energy model, prepared by RW Sullivan, showed the building performing 42.4% better than a new construction building constructed in accordance with the MA Energy Code, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30.9%, or 119 tons of CO2 avoided each year. The redevelopment of Stone Mill Lofts marks WinnCompanies’ first all-electric, high-performance historic adaptive reuse project, piloting a new approach to historic preservation and highly innovative, low-carbon, sustainable design.

​The project features all-electric, highly efficient mechanical systems that eliminate on-site fossil fuel consumption which includes Mitsubishi VRF heat pump systems. ​Stone Mill Lofts continues to do good for the community of Lawrence, representing the history and culture of this diverse and growing city, while providing much needed affordable and healthy housing. ​

According to the judges, “Through an equitable vision and holistic process, Stone Mill Lofts expertly addressed the need for sustainable, beautiful and affordable spaces for everyone.

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION INNOVATION

49% Embodied Carbon Reduction in Concrete
Submitted by Turner

49% Embodied Carbon Reduction in Concrete

This building highlights one successful element of the projects – embodied carbon reduction. A 49% reduction in embodied carbon reduction was achieved, exceeding the project’s initial goal of 25%. In addition, the workforce also utilized reusable materials for temporary protection and safety, which resulted in less waste.

The team included SGH, McNamara Salvia, Turner and their Self-Perform Operations (Turner SPO), and Boston Sand & Gravel who focused on the carbon calculation of the concrete mixes. They developed the most innovative mix: a 60% replacement of cement with slag and fly ash, which resulted in a 66% reduction of embodied carbon from the NRMCA Baseline. In a first-ever placement, Turner, Boston Sand & Gravel, and McSal created an opportunity for Sublime Systems, a pioneer in cement manufacturing, and developed a means of manufacturing cement without fossil fuels.

As part of Turner’s commitment to achieving net-zero Scope 3 emissions by 2040, Turner SPO is committed to a 30% embodied carbon reduction in self-placed concrete. The final building product will be a Boston-area higher education enterprise research campus consisting of 600,000 square feet of mixed-use development including 400,000 square feet of Class A life science space.

According to the judges, “The early and thorough collaboration among various project team members is an excellent example we need to emulate across our industry in order to build momentum and achieve meaningful goals.

SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR FIT-OUT

CarGurus Boston HQ
Submitted by Structure Tone

CarGurus Boston HQ

The CarGurus Boston HQ project is an interior tenant fit-out located on floors 12-21 in the newly constructed high-rise at 1001 Boylston St in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston, MA. Through the construction process, purposeful efforts were made to enact and expand upon construction waste site separation programs to reduce the landfill burden of commingled construction waste and maximize landfill diversion. At project completion, data shows that over half (51.31%) of all waste leaving the site was able to be site separated and sent directly to material recyclers, with a minority of project waste leaving the site commingled.

The project can serve as an example of how construction site separation does not have to be costly and how construction projects can reduce immense carbon, environmental justice, and waste problems. Anticipated to achieve Gold certification status under LEED v4.1 ID+C, the CarGurus HQ project will be occupied by over 950 employees and can accommodate additional visitors.

The cargurus fit-out project challenged entrenched practices of waste management in construction – Requiring education, buy-in, and follow through that will hopefully follow these team members on many projects to come,” said the judges. 

STUDENT PROJECT OF THE YEAR

The New Museum of Architecture and Design
Submitted by Ella Schmid & Sofia Nolan

The New Museum of Architecture and Design

Located in Finland, the New Museum of Architecture and Design is a curated experience that highlights Finnish history from its indigenous origins to the modern architects and designers of the 21st century. The journey of the museum blends indoor and outdoor experiences, offering visitors a unique interaction with both the built environment and the natural landscape. This interplay of nature and design not only enhances the museum experience but reinforces Finland’s commitment to sustainability and the harmonious integration of architecture with its surroundings.

Through the material choices in conjunction with specific, energy-efficient systems, the project’s sustainability goals are achieved. The use of sustainable materials is heavily emphasized, cross-laminated timber and rammed earth are used throughout the design. This site is transformed with the introduction of an urban forest and connection to the existing under-utilized park, and has an open air, free gallery which houses works by local artists to further engagement with the community.

The judges commented, A contemporary project rooted in indigenous history, The New Architecture + Design Museum project provides a replicable approach of integrating synergistic sustainable design strategies with cultural and physical context. The landscape and site design connect the harbor, the museum’s site and the broader community in a way that supports the building scale passive design, low impact materials and culturally informed/socially equitable and spaces.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

ONE BOSTON WHARF ROAD
Submitted by WS Development

One Boston Wharf Road

Boston’s largest net zero carbon office facility, and home to the 2024 BE+ Green Building Showcase. Read more about the project here.

