A Navy Pier Centennial Wheel Rises in Chicago

By USGBC Communications


Completed in 2016, the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel in Chicago, IL is a new version of the former Ferris wheel, that had been an iconic symbol of Chicago’s Navy Pier for many years. In 2015, the mayor and pier officials announced plans to replace the Ferris wheel with a larger one in celebration of the Pier’s 100th anniversary. SGH assisted James McHugh Construction Co. by providing construction engineering services to facilitate removing the existing wheel, rehabilitating Pier Park, and erecting the new wheel.

“There was nothing typical or standard about the construction of Centennial Wheel,” the authors conclude. “While visitors may be most impressed by the new temperature-controlled gondolas, in-cabin video screens, and better views, the Chicago-based teams behind the wheel know the real accomplishment is in the engineering details: a 525-ton, 196-foot-high structure constructed over a fully-functional parking garage on a pier by more than 500 men and women in roughly 25,000 hours,” explained Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) senior staff member Jared Brewe and coauthors John Sheridan of James McHugh Construction and Ken Maschke of Thornton Tomasetti. 

The Navy Pier Ferris Wheel has won the 2017 Merit Award, Infrastructure Construction, Chicago Building Congress and the 2016 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement, $10M – $25M Award, American Society of Civil Engineers, Illinois Section.

Congratulations, USGBC MA Chapter Sponsor, SGH on this iconic project!


XLERATOR® Hand Dryers Help Brooklyn Bowl Become the First LEED®-Certified Bowling Alley In The World!

By Rebecca Collins


Brooklyn Bowl, a 16-lane bowling alley, music venue and restaurant in Brooklyn, NY, is equally known for its aesthetic as its entertainment. Described as “one of the most amazing places on Earth” by Rolling Stone, Brooklyn Bowl has played host to many top acts including Guns N’ Roses and Elvis Costello, and can now count being the first LEED® certified bowling alley worldwide among its list of accomplishments.

 

Significant planning and construction were necessary to convert the former Hecla Iron Works building, a 100-year-old factory, into the current entertainment space it’s known as today. Likewise, some interesting energy-saving initiatives had to be implemented in order for the facility to achieve LEED® certification, including the use of XLERATOR high-speed, energy-efficient hand dryers, produced by USGBC MA sponsoring partner Excel Dryer. Other energy-saving measures included string-mounted pin spotters, reclaimed cork and recycled truck tire floors, and 100 percent wind-powered electricity.

 


“Part of the green initiative was that hand dryers were going to be a better choice for us, in terms of energy consumption and waste,” said Stephen Schwarz, general manager at Brooklyn Bowl. “XLERATOR Hand Dryers were part of the plan from the very beginning.” The XLERATOR and Excel Dryer line of high-efficiency dryers are the only in the industry to be tested to guidelines from the Global Hand Dryer Product Category Rules (PCR) published by UL Environment. In addition, XLERATOR uses 80 percent less energy than conventional hand dryers and represent a 95 percent cost savings when compared to paper towels, eliminating their labor, maintenance and waste. An independent Life Cycle Assessment (peer reviewed to ISO 14040 standards) of XLERATOR confirmed it reduces the carbon footprint of hand drying by 50-75 percent compared to both traditional hand dryers and even 100-percent recycled paper towels.

 

In addition to fitting into the green initiative, the XLERATOR ultimately met the upscale and trendy design of the facility. For a place that is curated to the smallest detail, it was important for the XLERATOR to fit in with the overall aesthetic of Brooklyn Bowl. “It’s an iconic Brooklyn place with an iconic look,” said Schwarz. “We put a lot of thought and effort into the way this place looks, including the bathrooms. And I think the XLERATOR has a sophisticated look that really fits the feel of the place and carries it through. So you’re not in this beautiful place and walk into something that looks like a gas station bathroom. You’ve got a great look in there. And the XLERATOR fits right in.”

 

In a facility that hosts 2,000-3,000 visitors a day, performance, reliability and sustainability were all of importance and factors for consideration. “The dryers are great,” said Schwarz. “With all the traffic through our bathrooms, we’ve had great success with them. It keeps trash off the floor, keeps clogs out of the toilets. Bathrooms are cleaner, guests are happier.”

 

For more information about Excel Dryer or its expanded and enhanced product line, visit exceldryer.com/products.php.

Biometrics: Biology and Psychology Meets Architecture

By Alex Landa


Architecture isn't just building design – it factors in much more than that. Buildings reflect humans and the humans who make them, incorporating aspects from biology and psychology all the time. The best designs you see aren't just the results of wanting to make something look cool; rather, the best designs are strategically planned, looking through the lens of psychological motivations and subconscious undertones, mixed with the biological features that are hard-wired into every human's brain. Ann Sussman walked us through an hour-long presentation on Biometrics, or the measurement and statistical analysis of people's physical and behavior characteristics, and how this can influence a building's design.


