High-Profile: Annual Green Supplement 2021-2022

December 2021

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The Harvey Wins Green Home of the Year

Green Supplement 2021-2022

The Harvey won Green Home of the Year at this year’s Green Building Showcase awards held by BE+. / Robert Benson Photography/ Full story page 8

FEATURING:

Awards / page 8

Awards / page 14

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December 2021

Publisher’s Message

Anastasia Barnes It’s been over a decade since we first began publishing our Annual Green Supplement.

Back then, my father, Michael Barnes, was still High-Profile’s publisher. I have always been proud of this supplement, where we feature the companies that are providing solutions to the biggest, and most important, challenges we face as humans.

Seventeen months ago, I became the official owner of High-Profile. When I decided to buy the company from my dad, I knew I wanted to continue growing the Green Supplement, in addition to sharing in every issue the project teams that are making a positive impact on our world by prioritizing green and sustainable building practices. This year’s supplement reflects the attitude that is consistent all across our industry and throughout New England: Every project, no matter how big or small, should contribute in a positive

way to the surrounding community, and should be executed with thoughtful consideration for the environment and for future generations.

The last year and a half have not been easy. We’ve all been given a chance to, at times, slow down and look at the world around us with care and reflection.

Out of this time have come innovative and groundbreaking projects that are redefining the transformative impact our built environment can have on our health and wellness, and in combating climate change. In the face of adversity, professionals from every corner of our industry have doubled down on the effort to reverse the damage we, as humans, have inflicted on our planet, and developed ways to protect our coastlines, utilize more sustainable building materials, and educate and motivate others to do the same.

A piece from Weston & Sampson on page 10 talks about how a community in Charleston, S.C. is using a "managed retreat” approach when dealing with stormwater flooding. The idea is to revert "developed land back into pervious areas that can infiltrate water while also increasing basin storage capacity." The authors point out that “here in New

England, many communities are also taking a similar proactive approach by planning for the impacts of climate change ahead of time.”

An article by architect John Moore on page 13 highlights The Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), a company that is committed to developing sustainably and responsibly. Read how its recent installation of solar hot water systems on five different properties in Massachusetts will reduce the portfolio’s total gas usage by over 14,500 therms per year. That's a lot of therms!

I am a member of the Urban Land Institute's Boston/New England chapter. I recently joined the Resilience Committee to meet other like-minded folks. When I joined, I knew I wouldn't be able to bring solutions to the table in the same way an engineer or scientist would. Instead, I offer my platform. As HP’s publisher, I commit to continue publishing the stories highlighting the teams, organizations, and leaders that, through action, are making our cities and communities stronger and more resilient.

Promote your sustainable building products Share your knowledge on resilient cities Feature your green buildings Every issue of High-Profile has a special section devoted to GREEN. To learn how you can be featured in HP’s GREEN section, email us at editor@high-profile.com.

Waterfront Parks are Critical Resilient Infrastructure against Climate Change

by Cassie Bethoney As the impacts of climate change-driven sea level rise and intensifying storms become more apparent and more severe, the first lines of defense in many coastal areas are waterfront parks, open spaces, and other recreation areas. Such is the case with city-owned Prescott Park, a 10-acre park located in the heart of downtown historic Portsmouth, N.H., with over 1,150 linear feet of Piscataqua River waterfront.

The park hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually for regular daily use, a seasonal performing arts festival, and public forum events.

As the low point in the neighborhood, Prescott Park and its immediate neighbors are prone to flooding. Being within or near many of the city’s historic resources such as Strawbery Banke Museum, the city’s oldest neighborhood, and historic maritime structures, having a comprehensive resiliency strategy is critically important to the park’s proposed improvements.

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The proposed resiliency approach at Prescott Park will protect the park along its seawall edge, retreat critical infrastructure, and accommodate for flooding during peak storm events.

As such, it is one of the city’s prime candidates for implementing a series of strategies that together will mitigate the impact of sea level rise and flooding from an increasing number of intense rainfall events for the entire neighborhood.

In 2017, the adoption of the Prescott Park Master Plan launched an “Implementation Strategy” effort in which Weston & Sampson analyzed the current and future flood risks at Prescott Park and evaluated mitigation strategies to minimize the threat of increased stormwater runoff, storm surges, and sea level rise.

We evaluated several climate scenarios for Prescott Park and the immediate area under baseline (2000-2020), mid-century (2040-2060), and late-century (20802100) climate conditions.

