New Balance Headquarters Achieves LEED Platinum

By Molly Wilder

Massachusetts continues to excel in the green building industry!

Completed in September of last year, the new home of New Balance Headquarters (100 Guest St. in Allston-Brighton) recently achieved the honor of LEED Platinum.  Not only did New Balance obtain the necessary 80 points required for such status, but they also acquired all the additional regional priority and innovation points, as well as attained all possible credits within the Indoor Environmental Quality category, a feat met only by two other buildings in the world, in Italy and Thailand. See the full LEED scorecard here.

Our Sponsoring Partner, Elkus Manfredi Architects, led the design of the building. USGBCMA's Executive Director Grey Lee said, “We are proud of our sponsors as they continue to lead in the green building movement. Thank you for helping us to drive sustainable and regenerative design!”

NB Development Group is hoping to create a health and wellness neighborhood in the Boston Landing area, where they will continue these endeavors through constructing a new rink for the Bruins, a boutique hotel, retail and restaurant outlets, and a track and field complex, all following green building practices.  Jim Halliday, managing director of NB Development, drove this message home, in saying, “This designation is in keeping with not only the mission of New Balance, but also as the initial flagship project of Boston Landing, it highlights the spirit and energy we envision for this newly emerging district and ongoing commitment to our neighborhood.”

New Balance’s building secured LEED Platinum certification due to their excellence in the areas of energy efficient design, water use reduction, sustainable site selection and development, responsible materials selection and waste management, and enhanced indoor environmental quality.  Notable accomplishments of the headquarters are:

• 26% annual energy cost savings when compared to a code-compliant building.
• 35% reduction in water consumption of plumbing fixtures when compared to a code-compliant building.
• 76% waste diversion during construction
• 86% reduction in site runoff post-development when compared to pre-development.
• 28% of material used in construction derived from recycled content.
• 74% of material used in construction derived from a regional source.
• 100% of wood used in construction was Forest Stewardship Council certified.
• 30% higher ventilation rate when compared to a code-compliant building.

Upon receiving this prestige, the president and CEO Rob DeMartini said, “This certification exemplifies our strong commitment of responsible leadership to our company’s associates and consumers, our local community and the environment”.  With New Balance emerging as more than just a shoe company, becoming an emblem of cool, with famous athletes, musicians and other artists representing and wearing them, projects like their headquarters and the surrounding area will indelibly further LEED's and Green Buildings' importance and reality as a future for businesses, a new status quo.  The USGBC MA Chapter commends New Balance for their achievement. We look forward to seeing what they create next!

Images from BostInno