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 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

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

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 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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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.

“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.

Thank you to our Amazing Judges!

BE+ was pleased to award HMFH Architects the 2022 Green Building of the Year for their work on the renewal of Bristol County Agricultural High School (Bristol Aggie)’s campus at this year’s Green Building Showcase. 

According to the judges, Bristol Aggie “checked so many boxes for us… aggressive sustainability, a strong community connection, a focus on carbon reduction, a teaching tool …all on a limited, public-school budget. The project is also a very familiar project type, the renovation and expansion of an obsolete public school, which the team executed beautifully, serving as a fiscally responsible model for the community, state, and public-school project type.”

The renewal of Bristol Aggie’s campus reflects the school’s close ties to the natural environment and unique curriculum rooted in science and environmental education. Integrating sustainability with curricular goals, the campus is both a place of discovery and an instructional tool through its highly sustainable design. Building systems that reduce energy use, carbon emissions, waste, and water are purposefully exposed to view to offer immersive, hands-on learning experiences and to maximize educational impact.

Designing a multi-building campus for a complex technical program with a limited public-school budget, for the Bristol County Agricultural High School showcases achievable, replicable, and comprehensive sustainable design of public projects.  

At the heart of the campus, the heavy timber-framed Student Commons provides a space to work, eat, study, and socialize. Home to the dining area and media center, the Student Commons is a community asset hosting local environmental organizations in addition to being a hub for student activities.

The new Center for Science and the Environment (CSE) highlights the integral role of science and environmental research. Designed as an interactive learning center, the CSE houses a student-curated natural resource museum, specialized bio-secure labs, and flexible classrooms. The CSE is the first public school in Massachusetts with composting toilets that reduce annual water use by 68% from code baseline and helps educate students about water conservation. In addition, rainwater harvesting, vegetated green roofs, and exposed mechanical systems reinforce the idea of the building as a teaching tool.

The renovation and addition to the main academic building, Gilbert Hall, originally built in 1935, showcases the environmental benefits of reusing existing buildings. The design revitalizes the existing space to accommodate academic classrooms, administrative space, two gymnasiums and a one-of-a-kind indoor arborist climbing lab, while maintaining the original building’s character.

All new buildings on campus—the Center for Science and the Environment (CSE), Dairy Barn, Student Commons, and Landscape Arbor building—are designed to accommodate rooftop PV arrays to power 100% of the campus’ energy use. The design team performed radiance map studies of each building to determine the optimal PV placement and roof orientation.  

Appropriate access to daylighting and view to support the circadian rhythm of students and faculty and help maintain the psychological connection to nature.

Three out of four newly constructed buildings on campus utilize heavy timber as the primary structure, as it is significantly lower in embodied carbon compared to steel or concrete. Together, the three timber buildings save approximately 221 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. 

Water conservation strategies reduce campus water usage by 50% even while the campus expanded from 450 to 640 students.

Heavy timber structures are uncommon in public schools due to cost and code restrictions. The use of timber reflects the school’s natural setting and environmental educational mission. Together, the two heavy timber structures, Student Commons and net-zero ready Dairy Barn, sequester 75 metric tons of carbon. While the visibility of the structural components offers opportunities for student learning, reinforcing math- and science-based principles, and give the spaces their lofty, warm, and light-filled appearance. 

The renovation of Gilbert Hall demonstrates another strategy for the reduction of embodied carbon, building reuse. Programmatic needs and increasing costs often limit the reuse of public buildings. This building avoids 744 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions versus building a new structure and updates a significant piece of the school’s historical identity. 

Natural carbon sinks can be overlooked, and maintaining their integrity is an important, carbon savings strategy with broad environmental benefits. Beyond addressing operational carbon, the campus design also addresses waste and water systems, paying homage to its relationship to the Taunton River. Bristol Aggie is the first state-funded public school in Massachusetts with composting toilets, a key water conservation strategy that saves between 95-97% potable water. In addition, comprehensive composting of degradable waste, diverts an average of 90% of trash from landfills and not only avoids the generation of methane but becomes a resource to use on-site. 

Using these carbon reduction strategies and holistic approach is regenerative. They contribute to a clean watershed, reduce waste, and create a low-carbon campus, and are powerful lessons for generations of students demonstrating that sustainability and environmental stewardship can be realized.

