Congratulations to the 2023 BE+ Green Building Showcase Award Winners

Oct 27, 2023 | Blog, Green Building Showcase

Record crowd and award entries illuminate Massachusetts green building momentum

Over 275 people gathered in a raw space in the Amazon L4 Tower to celebrate groundbreaking progress transforming the built environment into healthy, sustainable, and regenerative spaces for all people to live, learn, work, and connect within. Hosted by WS Development, the event highlighted their exciting transformation of the Seaport neighborhood creating new public spaces and enriched pedestrian access to the waterfront.

The 2023 Green Building Showcase was bigger than the 2017 showcase which was cross-promoted with the national Greenbuild conference taking place in Boston, and drew an increase of nearly 50% in award entries over the previous year’s record. The competition was fierce and inspiring. The quality of project submissions demonstrates the accelerating pace of market transformation towards a sustainable and regenerative built environment, led by policy, practice, and shifting priorities.

The annual awards program is an incredible snapshot of the leading edge in green building practices. 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 second year in a row, HMFH Architects won the prestigious Green Building of the Year award for a public school building. The Annie E. Fales Elementary School in Westborough is the first net-positive energy public school in Massachusetts.

GREEN BUILDING OF THE YEAR

Annie E. Fales Elementary School
Submitted by HMFH Architects

Nestled within the hillside, the new Fales Elementary School reflects its local ecology in a child-centric educational environment that promotes curiosity and hands-on learning. The design embraces this challenging sloped site as an opportunity to improve building performance and demonstrate environmental stewardship. The facility maintains a compact footprint comprised of two floors that enable natural light to reach all interior learning spaces and provide the roof area for solar. Design elements inspired by the school’s natural setting encourage students to actively engage with their surroundings and fosters appreciation for the environment.

Whimsical, storybook-style graphics depict the beloved Fales mascot, Annie the Hedgehog, as she travels through local ecosystems, encountering various native flora and fauna. These graphics captivate students’ imaginations, strengthen their connection to nature, and cultivate a lively and engaging educational environment. Light-filled interiors and thoughtful integration into the neighborhood establish Fales as a vibrant, climate-conscious place.
Academic spaces are organized into four distinct neighborhoods, each represented by a different local ecosystem—forest, meadow, marshland, and pond. Classrooms in each neighborhood feature clerestory windows shaped by the school’s sawtooth roof that direct daylight into the space and reinforce the strong connection to nature with striking views of the sky above. An undulating pattern of windows creates a playful and intimate scale for the young students and focused views of nature.

The building tells a compelling story while actively demonstrating the important connections buildings, specifically public schools play within a community while connecting to and integrating with the natural environment. The studies performed by the design team have made Fales capable of generating 11.6% more energy than required to operate the all-electric school. The design achieves this ambitious target by reducing energy use with high efficiency geothermal building systems and producing energy on-site with a 25,000 square foot rooftop solar array.

Here’s what the judges had to say: “This is a very strong example of holistic, integrated, thoughtful design. If school designers across the country emulated this approach, the world would be a better place. We especially appreciated the integrated approach to the design of the roof to accommodate both solar arrays and daylight; the biophilic approach to the building’s interaction with the site; and the ecologically rich storytelling. It’s great to see energy positive performance in a publicly funded school project. The focus on connecting kids to nature will reap huge benefits for the students and teachers. With nearly 62% of the occupied spaces receiving good daylight and 92% with quality views, the project shows a strong commitment to health and wellness for both the students and the teachers.”

GREEN HOME OF THE YEAR

Shawme Lake Passive House
Submitted by Kaplan Thompson Architects

Our clients purchased a small but covetable lot hugging Shawme Lake and the Sandwich Heritage Museums and Gardens. They envisioned building a Passive House with modern appeal, but were faced with complex site restrictions and the historic district’s strict aesthetic guidelines for new construction.

We were asked to reconcile contradicting goals for both form and function by designing a residence that was classic yet contemporary, ambitious in performance yet challenged by its setting.

The property was the last in its neighborhood to be developed, a tight site flanked closely by neighbors, public conservation land to the west, the road to the south, and a wooded lake to the east. It’s triangular shape and sloping topography complicated options for the structure’s footprint, as did the requirement of a south-facing roofline to support a solar array. With consideration given to needs for space, privacy, and Passive-House potential, the home was divided into two angled masses: a trapezoid and an asymmetric pentagon.

To win approval by the historic committee, we visually regularized the irregularly-shaped structure by joining the geometries beneath a straight and sweeping roof plane. Two perpendicular gables disguise the many elevations and cut-ins beneath them and maintain simplicity of form. From the street, the home presents as a single-story residence with modest glazing, mirroring the context of surrounding houses.

With the business in the front settled, we adopted a party-in-the-back quality for the rest of the project. Large banks of high-performance glass run along the more private facades, opening views to the lake and accessing a network of covered and exposed outdoor spaces.

Passive House Certified and currently achieving Net Zero Energy on an annual basis, the project also stands to provide lasting comfort for occupants at a minimal cost and without the use of fossil fuels.

According to the judges, “This is a great example of how passive house excellence can be beautifully Modern even in a historic neighborhood with contextual constraints. We really like this as a model because it shows how a simple form, standard building science principles, and precise execution of construction details can produce quality and performance.”

CARBON & ENERGY

Boardwalk Campus
Submitted by Arrowstreet

Williams-College-Renovation-of-Fort-Bradshaw

Designed as the first net zero energy and water school in Massachusetts, the 175,000 SF Boardwalk Campus, opened in August 2022, serves as a new model for sustainable, healthy, and resilient schools for communities across the country. The building is home to two elementary schools and a preschool.

Consistent with the district’s school choice philosophy, every elementary school has its own character and focus. The planning and educational visioning focused on how to provide equity among the schools coupled with support for Special Education Services and maximizing shared spaces, such as cafeteria, gym, and STEAM labs.