Under baseline climate conditions, we found that most flooding currently occurs upgradient of Prescott Park, with only minor flooding within the park itself thanks to the park’s dry wells. Hydraulic modeling showed that this trend remains true through mid-century, but that in late-century climate conditions, flooding patterns and depths are expected to change

significantly as sea levels rise and more severe storm surge events happen more frequently. Under those future conditions, many of the smaller outfalls and drain systems in the park begin to surcharge from their associated manholes and catch basins, flooding the park and surrounding neighborhoods.

With the goal of reducing such flooding overall, Weston & Sampson’s proposed resiliency approach is threefold: 1. Protect the park along its seawall edge (Install tide gates and raise the sea wall.); 2. Retreat critical infrastructure (Raise and shift historically and culturally significant buildings to a higher elevation.); and 3. Accommodate for flooding (Regrade the central lawn to hold 300,000 gallons of stored water during peak storm events, with increased storm drain sizes.).

These proposed improvements would be expected to make an immediate and long-lasting impact on area flooding. For example, under the proposed 2090 climate scenario, this series of interventions together would be projected to reduce uncontrolled flooding within the park itself by 97% and reduce flooding in nearby streets and neighborhoods by 39%. continued to page 13

December 2021

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December 2021

Build Better Podcast

Transforming a Historical Landmark into a Resource for the Community seeking all commercial tenants for the development. “We wanted to find tenants that believed in our mission of creating jobs for the community, and that would hire locally,” explains McKenna.

Jewhurst says the goal was to try not

by Emily Langner On season 2, episode 10 of the Build Better podcast, HP’s publisher, Anastasia Barnes, welcomed Jason Jewhurst, partner and principal at Bruner/Cott Architects, and Patrick McKenna, senior project manager at national nonprofit Community Solutions, to talk about the adaptive reuse conversion of the former Swift Gold Leaf Factory in Hartford, Conn.

Jewhurst and McKenna shared how they reimagined the factory, turning it into a venue generating opportunities for job creation and training, educating youth, improving resident health, and spurring

Swift Factory office space / Photo by Robert Benson

Jason Jewhurst

economic growth, and how it can serve as an example for future preservation projects.

In 2010, Community Solutions began the process of transforming the former factory into a resource for the community.

After meeting with community members, the priority became finding a way to bring jobs and economic development to the neighborhood. With previous experience

in adaptive reuse and a passion for sustainability, Bruner/Cott was hired for the project in 2016 and, alongside Community Solutions, began finalizing the design. Consigli Construction was also brought on as the construction manager. After eight years of fundraising and community engagement, construction finally began on the 80,000 sq. ft., $35 million project.

Staying true to the wishes of the community, the team moved forward in

Patrick McKenna

to remove too much of the history of the building but to elevate and highlight the architecture that already existed. “The first time we went on site I remember walking through it; there were holes in the roofs, there was water everywhere, half the windows were broken or removed.

It’s hard to see the vision sometimes in those early stages, but I think with Community Solutions, thinking through continued to page 13

Proud lender to The Swift Factory redevelopment project.

10 Malcolm X Boulevard, Boston, MA, 02119 617-427-8600 | bluehubcapital.org

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National Forest Products Week: Celebrating Mass Timber

by Hardy Wentzel National Forest Products Week is celebrated during the third week of October each year as a time to recognize the many products that come from our forests, the people who work in and manage forests, and the businesses that produce these products. As the leading North American manufacturer of innovative mass timber solutions for the construction and industrial markets, we at Structurlam are excited to have another opportunity to celebrate and honor our forests.

Although mass timber has been used for over 25 years in Europe, the North American market is only now earning itself a well-deserved spotlight in the continent’s mainstream construction industry, offering a more sustainable way to build without compromising on quality or struc-

“

Photos courtesy of Structurlam

tural design. In fact, we’ve been partnering with leaders in green building for the past 11 years on projects including Microsoft, Google and Walmart, plus many others, all constructed using mass timber.

So, what is mass timber? Mass timber is made from wood, using state-of-the-art technology to glue sustainably-grown wood products together in layers. The results are large structural panels, columns, beams and purlins. Mass timber products create strong, structural loadbearing building materials that can often be exposed to reveal their natural beauty.