As a county-based public career technical school, Bristol Aggie serves a diverse range of students from across the region and is a valuable resource to the local community. Early visioning engaged stakeholders in conversations about designing a campus that would best serve the students, educators, community, region, and the State. 

Bristol is designed to positively impact student well-being by fostering social interaction, strong connections to nature, and highly visible and interactive constructed interventions. The close ties between the school and the natural landscape are evident the moment you arrive on campus: amphitheater style outdoor seating, a grassy common for gathering and socializing, and rooftop academic spaces foster this connection and nurture students. 

Project board submitted by HMFH Architects. Click the image to see the PDF version.

Public school projects are a highly visible commitment from a community for future generations. This project not only educates the students and faculty that regularly attend Bristol Aggie, but the highly public nature of this specific school is a model that can educate visiting communities about sustainable practices and be a demonstration for feasible, and fiscally responsible strategies. 

Celebrating and showcasing inspiring success stories for a sustainable built environment.

Over 225 people gathered in the main atrium of Harvard University’s new Science & Engineering Complex to celebrate the impressive array of projects that have slowly but surely transformed the built environment and our relationship to it. The venue itself served as a fitting success story itself – winning last year’s Green Building of the Year Award, and securing LEED Platinum certification along with Living Building Challenge petal certifications for Materials, Equity, and for Beauty.

The annual awards program and celebration is an important marker of progress towards sustainable and regenerative design, construction, and operation of the built environment. The local green building community came together in full force. It was the largest showcase since the national Greenbuild conference was held in Boston in 2017. Attendees included architects, engineers, contractors, developers, owners, facility managers, building users, lenders, suppliers, and others who play a role in shaping the built environment. The Harvard SEC project team, led by Erik Hegre of Behnisch Architekten, coordinated building tours ahead of the reception.

For the second year running, local judges selected a Change Agent of the Year to recognize someone who has made a significant positive impact on the environment, social equity, and economy. The awards program included one new award for Sustainable Building Renovations, highlighting the importance of retrofitting existing buildings. Another new award category for Sustainable Interior Fit-outs did not receive any submissions, but we hope for many projects to submit for next year’s program.

The highly coveted Green Building of the Year Award went to HMFH Architects for their impressive Bristol County Agricultural High School.

GREEN BUILDING OF THE YEAR

Bristol County Agricultural High School
Submitted by HMFH Architects

The renewal of Bristol County Agricultural High School’s campus reflects the school’s close ties to the natural environment and unique curriculum rooted in science and environmental education. Integrating sustainability with curricular goals, the campus is both a place of discovery and an instructional tool through its highly sustainable design. Building systems that reduce energy use, carbon emissions, waste, and water are purposefully exposed to view to offer immersive, hands-on learning experiences and to maximize educational impact.

At the heart of the campus, the heavy timber-framed Student Commons provides a space to work, eat, study, and socialize. Home to the dining area and media center, the Student Commons is a community asset hosting local environmental organizations in addition to being a hub for student activities.

The new Center for Science and the Environment (CSE) highlights the integral role of science and environmental research. Designed as an interactive learning center, the CSE houses a student-curated natural resource museum, specialized bio-secure labs, and flexible classrooms. The CSE is the first public school in Massachusetts with composting toilets that reduce annual water use by 68% from code baseline and helps educate students about water conservation. In addition, rainwater harvesting, vegetated green roofs, and exposed mechanical systems reinforce the idea of the building as a teaching tool.

The renovation and addition to the main academic building, Gilbert Hall, originally built in 1935, showcases the environmental benefits of reusing existing buildings. The design revitalizes the existing space to accommodate academic classrooms, administrative space, two gymnasiums and a one-of-a-kind indoor arborist climbing lab, while maintaining the original building’s character.

A new Landscape Arbor Building, renovations of a small building for the Agricultural Mechanics program and the new net-zero ready, heavy timber Dairy Barn which features state-of-the-art robotic milking technology complete the campus expansion.

Here’s what the judges had to say: “The Bristol County Agricultural High School checked so many boxes for us… aggressive sustainability, a strong community connection, a focus on carbon reduction, a teaching tool …all on a limited, public-school budget. The project is also a very familiar project type, the renovation and expansion of an obsolete public school, which the team executed beautifully, serving as a fiscally responsible model for the community, state, and public-school project type.”