The design serves the well-being of all occupants from the youngest learners to the greater community. Biophilic design elements include natural materials and colors, daylight, views, and graphics. Enhanced indoor air quality, acoustics, thermal comfort, universal design, and Red List Free, low-emitting materials are used throughout the interior further supporting well-being.

Located by Fort Pond Brook, the school design is carefully sited to minimize impact on the site and celebrate the ecosystem of the adjacent wetlands. An existing boardwalk was rebuilt to offer a more user-friendly experience with a new covered boardwalk, almost twice the original width, offering space for bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

The boardwalk provides a vital connection across the site and a learning opportunity for students and the community. It is part of the site-wide learning trail with educational signage featuring sustainability, resilience, and wellness aspects of the site and building. This is paired with similar environmental graphics on the inside of the building. The district has a robust sustainability and climate curriculum and the graphic design team worked closely with the educators to develop the signage and digital interface to support their programs.

The jury commented, “loved the comprehensive sustainable considerations of the compact 3-story school, from net zero energy and water, to embodied carbon reductions, on-site batteries, and a passive house level of airtightness. This is a highly replicable model for low-carbon sustainable schools that also integrates resilience principles.“

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Patient Care Pavilion
Submitted by HDR

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center is located on a picturesque 225-acre campus in the Upper Connecticut River Valley in New Hampshire. The site is surrounded by the White Mountains to the north and the Connecticut River to the east. The new patient care pavilion anchors the north end of the existing structure while providing a fresh take on the campus vernacular. Its form, massing, and materiality are inspired by the local context, including sunlight between the trees, stone in the mountains, and the flow of local rivers and streams.

The five-story pavilion takes advantage of its elevated site and natural setting. The building’s curved form defines a welcoming arrival sequence, optimizing views to nature from the patient rooms. The V-shaped plan connects to existing buildings, while creating new usable spaces and exterior courtyards that serve as areas of respite. Inside, these new exterior spaces provide natural light and visual interest to public spaces and patient rooms.

The building is comprised of three components: base, patient pavilion, and connector to the existing structure. The base houses the main entrance and public amenities. Its materials–natural stone and glass–create a comfortable, bright, and cheerful environment extending the calm of the natural environment indoors. The patient pavilion is clad in a ribbed rain-screen panel system with window openings that create a dynamic pattern.

Interior materials were selected based on criteria including health, durability, and cleanability. The basis is a palette of neutral materials that remain for the life of the building, layered with warm bright accents in furniture, art, and wayfinding. Accents of reclaimed wood from local New England barns were used to highlight destination points and bring warmth to the space. Lighting and form were used to reinforce wayfinding, direct views to the outside, and support circadian rhythm to promote healing.

The judges commented, “This project won in the category of Health and Wellness because it is designed to support the mental and physical health of all building occupants including staff, patients, and visitors. Specific strategies of note are the creation of staff respite spaces, the adaptability of ventilation and temperature in the patient rooms, the integration of spaces to meet the needs of families that travel great distances for healthcare, and integration of WELL building features. While the judges found the project impressive, we were concerned that there was not more transparency regarding the materials that will be used beyond some general statements that materials selections are based on “health, durability and cleanability.”

EQUITY & INCLUSION

E+ Highland
Submitted by Studio G Architects

E+ Highland will be built on city-owned land after an intensive neighborhood community process set the development goals, selected the team and reviewed the design. It responds to Highland Park neighborhood’s goals to prevent displacement, provide current neighborhood residents a homeownership path, and be Boston’s most sustainable neighborhood.

To prevent displacement of current residents and support their economic mobility, E+ Highland is 100% affordable: all 23 units at 30 to 60% AMI in a limited equity co-op. Low-income residents build financial equity with no money down while affordability is maintained for future residents.

The façade features a masonry and wood-like material palette reflecting the surrounding homes. A dramatic canopy shaped for PV array welcomes residents and visitors. Community amenities include a gallery/gathering space and adjacent patio for neighbors and residents to share and a public path and stair that links neighbors up and down Fort Hill to area parks and public transit.

Daylit units feature large operable windows and red-list free finishes selected for occupant well-being, beauty, and durability. All-electric systems with energy recovery ventilation provides a healthy indoor environment, removing pollutants and irritants.

Designed to achieve net positive energy, LEED Platinum, Phius, and ILFI Zero Energy Certification, E+ Highland will provide resilient, healthy, and affordable family housing.

Technical advancements to meet energy-positive and resiliency goals include airtight passive building techniques, optimizing window/wall ratio, and targeting a thermal-bridge-free enclosure. The hot water system uses CO2 refrigerant with zero Ozone Depletion Potential.

Renewable energy is maximized with a high efficiency rooftop PV wave rack system. Residents will have minimal utility costs and maintain comfort for 5+ days in a power outage.

The judges highlighted, “Not only are 100% of the units affordable, aiming to prevent displacement and supporting upward economic mobility in the neighborhood, but the project is also designed with ambitious sustainability goals – to achieve net positive energy, utilize energy efficient and resilient building components and systems, and materials that address the negative impacts buildings can have on the health of their occupants and the planet.”

SITE & LANDSCAPE

Northland Newton Site Design
Submitted by Stantec Architecture

Colby College Harold Alfond Athletics & Rec Center

Northland Newton Development is an innovative national model of sustainability, affordable housing, transit demand management, historic preservation, open space, master planning, and community amenities. This 22-acre mixed-use development introduces 10 acres of public open space and parks and 1.5 acres of green roofs and amenity decks; transforming a classic New England strip mall and its associated sea of parking into a lively neighborhood interconnected with open green spaces that will serve residents and employees living and working in the neighborhood, as well as visitors from the surrounding area.