This new way of using wood has put the material back in the spotlight following decades of the construction industry primarily using concrete and steel. Mass timber encompasses a variety of products, including cross-laminated timber panels, a multi-layer, cross-directional engineered

“

All individuals should acquire knowledge within the Sustainability Programs (LEED, PHIUS, etc.) to be able to confidently communicate with Owners and the Design Team as more projects are requiring certification compliance as the construction industry is evolving.

wood product, and glulam, a glued laminated timber that forms stress-rated beams and columns bonded together with waterproof adhesives.

At Structurlam, we are committed to the goals of sustainable development and promoting responsible resource management and use, as demonstrated by our sustainable forestry policy.

This policy promotes the principles of sustainable forestry and development and allows us to source all of our lumber from sustainably managed forests, allowing our mass timber products to actually be carbon negative. This leads to climate smart construction.

Between the energy they consume in operation and in their construction, buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of the world’s emissions, according to the International Energy Agency. Replacing steel alone

with mass timber could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 15-20%. By some estimates, the near-term use of mass timber could have the same emissions control effect as taking more than two million cars off the road in one year.

The benefits of mass timber include: • It allows buildings to be constructed roughly 25% faster than concrete buildings, as most of the labor and fabrication is completed at manufacturing facilities rather than on-site as with other construction projects. They can be shipped to the site, and this saves on time and labor costs.

• It performs well in fire because it is made of large, solid, masses of wood, which are difficult to ignite. In the case of fire, mass timber products tend to char in a way that effectively self-extinguishes and shields the interior of the structural component.

As with all building materials, mass timber products must pass all testing to meet fire safety codes, and mass timber performs extremely well in testing.

• It reduces emissions. The built environment generates nearly 40% of annual global CO2 emissions.

Join us in celebrating National Forest Products Week this month and stay tuned for updates on new mass timber projects this fall.

Hardy Wentzel is CEO of Structurlam.

ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS CONSTRUCTION ACROSS ALL MARKETS

- Edison Ortiz, Assistant Project Manager | PHIUS Certified Builder

Nearly one third of the nation’s waste comes from the construction and demolition industry. Dimeo

Construction Company continues it’s commitment to

environmentally conscious construction. From sourcing local materials and producing minimal construction

waste to implementing highly efficient mechanical and electrical mechanisms, Dimeo is engaged in finding

green solutions. As an organization we are dedicated to

growing our knowledge so we can offer top level results.

We are invested in the future and the future is green.

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December 2021

Glamour and Grit: Two Paths to the Same Place

by Marc Perras and Michael Palleschi On the face of it, the two projects couldn’t be more different: one brand new office building integrating state-of-the-art sustainable design and technology from stem to stern, cross-laminated timber (CLT) construction, PV power, chilled beam HVAC, generous day-lighting and outdoor exposure in the middle of a historic block in downtown Brockton; the other, a 65-year-old elementary school on a corner block in Dorchester in need of replacing original steel and singlepane windows, and updating vintage mechanical systems that improve comfort and efficiency.

Look closer and you’ll see three commonalities: Both seek to create comfortable, inspiring places that contribute to the health and well-being of inhabitants and their neighborhoods; both showcase how 21st century methods and systems can jack up energy performance and operational efficiencies; and both need to endure well into the future.

Energy modeling revealed insights regarding envelope design, daylighting, and chilled beams for the Department of Unemployment Assistance office building in Brockton.

Jones Architecture and BVH teamed up for the projects: The Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) and

The Henderson Inclusion School. Though budgets and scopes varied widely, we collaborated closely to reach their goals with a shared understanding of fixed state budgets and delivery systems, stakeholder and community desires, and city and state energy mandates. This informed tightly integrated design and engineering solutions yielding buildings set for the long haul.

The DUA project involved relocating the office to a site between two buildings at a focal point for anyone driving into town. The 3-story structure houses modern, flexible workspaces for the DUA’s 150 staff on the top two floors.

An outpost for Massasoit Community College focused on workforce training is housed on the ground level.

Energy modeling revealed insights regarding envelope design, daylighting, and chilled beams for the Department of Unemployment Assistance office building in Brockton.

The building uses a CLT and glulam beam and column structural system – a strong, safe, beautiful and low-carbon alternative (or complement) to concrete and steel. Energy modeling

by BVH revealed opportunities to cut energy use by over 40% compared to a typical building, beating the new Mass

The configuration and colors of the new window system at Henderson Inclusion School pay respect to the original design.