Biometrics allows architects, designers, engineers, and others to really 'see' how a building ticks and operates, and what individuals look at. By using heat maps and eye-tracking software, we can analyze how individuals look at a building. Think of it – when you see a home, where do your eyes go first? Unlike a book, we don't read buildings in a Z formation – for buildings, you go for the windows or the most 'human' characteristics. Our brains recognize faces faster than almost anything else, and we subconsciously try to see faces in everything we do, including houses.

Thank you, Ann, for showing our community this amazing concept in architecture! Architecture isn't just architecture, as it's a reflection of who we are and what we need. For more on Ann's work, go to her website here.

BPL Central Library Renovation Wins Multiple Awards For Design Excellence

By The Green Engineer

Boston Public Library’s $78 million Central Library Renovation has recently been awarded seven national and local awards, celebrating the project’s design excellence, preservation, and outstanding collaboration. Among the honors are the prestigious 2017 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards from the joint American Institute of Architects (AIA) and American Library Association (ALA) program as well as the Boston Preservation Alliance Preservation Achievement Award. The East Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library, which opened in 2013, was also recognized with a 2017 AIA/ALA Library Building Award. Sunday, July 9 marked the one year anniversary of the Central Library Renovation grand reopening.

Read more at:  http://bostonrealestatetimes.com/boston-public-librarys-78-million-renovation-wins-seven-national-and-local-awards/

#architecture  #libraries #designexcellence


Opening Day, July 9, 2016

 

This post was originally published on the Green Engineer's blog on July 12, 2017

Boston's First Green Skyscraper

By USGBC MA Communications

 


World-class offices, waterfront retail and sophisticated urban lofts come together on Boston’s waterfront. Framed by the buzzing harbor and the new Rose Kennedy Greenway, Atlantic Wharf is the Waterfront District’s center of activity. By day. By night. By sea.

Designed by Boston Properties, Atlantic Wharf was awarded LEED Platinum “Core and Shell” certification under the U.S. Green Building Council LEED rating system for the core and shell contstruction.This building is designed to use 33% less energy than comparable downtown office towers and 42% less energy than a typical existing office in New England. Atlantic Wharf is designed to use 69% less domestic water in the office tower compared to a typical downtown tower, and the construction of Atlantic Wharf utilized building materials manufactured from recycled products.

The energy savings of Atlantic Wharf compared to other Boston buildings is approximately 30,000,000 MBTU/year. That’s roughly equivalent to the annual energy use of 260+ average American households, including transportation

Over 85% of the construction waste was diverted from landfills, 20% of the building materials were manufactured from recycled products, and 50% of wood product in the building was harvested from FSC certified forests.

 

Sterrit and Augmented reality

By USGBC MA Communications

Sterrit Lumber has adopted TimberTech.


TimberTech introduces a new AR design app to help users better plan and envision what their ideal outdoor space could look like.

Customers who aren’t into 3D can use the app’s design gallery to customize pre-set images for a similar visualization process.

The company’s previous foray into the app world was the TimberTech Deck Guide, which allowed customers to import, save, organize and share photos for their deck projects. Customers who aren’t into 3D can use the app’s design gallery to customize pre-set images for a similar visualization process.

The company’s previous foray into the app world was the TimberTech Deck Guide, which allowed customers to import, save, organize and share photos for their deck projects. By using augmented reality, customers can now see their visions in real time. More and mor ecompanies are now beginning to adopt remodeling apps aimed to provide customers better insights into design.

 

The Golden Standard of Building Mastery

By USGBC MA Communications


Congratulations to Keith Construction for being awarded 2 GOLD Tommie awards for the Spicer/Roman Residence and the Timberframe Home in the Woods, for Excellence in Single Family Homes. We would also like to congratulate Keith construction President Ken Dahlen who has officially been designated as a Master Residential Builder in BC. There are only a few CHBA certified Master Builders in the province at this time.

About the Spicer Roman Residence

Rated “Built Green” platinum! This Prairie style modern home was built high into the grasslands and positioned to maximize the views of the Coldstream valley and Kalamalka Lake. Designed to bring in as much natural light as possible it also maximizes the views from all of the main rooms of the house…even the ensuite has a view. The 14 ft ceilings in the great room create an airy and open feel while the dropped tray along the perimeter helps draw the eye down. The large great room/kitchen area is made for entertaining!

The home offers softened Modern design with horizontal lines, plentiful windows and an open floor plan. It is very Fung Shui: fire (fireplace),earth (wood in the cabinets & floors), air (spaciousness, fans & cross ventilation) & water (blue glass & turquoise accents).  The hard angles of the rooms are softened with curved artwork and soft edge furniture.