Inviting plazas emerge from lush, planted areas, as if they had always been there. The design for each space was inspired by historic and natural site features and together creates a vibrant, desirable, and walkable community. A nuanced yet cohesive native planting palette provides visual interest seasonally as well as significantly improving the existing ecology and contribute to the regional ecosystem.

The judges commented, “This project has been awarded the top honor in the Site and Landscape category for its unwavering commitment to design excellence, seamlessly bridging the worlds of architecture and nature to foster genuine ecological harmony, all while fostering substantial positive social and environmental benefits. A cornerstone of this project’s success lies in its key strategies, which encompass the careful design and masterful implementation of green roofs, amenity decks, and plazas. These elements have been meticulously crafted to not only nurture a sense of community but also to pay tribute to the site’s rich historical and natural heritage. This thoughtful choice is poised to yield a healthier and safer space, ensuring the well-being of both present and future generations.”

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING OPERATIONS

Access to Live Waste Intelligence
Submitted by Spare-it

It is impossible to change something you don’t measure and the only waste data we have today is a mix of dumpster data and manual waste audits.

The Spare-it and Boston University sustainability teams partnered to deploy the Spare-it waste intelligence platform in the new CCDS.

For the first time, the platform enables access to bin quantitative and qualitative at scale. All bins are weighted in real time, assessed for contamination by stream, and geolocalized.

Together Spare-it and BU are closing the loop, displaying the data to students and faculties to help them improve sourcing and sorting toward True Zero Certification.

The judges said “Spare-it makes it easy to understand and track waste without significant cost or technology add. This will essentially help lower waste generated, understand contamination and transition to a more circular economy.”

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING RENOVATION

Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library Renovation
Submitted by Utile, Inc.

The Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library is located in Nubian Square in the heart of Boston’s historic Black community. Designed in 1978 by Kallmann and McKinnell Architects, the original Brutalist building was disconnected from its surroundings and had outdated systems and building envelope. The 27,000 square foot renovation has four primary design goals driven by community input: capture the same sense of awe and wonder that comes from reading a book; provide a welcoming space for connecting to community; expand the library as a center of knowledge production with innovative programming; and re-align the building to meet 21st century sustainability goals.

The new entrance and public plaza strengthen the library’s connection to Nubian Square. A new timber curtain wall replacing the original glass block outwardly displays the vibrant programming of the library while providing a much-needed visual connection to the sidewalk, trees, and sky for patrons. The new facade brings daylight deep into the heart of the library while minimizing solar gains.

The renovation builds on the branch’s role as a circulating neighborhood library and a vital resource for computer and internet access. The new African-American collection is prominently located at the front door overlooking Nubian Square. The Nutrition Lab incorporates residential appliances for cooking demonstrations and nutrition instruction, and the Learning Lab is a flexible room that converts to a makerspace. Warm wood accents and furnishings contribute to a monumental but inviting civic space.

The renovation transforms one of Boston’s most energy-intensive branches to one of its most efficient with new glazing, insulation, and roofing while preserving the exposed exterior concrete structure of the 1970s design. An EUI reduction of 40% compared to pre-renovation also brings a dramatic increase in the comfort of the space with new HVAC systems, abundant natural light, and sophisticated lighting controls.

According to the judges, “The Boston Public Library, Roxbury Branch is a beautiful example of transforming Brutalist architecture into a healthy, biophilic, welcoming, and high-performing space, while respecting the original design and working closely with the community to include their perspective on the form and function. The new, bigger windows, better envelope and celebrated natural materials transforms the building into a welcoming, comfortable and engaging community asset.”

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION INNOVATION

A Path to Net Zero
Submitted by Highland Park Technologies

Mass Timber for Mass Workers - Lucey Building

Highland Park Technologies is a grant-funded R+D company working on low carbon affordable approaches for Deep Energy Retrofits. Founded around the 2021 Triple Decker Challenge – MassCEC’s open invitation to harness building energy retrofit expertise to identify scalable strategies for electrification – HP Tech is developing a bio-based retrofit cladding system with superior structural, thermal, and moisture performance. The wood fiber panel and insulated mounting system offer an alternative to the foam-based cladding products currently available. The panels and mounting system are intended for wood framed multifamily buildings fewer than five stories.

Residential and commercial buildings are responsible for 40% of the energy consumed in the United States, and roughly a third of the nation’s spent electricity. Electric heating and cooling promise a cleaner power source, but will strain the nation’s grid if not paired with a dramatic reduction of energy consumption. Older buildings can facilitate considerable wasted energy through air leakage and ineffective insulation of exterior walls. To reduce building energy consumption and meet national climate goals, innovative, cost‐effective, recladding technologies must be deployed on existing structures.

HP Tech has settled on wood fiber board as the optimal material for insulated cladding. In the US, nearly all prefabricated panelized products derive their insulating value from foam, which is neither good for long term health nor low in embodied carbon. Europe has been using wood fiber as loose insulation and board for decades. In addition to the positive impact on human health, wood fiber is recyclable, easy to customize, and can be the final finished surface on a building, with infinite color and pattern potential.

HP Tech’s workflow starts with a 3D scan using digital fabrication to drive off-site workflow. The end result is a kit of easy to install parts that allows a small multi-family to be reclad in a week. The assembly targets R15-20, and is aiming for an installed cost of $10-20/sf.

Here is what the judges had to say: “Highland Park Technologies developed a wood fiber panel as an alternative to petrochemical-intensive retrofit cladding. The panels offer a low-carbon solution for deep multifamily retrofits. Key attributes that make this entry a winner include 3D scans to collect existing data, ease of installation, replicability/affordability, lightweight, applicable to low-income housing, and customized for a variety of design styles.”

SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR FIT-OUT

Kendall Square Workspace
Submitted by Utile, Inc.

Located in the heart of Kendall Square, this project includes amenities from cafes to event spaces, workspace, and support areas. Workspace comprises 70% of the building, while two floors each dedicated to event and food spaces are located at the bottom and top of the tower, connecting co-workers across departments with food and special events.