LEED+ guidelines by 15%. Painstaking coordination between Jones, BVH and Bond ensured the utilities did not intrude on the open concept, which features floor-to-ceiling windows, wood walls and exposed timber-framed ceilings.

Built in 1957 as a neighborhood elementary school in Dorchester, The Henderson Inclusion School now integrates students with disabilities into general classrooms. Teachers and support staff collaborate to help all children learn and succeed at high levels; after-school programs provide support to younger children. The school’s aged infrastructure was increasingly problematic with uncomfortably cold or warm classrooms, depending on the time of year.

Jones and BVH replaced its windows with a new double pane system that includes adjustable lights and external sunshades to reduce heat gain. After meeting with stakeholders, it became clear that upgrading the heating and implementing cooling systems would also have a big impact on improving comfort for teachers and students, and make the

building available for year-round use. The team recommended cooling the building with roof mounted condensers. The new window and automated mechanical systems with integrated building controls achieve the City of Boston’s new energy goals, meeting the standard for energy efficiency initiatives and exceeding them whenever possible.

This is how we meet what might seem like an impossible goal: all net-zero buildings by 2050. One building at a time, both glamorous and every day. Retrofits may seem mundane; they are anything but. They are imperative and potentially transformative. As for the exciting new buildings: We have the technology, we just have to use it. Whatever the project, the more we can collaborate and draw on each other’s best expertise and ideas, the better buildings we create, and the better off we all will be.

Marc Perras, AIA is an associate principal at Jones Architecture, and Michael Palleschi is an associate principal and senior project manager at BVH, a Salas O’Brien Company.

ULI and Ferguson Partners Team Up for Sustainability Outlook Washington – The Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Greenprint Center for Building Performance has announced a three-year exclusive partnership with Ferguson Partners, a global boutique talent management company, to jointly collaborate on the annual ULI Global Sustainability Outlook, which is published each January.

The publication reports on the key environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues that impact strategic decision-making each year.

“There is an urgent need for the real estate industry to take a more sustainable approach to development and operations,” says Marta Schantz, senior vice president of the ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance. “Our ULI Global Sustainability Outlook has been an essential resource for companies that are looking to understand the impact

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Marta Schantz

Linda Isaacson

of sustainability on real estate in the coming year, and we are therefore thrilled that Ferguson Partners has joined with

us to widen the positive impact that our publication can have.”

Ferguson Partners’ managing director

and global head of innovation and technology, Linda Isaacson, who is also a ULI global governing trustee and sits on the ULI Americas Executive Committee, says, “Our firm’s focus on innovation, digital transformation, disruptive technologies, and other trends impacting the built environment will be invaluable to ULI’s critical research that will ultimately help real estate organizations with their sustainability journey and mandates.”

The next ULI Global Sustainability Outlook is expected to include interviews with members of the ULI Americas Sustainable Development Council, ULI Europe Sustainability Council and ULI Asia Pacific Resilient Cities Council. The full report will be published in early 2022 and a launch webinar will take place on Jan. 12, 2022.

Annual Green Supplement

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New Haven Church Makes Energy Efficiency Upgrades New Haven, CT – St. John’s Episcopal Church, a grand Victorian building in the heart of the East Rock neighborhood of New Haven, recently completed two phases of energy efficiency improvements, made possible with support from AVANGRID’s United Illuminating (UI) and Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG), Energize Connecticut incentives and assistance from CMC Energy Services of Wallingford.

Of the project costs, 80% were covered through the Small Business Energy Advantage Program, with financial assistance and additional COVID incentives provided through UI and SCG. Energy efficiency updates are estimated to save St. John’s more than $4,600 on its annual gas and electric bills while providing a more comfortable environment for members.

“We would never have been able to do these projects without financial assistance through our utilities; this church doesn’t

Common area lighting

permitting

New HVAC system

St. John’s Epsicopal Church / Photos courtesy of United Illuminating

have the money but recognizes the importance of keeping our old building from disrepair,” said Reverend Charles Hoffman. “Our costs for the improvements were financed by the program and will essentially be paid back over a four-year period through the estimated energy savings we are achieving.”