GREEN HOME OF THE YEAR

Preserving a Family Legacy
Submitted by Byggmeister Inc.

The owners of this 1930 home reached out to the designers with a long list of frustrations. Their kitchen was cramped, dark and isolated. The half-bath was tiny and lacked privacy. Insufficient insulation and old, inefficient systems made for hot summers, cold winters, and high utility bills.  While such frustrations are common for owners of older homes, the relationship these owners have with their house is anything but common. The husband’s grandfather was the home’s first owner, and his mother grew up there. He and his wife inherited the house and raised their children there. This family legacy imbued the project with special significance.  

The design team reoriented the kitchen towards the back yard, adding a full glass door and three windows that beckon onto a generous deck. They widened the opening between the kitchen and dining room, eliminating a pinch point and visually connecting the front and back of the house. They addressed the comfort complaints, inefficient systems, and high operating costs with a comprehensive package of insulation, air sealing and HVAC measures. They insulated the basement walls with 2” of closed cell spray foam; dense packed the wall cavities with cellulose; insulated the underside of the roof with 3” of closed cell spray foam followed by 7” of cellulose; reduced air leakage by 58%; and replaced the gas heating and hot water and window air conditioning with ducted heat pumps and a heat pump water heater. 

According to the judges, “The project demonstrates the value of preserving the embodied carbon of the home, which might have otherwise been demolished; yet accomplishes substantial energy savings and comfort improvements.  The project preserved the original character of this home as well as its neighborhood and was done affordably.  The judges were impressed with the practical approach that achieved such significant results.”

CARBON & ENERGY

Williams College Renovation of Fort Bradshaw
Submitted by Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker Architects, LLP

Fort Bradshaw (The Fort) a 1931 Tudor Revival building, neighboring The Clark Art Institute, today is home to 12 students in The Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art. The Fort, constructed with brick masonry walls, slate roof, crenellated parapets, copper oriel window, and four-centered Tudor arch entry, needed interior and exterior renovations. The building had no insulation, was difficult to heat, not fully accessible and had programmatic issues from being divided up piecemeal, over the years.

Williams College set a high bar for the renovation requiring LEEDv4 Gold, Living Building Challenge Petal Certification, eliminating on-site combustion energy and an aggressive site EUI of 30 kBTU/yr/sf, all while maintaining the historic features of the building that had become part of the program’s identity. Through reuse of an existing building and an addition designed to blend-in, a dedicated design-build team, supported by the college’s commitment to sustainability, was able to achieve these goals.

The completed renovation is 12,900 gsf, fully accessible with elevator, contains 14 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, community space for cooking, dining, socializing, and a space for film screening and lectures, bike storage inside and out, and a variety of exterior spaces that extend and connect to the interior. Landscaping is with native plants and grasses and no need for irrigation.

Critical to the success of the project, work included window replacement, insulation, blower door testing, geothermal well field, ground source heat pump, VRF heating and cooling, energy recovery ventilation, roof mounted solar thermal, drain water heat recovery as well as low-water usage fixtures and energy efficient lighting and control systems.

Extensive research and review ensured material selections were free from toxins that affect human health and our ecosystems and that the sources of these materials are close to the site, meeting both LEED and LBC requirements.

In the judges’ words, “Reuse and renovation of existing buildings is the critical next step to decarbonization of the built environment and this project accomplishes not just that goal, but also shows a replicable pathway. The judges were impressed with both embodied and operational carbon savings through use of several innovative technologies.”

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Smith College – Neilson Library
Submitted by Thornton Tomasetti

Creating a sustainable building was a critical objective for the new Neilson Library; one that reflects Smith College’s commitment to sustainability. As a result, the design team used a series of workshops and meetings with stakeholders to create a project sustainability charter that established metrics from the most stringent third-party green building rating systems such as LEED, WELL and Living Building Challenge. The team developed four sustainability priorities as part of the charter: 

The new Neilson Library will:

1. Be smaller than the old library, featuring collaborative space and reducing energy use and carbon emissions. 
2. Be one of the most energy efficient libraries with special collection spaces in North America.
3. Emphasize health and well-being of students, the community, and the environment.
4. Enhance the local ecology of Smith’s historic campus. 