The workspace floors offer various layouts suited to different working styles. Adjacent floors are paired with interconnecting stairs to allow team sizes to flex and grow over multiple floors. Paired floors explore different planning strategies for meeting room locations, support spaces, and offices, while always prioritizing natural daylight for the open workspace. The evolution of technology became the primary narrative with subtopics selected for floor pairings. These became the inspirations for material selections, articulation of design elements, and the look and feel of the various floors. This approach was instrumental in achieving a variety of aesthetic outcomes and dynamic surroundings for the various teams that occupy the floors.

The food floors emphasize healthy eating and nutrition, with open kitchens, cooking classes, and a warm environment that promotes social interaction as users craft their own meal experiences. Anchored by two large meeting spaces serving external (broadcasts, galas, etc), and internal engagements (workshops, and training), the event floor features sweeping views of the Boston region. Moveable furniture, dynamic signage, and intentional use of color allow for the space to be fully flexible to meet the needs of any given presentation.

Elements consistent throughout the tower include high-performing and energy efficient building systems, finely tuned acoustics, bold and playful use of colors, a balance of hard and soft materials, and the use of biophilia to achieve physical comfort and wellness all for the benefit of the end users.

The Judges weighed in, “This is an outstanding workplace! We were impressed with the project’s contribution to the Kendall Square community, providing high quality public space and public events. We also appreciated the many project design features that promote biophilia, comfort, and well-being. The landlord and tenant seem to have a positive collaboration, which is refreshing to see.”

STUDENT PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Analyzing Construction Data to Develop Sustainable Reporting Framework
Submitted by Drushti Shah

The judges commented “We were very impressed with the amount of data that had to be identified and analyzed; it was a tremendous undertaking.

As noted in the submission addressing the impact of the construction industry is critical in the fight against climate change. The data analysis and the development of a Sustainability Reporting Framework enables better and more accessible management of the available data. Additionally, the reporting framework supports a dashboard interface for increased transparency, ongoing analysis and feedback and opportunities for comparisons which can help inform improvements within the industry.

The development of this reporting framework will support the construction industry in identifying critical areas on which to focus for mitigating environmental impact.”

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

140 Kendrick
Submitted by Stantec Architecture

People's Choice - 10 Fan Pier / MassMutual

The first net-zero, carbon-neutral conversion of an existing building of this scale in Massachusetts.

CHANGE AGENT OF THE YEAR

Jane Carbone

Congratulations to Jane Carbone, recently retired as the Director of Development at Homeowners Rehab Inc., for her powerful legacy in the green building world.

According to her nominator, “Jane not only pushed the envelope when it came to new construction, she also cared deeply for renovating to a high-efficiency standard and working with property management to establish a green spec for unit turnover and maintenance. Jane went further than providing a healthy living environment and educated residents on materials and equipment to get the most from these items. Jane spent her career building and maintaining affordable housing to the highest standards of design and sustainability.”

Experience our 2023 Green Building Showcase as a Digital Gallery

Thank you to our Amazing Judges!

Kjell Anderson

AIA, FAIA, LEED Fellow Principal

Director of Sustainable Design | LMN Architects

Julie Hendricks

LEED Fellow

Senior Sustainability Manager | JLL

Maria Perez

AIA, LEED Fellow, WELL AP, FwA

Sustainable Design Director | Regional Leader | Climate Action + Sustainability | Gensler

Kira Gould

Hon.AIA, LEED AP

Principal/Founder |
Kira Gould CONNECT

Kim Shinn

LEED AP BD+C

Senior Sustainability Wizard | TLC Engineering Solutions

Margaret Montgomery

LEED AP BD+C, AIA

Principal | Global Sustainability Leader | NBBJ

Monica L. Nakielski

ESG and Sustainability Advisor

Cedra Goldman

Licensed Architect

Managing Principal of The Manya Group |
Dr PH Candidate | Colorado School of Public Health

Clark Brockman

AIA, LEED Fellow

Principal Emeritus | SERA Architects

Pauline Souza

FAIA, LEED Fellow

Director of Sustainability and Lead of the K-12 Community Studio |
The WRNS Studio

Kavita Karmarkar

LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP

Sustainability Manager | Webcor Builders

Indu Chakravarthy

Senior Job Captain | Associate | RMW Architecture & Interiors

Thank you to our Event Sponsors!

Celebrating Two Years of Transformative Education

Oct 2, 2023 | Blog

We are pleased to announce that our 5th, 2-year, Workforce Training Fund General Program Grant was completed in July of 2023. DiMella Shaffer, Leers Weinzapfel Associates, and BR+A Consulting Engineers collectively trained over 200 individuals across topics of green building rating systems, sustainability technical skills, software tools, and leadership skills.

These firms filled over 750 seats in a curriculum of 50 courses over a collective 500+ instruction hours. Some of these courses ran more than once, and ultimately the 23 instructors involved in this grant led a total of 90 training sessions.

Through the General Grant program, our firm completed energy modeling and high-performance envelope training which allowed our staff to provide more expert consulting services on projects. This training program included newly hired staff and allowed us to expand our in-house energy analysis team by 36%. – BR+A Consulting Engineers

The consortium firms were able to celebrate many achievements at the end of their grant period. A handful of those are listed below:

• 36% growth in number of energy team members on staff
• 85% of projects completed high-performance envelope analysis
• 24% increase in revenue from existing clients and
• 27% increase in gross annual revenue
• 19% increase in the number of proposals converted into awarded contracts
• Overall employee understanding of sustainable design principles has deepened, allowing for more effective communication with specialty consultants

Over the course of the 2-year grant period we have been able to provide our staff access to educational courses to help further their careers and elevate the expertise which we put to use on projects. Our employees are now able to work more effectively to deliver and improve design outcomes for our existing and new clients. – DiMella Shaffer

During our grant period, Massachusetts and local municipalities have adopted significantly more stringent building energy codes. The knowledge and technical skills provided by the General Program grant have prepared our employees to meet this rising challenge. – Leers Weinzapfel Associates

We applaud DiMella Shaffer, Leers Weinzapfel Associates, and BR+A for their immense effort to provide their staff with skills and tools needed to excel on sustainable building projects over the past two years, and can’t wait to see the results of their hard work pay off on the projects they take part in going forward. BE+ would also like to thank all of the instructors we partnered with who provided hours upon hours of high quality, informative, and engaging training.