The church, which has inhabited the building since 1895, replaced its old water heaters with more technically efficient heat pumps. Areas of the church

assessments

design

that were previously warmed by space heaters now have heat pumps to provide heating and cooling year round. Other improvements included interior lighting, occupancy sensors, basement insulation and a new furnace and boiler. The project cost $97,189 with $77,751 covered

by Small Business Energy Advantage incentives. Assistance from CMC Energy Services was also pivotal to solidify and execute the energy savings plan and manage the entire installation.

restoration

surveys

St. John’s also approved a second project to upgrade remaining HVAC systems, including installation of a new high efficiency gas boiler and furnace.

The cost of the second phase was estimated at $32,000 with 80% covered through the UI/SCG assistance program.

The improvements have given St. John’s Episcopal Church the ability to be much more of a community hub and open its doors for use by outside organizations.

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December 2021

BE+ Holds Green Building Showcase Boston – The annual Green Building Showcase celebration and awards program, hosted by Built Environment Plus (BE+), was held on Oct. 21 and highlighted the leading projects advancing the sustainability of the built environment across Massachusetts.

Over 125 attendees gathered at the newly revitalized Charles River Speedway for the first in-person awards ceremony hosted by BE+ since the Covid-19 pandemic began. A total of 13 awards were given to projects ranging from a rooftop farm at Boston Medical Center to Harvard’s Science and Engineering Complex, as well as to change agents in the field. The 14 judges were all from outside New England in an attempt to decrease bias.

“Massachusetts is leading the country in designing, building and operating a built environment that truly meets Site & Landscape Award

Ora Seaport

Green Home of the Year

The Harvey / Robert Benson Photography

the triple bottom line of sustainability: environment, economy, and equity,” said Meredith Elbaum, BE+ executive director, “so when we celebrate the best here, we’re celebrating the best of the best.”

2021 Green Building Showcase Winners: • Green Building of the Year: Harvard University Science and Engineering Complex, submitted by Behnisch Architekten and Harvard University

• Green Home of the Year: The Harvey, submitted by CBT • Student Project of the Year: Resilient Hub, submitted by Team Harvard GSD • Carbon & Energy Award: Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center, submitted

by Payette

• Equity & Inclusion Award: The Swift Factory, submitted by Bruner/Cott Architects • Health & Wellness Award A: Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center, submitted by Bruner/Cott Architects • Health & Wellness Award B: Boston Medical Center Rooftop Farm, submitted by Recover Green Roofs • Site & Landscape Award: Ora Seaport, submitted by Arrowstreet • Sustainable Construction Innovation Award: 69 A Street, submitted by Commodore Builders • 2021 National Grid/Eversource Energy Optimization Award: Lowell Justice Center, submitted by The Green Engineer •P eople’s Choice Award: The Little Building, submitted by Elkus Manfredi Architects • Change Agent Award: Jacob Knowles, Director of Sustainable Design at BR+A • Emerging Change Agent Award: Kiersten Washle, Building Systems Engineer at CMTA

Green Building of the Year

Congratulations TO THE HARVEY FOR WINNING THE GREEN HOME OF THE YEAR AWARD Harvard University Science and Engineering Complex / Brad Feinkopf

Sustainable Construction Innovation Award

69 A Street / Warren Patterson Photography

People’s Choice Award

The Little Building / Robert Benson Photography

Health & Wellness Award B

Boston Medical Center Rooftop Farm / Riane Hunt

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Equity & Inclusion Award

Carbon & Energy Award

The Swift Factory / Robert Benson Photography

Health & Wellness Award A

Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center / Nic Lehoux Photagraphy

Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center / Robert Benson Photography HARVARD UNIVERSITY SMITH CAMPUS CENTER IN ASSOCIATION WITH HOPKINS ARCHITECTS

•

HOME

•

SCHOOL

•

© RICHARD MANDELKORN

SWIFT FACTORY (HARTFORD, CT)

© ROBERT BENSON PHOTOGRAPHY

BUSINESS

www.NESHW.com (781) 536-8633

225 FRIEND STREET, SUITE 701 BOSTON, MA 02114 617.492.8400 WWW.BRUNERCOTT.COM

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December 2021

Regional Approaches to Resilient Stormwater Management Solutions

by Bob Horner, Julie Eaton Ernst, and Indrani Ghosh

Each hurricane season, residents in the West Ashley community of Charleston, S.C. pay attention when the weather forecast shows a system heading their way.

Having often been impacted by flooding, there is much attention focused on improving drainage in any way possible.

The traditional approach to stormwater management has included widening drainage channels and designing and constructing new outfalls and stormwater pump stations.