The kitchen features high gloss cabinets with maple wood accents, glass backsplash and quartz countertops, made for easy cleaning. The upper cabinets have electronic touch “tap to open” technology.  There are multiple work spaces c/w bench seat in the kitchen area for enjoying the morning sun.  The extra large island with seating allows for visiting while enjoying the view. The kitchen boasts energy efficient appliances : induction cooktop, indoor electric grill, built-in steamer, rotisserie oven, and dishwasher drawers.  There is a combination of open and closed cabinets with many niches throughout home. Natural light was  the key to creating this space limiting the use of the LED lighting. There are 2 linear electric LED fireplaces with crystals that provide supplemental heat in the winter.

 

About the Timberframe Home in the Woods

A Craftsman oasis in the woods awaits.  Vaulted ceilings to a loft over the kitchen and plentiful windows open the home to vistas of the woods and  sky.  Wood timber framing, wood ceilings and floors, and the open plan create a warm and cozy atmosphere.  Downstairs you will find a fully equipped wet bar and games room.  Sip on your glass of wine on the timber framed covered deck while overlooking the stunning views.

Our client’s dream – this home has a “luxury ski chalet” feel with timberframing,  pine T&G ceilings and is tucked in the forest overlooking Vernon & both Kalamalka and Okanagan lakes.  This custom timberframe was designed with longevity  of character in mind and placed on the property with strategic removal of trees to preserve the natural setting, privacy, views,  sun exposure and shade.  It was designed to have a “public” side with a loft, great room & man cave in built in traditional timberframe, all focusing  on the view,  and a “private” (quiet) side with bedrooms up and down finished in modern decor.   The timber frame in &  out has structural rods presenting three decorative motifs: a maple leaf, music note & Roman numeral for the year the home was built.  The floor to ceiling wood burning rock fireplace with bookcases,  wraps around to the staircase adding to ambience of this chalet. LED lighting throughout enhances the timber-framing details. Upon entry into the large foyer with timber and pine ceilings , you will appreciate the view  of the lakes over the staircase. The short post glass rails on the loft allow for  expansive views and creates an “in the rafters” feel.

The dark wood cabinets contrast with the  light wood doors &  trim, solid wood interior doors,  hardwood flooring and timber framing. The home has easy maintenance with durable acacia hardwood, quartz countertops and heated ceramic tiles.

The layout allows for easy entertaining in one large room on the upper level and the large “man cave” area below with media, bar and games areas. This stunning home is perfect for single level living with the main rooms, laundry &  sports equipment area  in the mudroom adjacent to kitchen with access to garage.

Built Green Standards with: Energy Star appliances, LED lights, triple glazed windows with reflective coating, HRV, high efficient mechanical systems, and rough in for geothermal and solar. The home was built with 2×8 staggered stud walls with R32 wall  insulation, R50 in flat ceilings, and R40 in sloped ceilings. Sill gasket drywall & vapour barrier paint were used for a very air-tight  and comfortable indoor environment.  It comes complete with low maintenance metal roof, Hardie and rock exterior with timber detailing.

 

AHA Consulting Engineers at the 2017 Green Building Showcase

By Emily Andrews at AHA Engineers


Arriving at the USGBCMA Green Building Showcase, I had a sense of crossing a real threshold into a world of design and engineering that had previously inspired me, but I had not truly participated in. Entering the recently completed Northeastern Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex, I understood how exemplary design and performance could make a building something special.

I’ve always been interested in the environment, and recently changed my path of study to mechanical engineering with a minor in sustainability engineering to reflect this. Growing up near Boston, I remembered how each time I went into the city with my father, he would point out with pride the buildings he had worked on with AHA Engineers, as well as others that were significant. I learned about the engineering innovations on new buildings in Boston and how environmentally friendly they were.

As an intern new to the field of sustainability, the opportunity to meet so many of the important people in this field was incredible, and walking around and looking at the buildings on display was inspiring. I’ve always been impressed with the innovative ways the industry has developed to conserve materials and reduce energy and water consumption. The display boards featured buildings with rooftop gardens, net-zero buildings, heat recovery, building reuse, and passive solar design.

The actual design teams were present, discussing innovations and upcoming projects with the confidence and experience of professionals taking the field of Architecture and Engineering to new levels. I had the opportunity to speak with many of the people who are responsible for pushing the green building industry forward, such as Mark Stafford from National Grid, Steve Burke from Consigli Construction, and Judy Nitsch from Nitsch Engineering. Everyone was friendly and eager to share ideas, and made a newcomer like myself feel welcome. The layout of tables and project information along with healthy food and beverages made for a party atmosphere until the speakers began.

The presentations by Elkus Manfredi and Lendlease were memorable as well. The idea of creating an entire smart city is revolutionary, and more within our grasp than I had previously known. I also appreciate Lendlease’s perspective on collaboration. I attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which places a large focus on collaboration within its project-based curriculum, and is something that has struck me as the difference between an average and award-winning building.