Built Environment Plus (BE+) manages grants through Commonwealth Corporation’s Workforce Training Fund General Grant Program to improve the continuing education opportunities available to building industry professionals. The General Grant Program provides firms the opportunity to take up to $200,000 worth of training over a two year period.

Participating in the General Grant Program is an effective way to provide valuable skills to your firm’s staff across all departments and experience levels. If you are interested in being considered for a future General Grant, reach out to BE+ to learn more!

Passive House Trainings Are Filling Fast!

Sep 8, 2023 | Blog

If the new MA Stretch Code released at the end of last year has sent you and others at your firm into a hurried frenzy to become trained on Passive House concepts or even become certified Passive House professionals, you’re not alone. Passive House courses are filling up faster than ever, and we’re here to help you achieve your Passive House training needs.

BE+ works with Phius, Passive House Network, and Passive House Massachusetts to offer relevant Passive House trainings to architects, engineers, contractors, and all building professionals (and we offer Express Program funding for Massachusetts attendees). Below is a list of our current and upcoming Passive House trainings. Registration has filled for some of these courses, but you can fill out our Training Interest Form to get on our outreach list when future sessions of these courses are scheduled.

We strongly encourage you to register for these courses on the BE+ website as early as possible to guarantee the best odds of securing your seat.

Certified Passive House Designer (PHI) Training registration closed
September 6th start date | $2,295

Passive House 201: Technical Aspects of Design & Construction
September 26th | $175

Phius Certified Builder (CPHB) Training
October 2nd start date | $1,550

Certified Passive House Consultant CPHC® Training (Phius) registration closed, course full
December 4th start date | $2,100

Phius Certified Rater Training registration coming soon
December 4th start date | $750

Certified Passive House Consultant CPHC® Training (Phius) registration coming soon
January 22nd start date | $2,100

Certified Passive House Consultant CPHC® Training (Phius) registration coming soon
March 4th start date | $2,100

Phius Certified Verifier Training registration coming soon
TBD | $750

Passive House 101: An Introduction to Passive Buildings registration coming soon
TBD | $175

These trainings are open to professionals both in and outside of Massachusetts, and there are a variety of incentives available to fund your training costs. If you work for a company with 100 or fewer Massachusetts employees, you can be reimbursed for training costs under the Workforce Training Fund Express Grant Program. NOTE: You must register through BE+ to be eligible for Express Grant Funding.

CPHC UPDATE: BE+ Certified Passive House Consultant CPHC® Training registration pages now align with Phius’ Phase II live session start dates. Please register as early as possible for the live session of your choosing, as the CPHC course has been filling extremely quickly recently. When BE+ closes registration for any CPHC courses on our website, this indicates that the live session is full.

Reach out to BE+ with additional questions about any of the trainings or the Express Grant Program!

Cracking the Massachusetts Energy Codes

Aug 29, 2023 | Blog

The following post was provided by DiMella Shaffer.

Introduction

Four heads are better than one.

On December 23rd, 2022, the clock started ticking for the architectural community when the DOER released a final version of the updated Massachusetts Stretch Code and the new Specialized Opt-in Code. Knowing that the changes would be significant, various taskforces were created by Alison Nash of Sasaki. A “Decision Tree” taskforce was established in January, and includes Sustainable Design Leaders, Gabrielle Aitcheson of ICON, Suni Dillard of HMFH, Lauren Gunther of DiMella Shaffer, and DiAnn Tufts of PCA.

The Sustainable Design Leaders is a national peer network group through BuildingGreen, which facilitates connections amongst the most passionate sustainability advocates. Given that each of our offices has expertise in various project types, we were able to bring different perspectives to the table. Over the course of five months, the group dissected the new energy code language, and each leader took on mapping the trees and branches of each compliance path, while also providing QAQC. Additionally, review comments were incorporated from the greater Architecture, Engineering, & Construction (AEC) community.

The result of our analysis is the creation of (2) decision trees and (8) decision tree branches.

MAIN DECISION TREE: New Construction

New Construction Branches:
» Small Residential, less than 12,000 SF
» Low-Rise Multifamily, greater than 12,000 SF
» Mid + High-Rise Commercial Multifamily
» Small Commercial, less than 20,000 SF
» Large Commercial, Low Ventilation
» Large Commercial, High Ventilation

MAIN DECISION TREE: Existing Construction

Existing Branches:
» Existing Low-Rise Residential
» Existing Commercial + Multifamily

Decision Trees + Branches

Changing systems need a roadmap.

Below is an outline of the overall concept, how to navigate the decision trees, and what to pay attention to.

Here’s what the decision trees do:

• Broadly show the difference between the Base Energy Code, Stretch Code, and the Specialized Opt-in Code.
• Act as a quick reference to identify key decisions and options for paths to compliance.
• Reference code sections related to each path.
• Provide “fun facts” to help guide the process.

Here’s what the decision trees do not do:

• Do not explain what is in each referenced code section.
• Do not provide every referenced code section.
• Do not provide definitions for all terms used through the paths.
• Do not include other codes or ordinances.
• Do not guarantee alignment with the Authorities Having Jurisdiction (code officials).