CHANGE AGENT OF THE YEAR

Kate Crosby

Congratulations to Kate Crosby, Energy Manager of the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District, for her powerful contributions to the Boardwalk Campus and, by example and active knowledge-sharing, the entire Massachusetts school planning community.

Change Agent of the Year Kate Crosby with her nominator Kim Cullinane, and presenters Jim Stanislaski and Meredith Elbaum.

Kate has been an emphatic and diligent advocate for the net zero concept for this school project at a time when not many school districts, and not many projects at all in MA, were pursuing net zero – and few were setting EUI targets at the outset of design. Kate not only worked to advocate for and ensure the success of the design, construction, and now operation of the net zero Boardwalk school, she now uses that success to guide other school district personnel as they seek feedback on the ABRSD experience. Kate has been active, speaking at various venues to improve understanding and acceptance of low carbon strategies, including in particular the ground source heat pump system in place at Boardwalk.  Kate’s work is helping help other school districts feel confident they can succeed in pursuing zero carbon solutions, and in doing so will lead to more net zero buildings in operation and more thought leaders willing to advocate and bring others along. We need leaders who are willing to stake a claim, act on it, lead their project to success, and then, very importantly, talk about it, leveraging experience to get others to act. Kate is doing all of this and more,” says her nominator, Kim Cullinane.

Green Building Showcase 2024 Digital Gallery

Thank you to our Amazing Judges!

Marisa Zylkowski

Marisa Zylkowski

Sustainable Design Manager | MacDonald Miller

Brian Turner

Brian Turner

Partner | CMTA

Angi Rivera

Angi Rivera

Director of Sustainability | Sellen Construction

Lona Rerick

Lona Rerick

Principal Architect | ZGF Architects

Teresa Rainey

Teresa Rainey

Team Leader | Interface Engineering

Katie Kaluzny

Katie Kaluzny

Deputy Director | Illinois Green Alliance

 

Yarden Harari

Yarden Harari

Senior Associate | Arcadis

Catherine Callaway

Catherine Callaway

Director of Sustainability and Building Performance | Kirksey

 

Cameron Burkacki

Cameron Burkacki

Sustainability Engineer | Consigli

Praina Gupta-Garg

Praina Gupta-Garg

Senior Architect | WRNS Studio

Esteban Matheus

Esteban Matheus

Associate Architect | DIALOG

 

Sandra Montalbo

Sandra Montalbo

Design Performance Manager | Overland Partners

 

Anita Hseih

Anita Hseih

QA Project Manager | nibbi

Karina Hershberg

Karina Hershberg

Associate Principal | PAE Consulting Engineers

Rob Winstead

Rob Winstead

Principal Architect | VMDO Architects

 

BE+ GBS 2024 Sponsors
One Boston Wharf Road, Home to 2024 Green Building Showcase

One Boston Wharf Road, Home to 2024 Green Building Showcase

Photo Credits: Boston Seaport by WS

The 2024 Greeen Building Showcase was generously hosted for the second year in a row by WS Development in Boston’s Seaport District. Last year the event was held at the Amazon L4 Tower at 111 Harbor Way. This year we moved across the plaza to the even more exciting L5 project, One Boston Wharf Road, which will be the city’s largest net zero carbon office facility. The following overview of the project was provided by Yanni Tsipis, Senior Vice President – Development at WS Development, who oversees all aspects of the company’s Boston Seaport project, a 33-acre, 20-block, 7.6 million square foot mixed-use development at the heart of the Seaport’s thriving innovation ecosystem.

One Boston Wharf Road rises at the entrance to the Boston Seaport district, marking the latest addition to WS Development’s 7.6 million square foot mixed-use project. The building, Boston’s largest net-zero carbon office development, encompasses 700,000 square feet of office, retail, and civic spaces. Designed by Copenhagen-based Henning Larsen Architects in collaboration with Gensler, Buro Happold, The Green Engineer, and McNamara/Salvia, the structure departs from often-seen contemporary glass-box architecture with its distinctively articulated terra cotta facade.

Amazon has fully leased the office space as part of its Boston Tech Hub, which also occupies WS Development’s 111 Harbor Way building (completed 2022).

While the building’s beautiful architecture makes a bold outward statement about our architectural aspirations, its environmental innovations truly distinguish it. The development team committed early to carbon-free operations through an all-electric approach to mechanical systems. This electrification commitment aligns with WS Development’s broader initiative, completed in 2023, to power all of its Seaport assets and much of its New England portfolio with renewable electricity. As part of this strategy, the building employs rooftop air-source heat pumps, advanced energy recovery technology, and state-of-the-art envelope and building management systems.