The college committed to making the new Library as healthy as possible for the people using it. They decided to utilize the iconic nature of the building to advocate for positive change in the marketplace and encourage manufacturers to eliminate Red List chemicals, as defined by the International Living Future Institute. The project team used a targeted vetting approach to focus on visually prominent materials, interior finishes, furniture, and other materials that could influence market transformation efforts. This effort evaluated more than 100 manufacturers and 68 products from a healthier materials standpoint. The process and outcomes of this project are influencing other large institutions, and the healthier materials initiative is continuing to be implemented on Smith’s campus.  

In addition to healthier materials, the team prioritized low carbon materials. Thornton Tomasetti performed a whole building Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to study opportunities for reducing embodied carbon and engaged Smith College students on a capstone project focused on creating a campus Embodied Carbon Roadmap using findings from the Neilson Library. 

 The judges “appreciated Smith’s commitment to both eliminating materials with Red List chemicals in the Nielson Library and to publicly sharing the knowledge they gained in the process. The library is a beautiful, thoughtful project with aggressive sustainability goals that seem to have largely been met.”

EQUITY & INCLUSION

Frost Terrace
Submitted by Bruner/Cott Architects

Frost Terrace is a unique, transit-oriented, 100% affordable family community. By weaving together three historic houses, significant contemporary architecture, and a dynamic, human-centered landscape, the design transforms a forgotten residential site, along a commercial avenue, into high-quality multi-family affordable housing for 40 low- and middle-income families—including (13) three-bedroom, (13) two-bedroom, (13) one-bedroom, and one (1) studio unit(s). Frost Terrace creates critically needed, modern, and sustainable affordable housing. 

Frost Terrace’s approach to sustainable design aligns with the principles of affordable housing—lowering utility costs, conserving resources, prioritizing mobility (bikes and transit), and creating healthy living environments for residents. The LEED Gold-certified project includes re-used existing buildings and materials, wood structure and finishes, energy recovery ventilation, efficient electric-driven heat-pump systems, and highly insulated envelopes (new and upgraded).

Frost Terrace is an innovative project that transforms a forgotten residential site along a commercial avenue into high-density, affordable urban housing. The design combines new construction with the creative reuse of existing historic resources – reminding us of the past while connecting to the present and future of Cambridge – and leverages the urban, transit-friendly site to create a place that favors people over parking.

According to the judges, “this project provides opportunities for affordable, intergenerational living in infill environments. The engagement with the community through design, and the community created by the development, are both exemplary.”

SITE & LANDSCAPE

Colby College Harold Alfond Athletics & Recreation Center
Submitted by Thornton Tomasetti

As one of the leading sustainable institutions in the country—and one of seven to achieve carbon neutrality— Colby College considers sustainability to be a key factor of every building and site design for its campus. The new 350,000-square-foot Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center (HAARC) is the most advanced and comprehensive NCAA D-III facility in the country, and it achieved LEED Platinum and SITES Gold certification. The facility includes an indoor track-and-field competition center, aquatic center, squash center, gymnasium, hockey arena, fitness center and studios, as well as training rooms and coaching suites. In addition, three new relocated fields are available for use by the community as well as the college.

Sustainable Building Features include: 

• Energy savings: 52.19% reduction with PV, 42.05% without PV. 
• 19.84% of total energy costs offset through on-campus generated renewable energy. 
• 100% of the total building energy consumption offset by RECs and carbon offsets 
• 50% reduction in indoor potable water use  
• 95.53% of construction waste diverted from the landfill. 
• Biophilic design strategies improve indoor space quality and connect people with the natural environment. 
• Whole Building LCA was performed to reduce embodied carbon in the project.    
• Envelope and monitoring-based commissioning was performed on the project   
• Advanced submetering to monitor usage water and energy usage over time and track on-going performance.

Timber from the existing athletic center was salvaged and repurposed to clad the support building adjacent to the fields and provide custom benches across the site, and all topsoil removed from the building site was saved, amended, and reused on-site to provide better drainage, plant growth and drought-resilience. Boulders were found during excavation and integrated into the site landscape and the central courtyard in the building.

The judges commented, “We celebrate this project for both its design aspirations as well as the reality of its implementation and operations. The site and landscape are a living organism and this project has the infrastructure to support an on-going, durable landscape.”