How the decision trees work:

• Start with the New Construction or Existing construction decision trees and answer the questions to determine which branch to follow.
• Use the branch to determine the appropriate path or path options for your project.
• The identified path is the starting point to communicate with all those involved in the project and confirm interpretation with code officials.

What to pay attention to:

• Know what Code is being used by the municipality; refer to map blog post.
• One “Use” and/or “Existing Building Scope” at a time.
• Cross reference with the “Municipal Fossil Fuel Free Building Demonstration Program” and other relevant ordinances.
• All optional pathways are indicated even if the pathway would not be typically used.
• Our focus is on understanding the intent of the code, not a specific interpretation.
• All buildings in MA Stretch Code communities, including buildings under 100,000 square feet, are required to follow the Stretch Code. This also includes existing • and low-rise residential buildings.
• The decision trees and branches are for educational purposes. *
• Updates will occur from time to time, but the link will remain the same. Note the version date in the file name and on individual pages.

Conclusion

We need to learn to crawl before we can walk.

We approached the decision trees and branches as foundational. The ability to provide graphically, easy to understand diagrams for design teams, clients, contractors, and code officials has been paramount for effectively communicating complex (and ground-breaking) energy codes.

Our goal is to continue outreach to the greater community. The “COTE: DOER Critical Stretch Code Series”, led by Alison Nash and Lara Pfadt provides incredibly insightful presentations from various experts in the field, and this past March, Suni Dillard and I presented the existing construction decision trees and branches to the BSA/Committee on the Environment (COTE) community.

Post contributors include Gabrielle Aitcheson of ICON, Suni Dillard of HMFH, Lauren Gunther of DiMella Shaffer, and DiAnn Tufts of PCA. Please reach out to any of us if you would like to learn more about the decision trees.

We aim for the community to spend less time understanding the changes, and more time applying the energy code. The information contained herein is for educational purposes only but does not guarantee accuracy of the information as it relates to State energy codes or other local and regional energy and sustainability requirements, or the interpretation and application of those requirements. Please consult official documentation from State and Local agencies as applicable. 

Major Updates to MA Workforce Training Fund Program

Aug 3, 2023 | Blog

Commonwealth Corporation Revises Express Grant and General Grant Programs

Since many of you in Massachusetts use Express Grant funding for your trainings, we wanted to let you know about recent changes to the MA Workforce Training Fund Program requirements. Due to continued increases in participation and in order to serve more clients, the Commonwealth Corporation has made the following adjustments to the Express Grant and General Grant programs, effective July 10, 2023:

1. The maximum amount of a General Program grant will decrease from $250,000 to $200,000 per two-year grant award. This is in addition to the re-implementation of the one-year waiting period between General Program grants.
2. The maximum amount of Express Program reimbursement that a business may receive for approved training courses will decrease from $30,000 to $20,000 per calendar year.
3. Employers with over 100 Massachusetts employees will no longer be eligible to receive Express Program grants and will be encouraged to submit General Program applications.
4. Employers may only participate in either the Express or General Program at one time.

Grant Applications received prior to July 10, 2023, will be included under the previous grant limits ($250,000 / $30,000).

Please note that BE+ public trainings are open to everyone, inside and outside of MA, with or without grant funding.

We welcome you to participate in our trainings and value your feedback. Please review our Training Priority List and fill out our Training Interest Form to let us know which courses you are interested in attending and also to provide feedback that would assist us in helping you meet your training needs.

Welcome Summer 2023 Interns!

Jul 13, 2023 | Blog

Join us in welcoming our Summer 2023 interns Haya Adleh, Alex Basulto, and Lila McNamee! We are so excited to have them on board for the summer to strengthen the BE+ community and advance our mission to drive the sustainable and regenerative design, construction, and operation of the built environment. They have already brought so much exciting interests, passions, and skills to the table, and we can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together.

Haya Adleh

My name is Haya Adleh and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to intern with BE+ and delve into the world of the green building industry! Currently, I am pursuing a dual BA/MA degree in Economics with a specific focus on development and sustainability. I had the privilege of studying International Relations abroad in Geneva, Switzerland, and recently completed another enriching study abroad experience in Madrid, Spain. My particular interest lies in the ongoing shift towards clean energy and sustainability, and I am passionate about making this transition accessible to all individuals. I eagerly look forward to expanding my understanding of how we can preserve our built environment and actively contribute to its educational initiatives.

Alex Basulto

Hello! My name is Alex and I am very excited to be participating in BE+’s targeted summer internship to learn more about the different ways in which we can adapt to be in a more sustainable and efficient built environment. I am currently a rising junior at Wentworth Institute of Technology studying in the Bachelor of Science for Architecture Program. Although the type of work that the BE+ team does is not directly correlated with what I am studying, it is a great opportunity to learn about the different ways in which companies and organizations are pushing to be in sustainable practices. After my internship with BE+, the knowledge that I will have obtained will be of great use for my design development and will aid me to think in a perspective that I did not use before. I am looking forward to contributing to the various projects and events that the BE+ team will do and I’m excited to see a different aspect of buildings that I have not yet studied while in college.

Lila McNamee

Hello! My name is Lila McNamee and I am so excited to be interning with BE+ this summer. Since graduating this spring from Clark University with a degree in economics and a concentration in ethics and public policy, I have begun pursuing my Master’s in Public Administration, also at Clark University. During my time with BE+, I will be assisting with marketing and outreach as well as our education initiatives. I am very interested in both areas of this community and am excited to learn more about the built environment and those who are working to make it sustainable!

Congratulations to BE+ 2023 Sustainability Scavenger Hunt Winners!

May 5, 2023 | Blog

You are AMAZING!

This year was such a special Scavenger Hunt year because of YOU. We were blown away by the impact you all made with the 2023 mission submissions. It was heartwarming to see the good you all did for your community. This ranged from park cleanups and clothing donations to food pantry volunteering and so much more!

Of the 37 participating teams, 10 teams completed all of the 14 daily missions, but three teams stood out above the rest with exemplary submissions.