I’m incredibly grateful to my mentor at AHA, Dan Whittet, for the chance to attend this event, as well as my coworkers, Tim Spencer and Allison Gaiko, for their support and investment in my future career in sustainability. I am also grateful to Celis Brisbin and Emily Kingston, for their work to make my first Green Building Showcase memorable and meaningful. I can’t wait to come back next year.   

Emily Andrews

Sustainability Intern, AHA Engineers.

Announcing the Greenbuild 2017 Legacy Project

By USGBC MA Legacy Project Committee


We are excited to announce that the 2017 Greenbuild Legacy Project winner is The Green Building Tech Club at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School!

The Green Building Tech Club is designed to create awareness of green building technologies in the early development of the trades in facilities management, electrical, plumbing, and carpentry. The Green Building Tech Club will expose the next generation of building operators and middle-skills trade workers to a wide range of “green collar” jobs. Our industry is demanding competent building operating technicians.

Architects, engineers, and contractors are great at designing and building high-performance buildings (LEED Certified Buildings). The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is delivering these types buildings at a record-breaking pace. However, when it comes to operating these high-performance buildings, the middle-skills workforce have difficulty operating and maintaining their performance as designed.

Too many building operators today are unplugging building automation systems or abandoning critical systems because they are unsure or unaware of the how high-performance buildings operate. Most of these facilities managers usually have a high school degree, GED, and maybe a two-year community college degree. The Green Building Tech Club is the first of its kind in the Boston Public Schools system. The program is designed specifically for career technical education high schools. We need to focus our education efforts on the next generation green building operators to strengthen and maintain Boston’s thriving, healthy and innovative economy.

This winning project was one of five amazing finalists to become this year's Legacy Project. The Green Building Tech Club proved to hit the following five criteria most effectively and thus was chosen:

  1. Serves low-income and inner city groups
  2. Is of an appropriate size
  3. Is Greenbuild oriented
  4. Is community supported
  5. Has an educational aspect

Gettin’ Around: The Future of Mobility in our Cities

By Kaye Ceille, President of Zipcar

Imagine a world with fewer cars and more people biking and walking to get to their destinations. Walking, biking, public transit, ride sharing, car sharing—all modes of transportation working together seamlessly to make it simpler, faster, greener, and less expensive to get around. Imagine more bike lanes, less congestion, and healthier lifestyles, all as a result of an improved urban mobility network.

At Zipcar, we’ve been working toward this future, with the goal of building a world in which car sharers outnumber car owners, for over 16 years. During that time, we’ve found that our nearly one million members share this same vision. They value access over ownership—and the freedom, convenience, and cost savings that comes with it.

If you live in a city, figuring out the best way to get around is already a part of your daily (maybe even hourly) life. With so many options from public transit to ride hailing to good old fashioned walking and biking, urbanites tend to make every transportation decision with ease, speed, cost, and in many cases, environmental impact in mind. Along the way, they’ve developed a savviness that comes from leveraging many different modes of transportation—and picking the right mode for each trip.

But how do we take this even further?

Cities nationwide are working to encourage this “multi-modal” behavior. Xerox’s integrated mobile apps in Denver and Los Angeles now make it possible for residents and visitors to make transportation choices based on cost, speed, and environmental impact in one easy-to-use app. Bike sharing programs are popping up across the country, making it even more convenient to commute or explore a city on two wheels and reduce environment impact. And many cities are partnering with car sharing and bike sharing to offer both services at public transit stations, presenting “first mile, last mile” solutions for users.

Plus, the significant response to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Smart City Challenge further demonstrates that cities nationwide are committed to implementing integrated, smart mobility solutions that make it easier to get around—and we’ve pledged Zipcar’s support in making these proposals a reality.

Zipcar members already report biking nearly 20 percent more after joining Zipcar, and today, we are taking steps to make it easier and more convenient for our members to use our service in conjunction with other modes of transportation. We’ve partnered with bike share providers in many cities, including Chicago, Washington, D.C., Toronto, Philadelphia, New York, San Diego, Detroit, and Atlanta. We have partnerships with public transit agencies, including in Boston, Los Angeles, Portland, and Toronto. And we’ve added Yakima rack systems to select Zipcars, so members can get out of the city and enjoy their favorite outdoor activities.

But there’s still much more to be done. Improving walkability, extending bike lanes to create streets where bikes and cars can co-exist, improving reliability of public transit, increasing access to car and bike sharing—these are all steps we can begin to take together to make car-free and car-lite lifestyles possible in our cities.

I’m excited about the road ahead and Zipcar’s ability to lead the way in shaping a new era of mobility in our cities, defined by efficiency, convenience, and sustainability.

 

About the Author

Kaye Ceille is the President of Zipcar and a leader in transportation innovation.