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING OPERATIONS

Circling Back After Getting the Plaque
Submitted by The Green Engineer, Inc.

The Green Engineer gathered operating performance metrics and conducted interviews with town staff for 21 public schools and libraries in Massachusetts that received LEED (15 total) or CHPS (6 total) certification. Energy use was the primary focus in this study of “high performing buildings” but other feedback was requested as well, such as on water use, occupant well-being, commissioning effectiveness, problems encountered, and lessons learned.

The actual site EUI, the total amount of energy consumed in one year, was calculated for each building and compared to the predicted EUI from energy models. We found that the total amount of energy consumed each year is typically higher than predicted by models. Energy models underpredict EUI by 15 kBtu/SF on average. Looking at schools only, we found that energy models underpredict EUI by 17 kBtu/SF.

The design water use estimates showed water use savings ranging from 26% to 38% for the 11 schools and libraries in our study with water data. However, when comparing actual use to design estimates, 6 out of 11 projects experienced more water use than predicted.

Many of the problems faced and lessons learned during the initial years of a school or library’s operation were shared by the Interviewees and summarized in the report. One common theme was that High Performing schools and libraries are complex buildings whose operators need to be properly trained and adequately supported to take full advantage of the efficiencies in their buildings’ design. Issues varied, however complicated air conditioning systems and schools occupied year-round were often noted as explanations of high energy use. Many of the insights and lessons learned after occupancy are best practices in the industry, however this pilot study highlights and documents some of the problems encountered by those who are charged with operating public schools or overseeing public libraries.

The judges said “building performance is the proof case for sustainability.  This team demonstrated transparency, collaborative leadership, and accountability by circling back to past projects to measure and share ongoing performance data.”

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING RENOVATION

808 Memorial Drive
Submitted by Bruner/Cott Architects

The project at 808 Memorial Drive is an occupied renovation of two 1970s-era apartment buildings along the Charles River. 808-812 Memorial Drive houses 300 mixed-income apartments of varying sizes, approximately 38,000 square feet of commercial space, and five levels of parking. The project aims to improve residents’ comfort and security, while also strengthening their sense of community and identity. Exterior renovations include the installation of new, high-performance cladding and window systems that refresh the appearance of the building, support efficient mechanical system upgrades, and significantly reduce residents’ cost of living. The project also reworks the landscape and community courtyard space to improve lighting, circulation, and accessibility.

To avoid displacing families and individuals, the two buildings have remained fully occupied during construction and installation of their overcladding systems. This critical goal refined the approach to design, installation, and phasing for the 450,000 square feet of exterior surface. The team developed a panelized skin that could be assembled off site and lifted into place. Once installed, the existing windows are removed and sealed to the new windows as a last step of assembly. 

Fair Housing Act guidelines and requirements for material specifications on projects that receive public funding presented an unprecedented challenge for the design team. Research and development in healthy material and product alternatives directly inform the interior design of 808 Memorial Drive, which is uniquely positioned to advocate for formal healthy building materials criteria on future publicly funded affordable housing projects.

According to the judges, “the project caught the jury’s eyes for its replicability, every city has brutalist apartment buildings that would benefit from a face lift. Renovating while the mixed income residents occupied the building took careful consideration to avoid disrupting occupants, and the resultant energy and water savings are compelling. This project gives us hope that refreshing existing buildings can breathe new life into our communities.”

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION INNOVATION

Mass Timber for Mass Workers: The C. Gerald Lucey Building
Submitted by Jones Architecture, Inc.

The C. Gerald Lucey Building for the Massachusetts’s Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is a modestly sized building that takes on an outsize role, blazing an important new path to sustainability for the Commonwealth.  Envisioned as prototype for the design of future State office buildings, it has set a new standard by being the most sustainable building in the State’s inventory. In addition to the high bar raised for sustainability, its forward-thinking design for the workplace provides a comfortable and flexible environment for its hard-working occupants. The building, its programs and the energy of its presence, are also helping to revitalize a struggling historic core and revive what was once a vibrant area of Brockton. As the first State project of this scale constructed with cross laminated timber (CLT) and glulam and a column structural system, the success of this building, and its ability to be replicated, establish a benchmark for the future.