Huge congratulations to the first place winner, Team Artemis, from Arrowstreet. Kate Bubriski, Kathleen Chainey, Andrea Brue, and Jillian Lydon, truly expressed themselves in each submission, and we enjoyed keeping up with them during this year’s hunt!

We had so much fun presenting the awards and prizes at the April 27th Earth Day Celebration at Cisco Brewers in Boston. We honored the top 3 teams, along with prizes for Top Submission, Top Individual, Community Impact, and more.

We would also like to highlight the amount of teams we had from all around. Thank you for joining us from Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Washington D.C., and even Dublin!

Here is the full list of winners:

Top Team: Artemis (Arrowstreet)

The winning team received $400, 4 BE+ event entries, 4 BE+ memberships, 4 tickets to a Red Sox game, 1 team building event from Let’s Roam, and 4 Cisco’s gift bags.

Second Place Team: 3 Lines of Work (Linnean Solutions)

The winning team received 4 BE+ memberships, 4 pairs of Sea Grass sunglasses from Zeal Optics, and 2 date night and 2 family pack events from Let’s Roam.

Third Place Team 1: AST Dreamers (Arrowstreet)

The winning team received 4 bundles of CleanCult products (including hand soap, dish soap, and laundry detergent dispensers with refills for each bottle) and 4 Klean Kanteen water bottles.

Third Place Team 2: Green Dream Team (enviENERGY)

The winning team received 4 Klean Kanteen water bottles, 4 Bootstrap Compost vouchers for 1 month of service, and 2 gift bags from the Ministry of Supply.

Top Submission: EMigrants (Elkus Manfredi)
for high quality and creative submissions

The winning team received 4 reusable digital cameras from Lumentation and vouchers to have the photos developed and scanned, and 4 Cotopaxi backpacks.

Top Individual: Emeline Gaujac, May the forest B with you (PCA)

for completing almost all of the community impact missions even in the pouring rain

The winner received a BE+ membership, a voucher for 2 free standard size box deliveries from Boston Organics, a voucher for 2 free meals and 1 free side from Chipotle, and Lil Bucks seasoning.

Crowd Favorite: IncoGREENo, Team FunGals (CMTA)

The winning team received 2 totes and 2 wallets from Nisolo, and Lil Bucks products.

Community Impact: Don’t Stop BeLEAFing (PCA)

The winning team received 4 $75 gift certificates to HiBAR, 4 annual memberships to Thrive Market, and Lil Bucks products.

Thank you to our Event Sponsors!

Thank you to our generous Prize Donors!

We had so much fun with this year’s Scavenger Hunt that we already know we’re doing it all over again next year! Stay tuned to the event page for details on our 4th annual Sustainability Scavenger Hunt as they unfold. If you’re interested in sponsoring or participating, reach out to eli@builtenvironmentplus.org.

HMFH Architects Implements Material Transparency Initiative at Bristol‐Plymouth

Apr 6, 2023 | Blog

The following post was provided by HMFH Architects.

In 2019 HMFH Architects signed on to the AIA Materials Pledge. Signing this pledge demonstrates our commitment to the ecosystem, human, climate, and social health along with equity and the circular economy when selecting products that go into the schools we design. Building on this commitment, HMFH is collaborating with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to develop a new standard for material transparency in K-12 public schools. Currently in design, the new Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School is serving as the pilot project for this program.

A healthy interior environment is foundational to a child’s education—by the time a student graduates high school, they will have spent more than 15,000 hours in a school, which is the second longest indoor exposure time after their home.¹ Therefore, it is essential that educational facilities provide the best possible environments to support student wellness, growth, and development. A key piece of this is understanding the impact of building materials on health and well being.

Drawing from over 50 years of experience designing K-12 public schools, HMFH is researching and vetting hundreds of materials to develop a baseline list of products that contribute to a healthy learning environment and are optimized for K-12 school architecture. The intent of this research is twofold: first, to provide a list of building materials to serve as a reference point for future projects, and second, to push manufacturers to disclose the chemical makeup of their materials and ultimately eliminate chemicals of concern in those products.

Based on the goal of identifying and specifying materials that fully disclose ingredient and manufacturing information, the Bristol-Plymouth team selected the Declare label standard and is prioritizing products that are free of LBC Red List chemicals. Declare is a certification for manufacturers to provide information on the chemical makeup of their products and compliance with standards such as the Living Building Challenge (LBC) Red List and LBC Watch List, which limit materials, chemicals, and elements harmful to human health and the environment.³

Focusing first on touch surfaces in K-12 schools—which encompass materials from furniture to door hardware—the Bristol-Plymouth team looked at commonly used products to confirm they do not contain harmful ingredients. The research showed many products do already meet the desired standard, but for those that do not, HMFH’s designers investigated non-toxic equivalent products that meet the same standards for function, durability, and accessibility. The materials and manufacturers vetted through this research are being used to develop a comprehensive list of touch surface materials that targets LBC Red List Free products (and Declared products where Red List Free is not feasible) for all HMFH projects moving forward.

The Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School will be a model for healthy schools in Massachusetts, establishing product standards for MSBA-funded schools. Our goal is to eliminate chemicals of concern from school building materials to ensure that all students across the State have access to healthy interior environments.

Decarbonizing Laboratory Design

Apr 5, 2023 | Blog

The following post was provided by Bala Consulting Engineers.

Energy intense labs present owners, developers, and designers alike with a unique challenge to balance functional lab design with new emissions reduction requirements and energy codes. Decarbonization of the building sector is being accelerated in New England by Boston’s BERDO 2.0 and new DOER Massachusetts Energy Codes which pose stringent building emissions limits and highly efficient energy standards. Now more than ever, converting offices to lab spaces requires new, more innovative, and future-focused design strategies.