In addition to its commitment to net zero carbon operations, One Boston Wharf Road also pioneers breakthrough construction technology to address embodied carbon as well. The project is the first ever to incorporate Sublime Systems’ innovative cement—a zero-fossil-fuel alternative to Portland cement developed by this MIT spinout company. With Portland cement production accounting for approximately 8% of global fossil fuel emissions, this advancement could transform the construction industry. The building features this revolutionary cement in key public areas, with educational displays highlighting its significance. The ground floor of One Boston Wharf welcomes the public with open spaces that extend to the surrounding outdoor public realm. This accessibility reflects the project’s larger mission: demonstrating how collaborative vision among developers, designers, and innovators can advance carbon-free construction and operations.Sublime Cement plaque - This Floor is the first commercial use of Sublime Cement, made with a fossil-fuel-free cement manufacturing process. A step on this floor is a step closer to our post-carbon future.

Years in the making, One Boston Wharf Road stands as more than a building—it is an aspirational blueprint for sustainable development. Green building enthusiasts and climate innovators are invited to visit and learn more at www.bostonseaport.xyz or @seaportbos.

Calling all Passive House Professionals: New Registration Process for Phius Trainings

Calling all Passive House Professionals: New Registration Process for Phius Trainings

Professionals taking advantage of the WTFP Express Grant to complete the Phius Certified Consultant (CPHC) Training and Phius Certified Builder (CPHB) Training programs register through Built Environment Plus.

Effective October 2024, Built Environment Plus made the following changes to the registration process for these programs:

  • BE+ offers monthly registration that closes on the last day of each month.  
  • BE+ gives registrants access to the self-paced materials (Phase l) and the ability to enroll in a live online session through Phius on the first business day following the registration deadline. Phius schedules live online sessions (Phase ll), not BE+.* Review session options on the monthly BE+ enrollment pages.
  • Express Grant applications are due to the Commonwealth Corporation at least 21 days ahead of the BE+ registration deadline.**

*Both training programs consist of two phases:

  • Phase I: Self-paced content to be completed ahead of live training (50-60 hours for CPHC; 8 hours for CPHB)
  • Phase II: 8, 3-hour live online sessions over the span of 2 weeks

    **Companies with 100 or fewer Massachusetts W-2 employees are eligible to take these trainings with WFTP Express Grant funding. Training must be completed within 1 year of the Express Grant contract start date to be eligible for reimbursement. Learn more about Express Grant funding here.

    See below for instructions to enroll in either of the training programs under this new process.

    Step 1: Select a Registration Date

    a. Navigate to the BE+ Trainings webpage. See a calendar view of upcoming training registrations on the right hand side of the page. 

    b. From this calendar view, navigate to the next available registration page that most closely aligns with the desired date to begin self-paced content (Phase l). (Example: A registrant looking to begin training as early as possible would select the registration page that appears on October 31st on the calendar, assuming they are completing this process on October 1st.)

    Step 2: Register for Training and Complete an Express Grant Application

    a. Register for the training. (Example: A registrant enrolling in the October 31st option would scroll to the bottom of the page accessed in Step 1 to find the Eventbrite registration box below).

    b. Submit an Express Grant application to the Commonwealth Corporation no fewer than 21 days ahead of the training registration deadline. (Example: A registrant enrolling in the October 31st option must submit an application no later than October 10th.)  

     

    Step 3: Accept the Express Grant Award

    a. The Commonwealth Corporation will send Express Grant award notification within 21 days of the application date. Once awarded, sign the Express Grant contract to accept the grant. This must be done by the training registration deadline. (Example: A registrant enrolling in the October 31st option would sign their approved Express Grant contract by October 31st.)

     

    Step 4: Complete the Training Program

    a. BE+ will share instructions to access self-paced materials (Phase I) and enroll in an upcoming scheduled live session (Phase II) via email on the first business day following the registration deadline. Follow the instructions to complete registration. (Example: A registrant enrolling in the October 31st option would gain access to Phase I and enroll in Phase II on November 1st.)

    See Upcoming Phase II sessions on the CPHC page, or Upcoming Live Sessions on the CPHB page, for upcoming live sessions scheduled by Phius. (Example: Of the options below, a registrant enrolling in the October 31st option might choose to take the February 17 – 28, 2025 CPHC Phase II session).

    b. Complete Phase I ahead of Phase II. (Example: A registrant enrolling for the October 31st option and opting to take the February 17 – 28, 2025 Phase II session would complete Phase I content between November 1st and February 16th).

    c. Attend the Phase II session selected through Phius. 

     

    Step 5: Submitting the Express Grant Reimbursement Form

    a. Submit an Express Grant reimbursement form to the Commonwealth Corporation within 30 days of completing Phase II. (Example: A registrant taking the February 17 – 28, 2025 Phase II session would submit their Express Grant reimbursement form by March 30th.)

    Contact the BE+ education team at education@builtenvironmentplus.org with questions.