Here is what the judges had to say: “Realizing mass timber is not easy on a budget! By utilizing an advanced bid package to work within the Massachusetts procurement requirements a thoughtfully integrated design and construction process resulted in holistic sustainability. The jury recognizes that the project will have a far reach as a visible ambassador for mass timber and more for its occupants.”

STUDENT PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Eco Homes Highland Park
Submitted by Northeastern University Solar Decathlon: Aasav Harania, Kamran Zahedi, Theodore Walinskas

Eco Homes Highland Park is a proposal for an affordable homeownership development as part of a recent RFP submission for Packages 3 & 5 of the Highland/Marcella E+ Sites released by The City of Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Housing. The proposal calls for 18 Units of housing, all Home Ownership & Income Restricted. The design is inspired by a triple decker and bow front, and looks to restore Highland Park’s Urban Landscape of the early 20th Century using this brownfield development.

 The project structure creates a model that brings educational and environmental stewardship to the development process. In terms of technological innovation, using the power of home automation & passive house design strategies, the Project Team can successfully achieve ‘energy-positive’ even under high occupancy and dense living. This is supported by energy modeling early in the design process, as well as collaboration with Northeastern Labs & Faculty.

The engineering theory within the project is that many sustainable design techniques in housing have already been created, and the next step is to efficiently converge these designs into a development that can meet performance measures such as energy-positive, yet remaining affordable to local residents in historically disadvantaged communities, where sustainable housing may otherwise price them out. 

 The judges commented “the collaboration in this project brings the community together on a topic that concerns everyone around affordability and inclusion in new housing development. This project could serve as a model not only for cities that struggle with housing affordability and choice issues, but also for cities that deal with historic segregation. This model gives the community an opportunity to voice their opinions and co-create.”

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

10 Fan Pier / MassMutual
Submitted by Elkus Manfredi Architects

MassMutual at 10 Fan Pier Boulevard is an expansion of the company’s presence in Boston that honors their long history with a landmark destination and a contemporary, inspiring work environment. Applying the same empathy and respect for its employees that it does for its policyholders, MassMutual aspired to create a flexible, responsive workspace able to adapt to employee needs. Designed to house 1,200 staff members, the 17-story building offers ground-floor restaurant and retail, and an outdoor public plaza along the Harborwalk.

With a biophilic rounded exterior and tiered setbacks, the building establishes a uniquely elegant presence on Fan Pier—the distinctive exterior incorporates folded stainless steel panels in a pattern of contrasting angles, accentuating the building’s curvature as reflections shift throughout the day. Inspired by cresting waves, the curved, undulating façade has two large terraces carved out of the massing, allowing all employees access to the waterfront views.

While a glass curtain wall was desirable by the owner and tenant, they recognized the importance of energy efficiency and collaborated with the design team and energy modeler in a vigorous, iterative process to maximize the envelope performance and drive energy savings up, resulting in meeting the 2019 AIA 2030 carbon reduction target. Health and wellness was also a high priority for MassMutual. The office space features gender neutral restrooms, yoga rooms, an open communicating stair as well as consideration for indoor environmental quality which is maintained by monitoring CO2 levels, providing increased outside air rates for ventilation, selecting low-VOC materials, and incorporating biophilic elements. The building as a whole is similarly responsive–high-performance, low-emissivity glazing contributes to the highly efficient exterior envelope that, when coupled with high-performance mechanical systems, creates a building designed to LEED Platinum standards.

CHANGE AGENT OF THE YEAR

Katherine Walsh
Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Program Director for Boston Public Schools

Congratulations to Katherine Walsh, Sustainability, Energy, & Environment Program Director of Boston Public Schools for such important work supporting future generations.

Her nomination raved “Katherine’s innovation and leadership even extends beyond the walls of our buildings. She leveraged the pandemic to re-emphasize the timely importance of access to nature for all students, and the benefits of outdoor classrooms, particularly in urban school districts. This past year, she was able to hire the district’s first Outdoor Teaching and Learning Coordinator, who will work to design outdoor classrooms, accessible gardens, green stormwater infrastructure, and curriculum for our district.”

The judges were particularly impressed with such measurable outcomes, her deep commitment to equity and inclusion in all of her work, and the innovative, replicable, and collaborative approaches she takes, sharing her learnings beyond BPS to practitioners across the country.

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