Office to Lab Considerations and Challenges

Reducing operational carbon emissions in tandem with the conversion of an existing building into a lab requires a highly technical analysis as well as an understanding of laboratory and energy-efficient system options. Bala Consulting Engineers understands the challenges of office-to-lab conversions and has resolved a variety of them on a recent office-to-lab conversion at 51 Melcher, where we are integrating strategies to decarbonize this laboratory design.

51 Melcher Street Decarbonization Strategies and Solutions

51 Melcher is an office-to-lab conversion project located in Boston’s Fort Point District. The existing building totals 9-stories and approximately 100,000 SF, with approximately 60% being converted to lab space and 40% staying as office space.

To meet future BERDO 2.0 emissions standards and requirements from Boston’s Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), Bala’s engineering design utilized system reuse where possible and highly efficient all-electric systems. While working with the owner, architect, and CM, Bala came up with a flexible approach to support future lab requirements and meet emissions/energy targets while also reducing the need for seismic upgrades.

Efficient Design Solutions

In the early phases of design, a series of energy models were performed to analyze the existing façade. Improvements to the exterior wall thermal performance were identified, yielding a significant reduction in energy consumption. A more efficient, and tighter façade resulted in reduced heating and cooling loads.

Integrating energy recovery from laboratory exhaust air systems and fume hoods was another effective project approach. Building heating and cooling systems were downsized due to energy recovery systems reducing the peak heating and cooling demands.

Reuse and Integration of Existing Infrastructure

Bala analyzed existing building infrastructure – a natural gas-fired system – for potential reuse alongside integrating new all-electric systems. Midway through the project design, the BPDA expressed that the project needed to reduce its fossil fuel usage by 90%. To significantly reduce fossil fuel usage, our team pivoted to use primarily all-electric heating and cooling systems.

This system approach demonstrated an annual fossil fuel use of only 3% for 51 Melcher – used as a backup in case of extreme temperature swings. The reuse of some existing building infrastructure, including the existing cooling tower and associated condenser water pipework, also decreased the embodied carbon of the project. Reusing existing systems eliminates carbon that would have been produced from manufacturing, transporting, installing, maintaining new systems, and disposing of the old building materials.

All-Electric Design Solutions

Air Source heat pump (ASHP) technology is the prevailing system we are incorporating into the building design for heating and cooling. Our project team’s final design incorporated a combination of air-cooled and water-cooled heat pump equipment for the building’s heating, cooling, and domestic hot water. The ASHPs provide heating/cooling for the main AHUs.

BERDO 2.0 Analysis

To ensure future readiness for 51 Melcher, Bala conducted an analysis to compare four design scenarios against long-term BERDO 2.0 emissions limits. We provided an analysis for the following design options:

The ASHRAE 90.1-2013 baseline HVAC system
The original proposed design: reuse of existing fossil fuel system
A carbon-neutral design with the use of district steam.
This has been split into two emissions projections as district steam can have an
environmental impact if not produced from “clean” renewable energy sources.
An all-electric design

The first year of non-compliance with the BERDO 2.0 emissions limits has been circled for each of the design scenarios. The slope of these lines is dependent upon the grid decarbonizing over time and the proportion of electricity use versus natural gas or steam use.

Our analysis does not consider future potential upgrades, nor does it consider potentially more drastic grid decarbonization. It’s important to note that both of these factors will affect future compliance with BERDO emissions limits.

Developing a Future-focused and Adaptive Approach

To make decarbonization a reality, design teams should approach lab projects strategically. As seen with our 51 Melcher project, optimal strategies come from analyzing existing infrastructure and determining which systems can be reused and what needs to be supplemented to meet program requirements.

Bala is continuing to invest in internal research and development to identify forward-thinking, sustainable solutions. With holistic evaluation and planning among architects, owners, CMs, design professionals, and manufacturers, decarbonized laboratory design that delivers sustainability, cost- effectiveness, flexibility, scalability, and overall value is possible.

Boston Leads Way Towards Green Buildings For All

Mar 17, 2023 | Blog

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced on Thursday that Boston intends to adopt the state’s new specialized opt-in stretch energy code for new construction and major renovations. She also announced a new $10 million Large Building Green Energy Retrofits Program using American Rescue Plan funds to provide up to $50,000 per unit for deep energy retrofits for income-restricted affordable housing buildings with 15 or more units. These two big announcements demonstrate the city’s leadership greening both new buildings and existing buildings.

“Building a Green New Deal city means improving on our existing infrastructure as well as investing in future resilient development,” said Mayor Wu. “This new green building code will help ensure that we set the foundation for healthy, resilient growth throughout our neighborhoods.”

BE+ Executive Director Meredith Elbaum was invited to attend the press conference at the Brian Honan Apartments in Allston-Brighton, and Mayor Wu thanked Built Environment Plus, along with Passive House Massachusetts, the Sierra Club, and others who have advanced the decarbonization of Boston’s built environment.

“It was amazing to witness,” Elbaum said of her experience at the press conference. “Seeing Boston’s top leadership saying exactly what we’ve been saying for so many years, and seeing such meaningful action towards making healthy green buildings the standard for every resident in the city regardless of socio-economic status, it was kind of surreal.”

“To advance Boston’s Green New Deal, we are tackling building decarbonization from all different angles, using all of the tools at our disposal,” said Green New Deal Director Oliver Sellers-Garcia. “By both adapting existing buildings and setting new energy standards for new buildings, we are taking an all of government approach to reducing emissions in more buildings to ensure our climate’s health and our city’s quality of life.”

“The adoption of the state’s Specialized Stretch Energy Code is an important part of Boston’s work to decarbonize our buildings and reduce our carbon footprint,” said Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space.“ I’m grateful to be a part of a Green New Deal City where we prioritize affordable housing in our decarbonization work.”

Read the City’s press release here.

Read the City’s RFP for its Large Building Green Energy Retrofits Program here.