Engineers, scientists, and landscape architects are now, however, working together on more resilient stormwater management solutions to reduce the

The Charles River Flood Model illustrates the projected impacts of increased land development in the upper and middle parts of the watershed.

frequency and intensity of flooding that causes property damage. These approaches embrace topography and enhancing natural systems that have the capacity to store and absorb water.

Through a FEMA mitigation grant, the City of Charleston purchased and

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demolished about a dozen residential homes and a townhouse development that have flooded repeatedly over the past 20 years. This reactive “managed retreat” approach will field test the concept of reverting developed land back into pervious areas that can infiltrate water while also increasing basin storage capacity. Plans call for the areas to be repurposed into wetland buffers, walking trails, and transitional land that can provide recreation during dryer periods and stormwater storage during significant storm events. The concept is to incorporate this sustainable approach into other efforts to reduce flooding, with the hope of expanding the approach to better accommodate changing weather patterns and sea level rise, which is expected to increase in the area by about two feet over the next 50 years.

Other communities in South Carolina are alternatively taking a more proactive approach. For example, Marion County and the Town of Pamplico are developing a comprehensive stormwater management plan and conducting stormwater flood modeling efforts to be able to predict flooding hot spots and develop phased and incremental flood mitigation alternatives for future severe weather events.

Here in New England, many communities are also taking a similar proactive approach by planning for the impacts of climate change ahead of time. For example, Weston & Sampson, in collaboration with the Charles River Watershed Association, developed a watershed wide model for more than 15 communities in the Charles River watershed covering about 280 square miles. This model predicts the extent, depth, and flood elevations at different locations in the watershed for different

storm events, considering both present and 2070 climate conditions. The model simulated what would happen if 50% of the current undeveloped conservation land in the upper and middle parts of the watershed were to be developed, covering what had been pervious undeveloped land with impervious roads, sidewalks, and roofs. Under such a scenario, the model showed that by 2070, the amount of land impacted by flooding would increase by over 1,700 acres, or 19%, with flooding in some parts of the watershed doubling or more. On average, this increase in impervious land cover would be expected to increase runoff volumes by 41%.

As the impacts of climate change become more severe, the more frequent and extreme weather events that we are all now seeing will become more and more the norm. This will make innovative and effective approaches to stormwater management even more valuable.

Whether in South Carolina or New England, land use is a major determinant of the impacts from flooding. Any increase in the amount of impervious land in a watershed will necessarily result in more impacts from flooding, and the occurrence of more frequent storms with higher intensities will only exacerbate those impacts. Enlightened scientists, municipal planners, and elected officials are already implementing resilient and flexible changes in how they approach land use based on real data, and time will tell if these changes will be aggressive enough to mitigate the continued challenges of flooding in our communities.

Bob Horner, PE is regional manager; Julie Eaton Ernst, PE is project manager; and Indrani Ghosh, Ph.D. is technical leader at Weston & Sampson.

December 2021

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Town of Peterborough Celebrates New Library

by Jim Van Valkenburgh The town of Peterborough, N.H. is celebrating the construction of its stunning new library. Founded in 1833, this is the first free tax-supported public library in the U.S.

The rear section and basement of the Kyes-Sage House was converted into the boiler room for Peterborough Town Library.

During this massive renovation, only the classic 1890s library building was saved from the wrecking ball. This distinguished building was designed by a famous mechanical engineer, Robert Morison, who was born and raised in Peterborough but had come to national fame with offices in New York and Chicago. Removing the 1957 and 1977 additions provided plenty of area for a new, more usable design of the current era where libraries are places of information

and social connections in a rural town.

Multiple goals were set for Ann Beha Architects of Boston. Among them were a well-lit, warm and welcoming building with separate spaces for adults and children, a 100-person meeting room and a sunny outdoor patio that would take advantage of the building’s setting beside the Contoocook River.

An old house containing the library’s used book store sits at the opposite end of the property. The rear portion was transformed into the library’s boiler room where a biomass boiler and chiller systems are located. These constitute a compelling innovation that could be used in buildings across New England: the use of a biomass boiler as the source of both heating and cooling.

Four buried insulated pipes run under the driveway to the new library: a pair of supply and return pipes for heated water and another pair for chilled water. These run to air handlers placed throughout the building for delivering heating or cooling, as needed.

How the system works: A Froling T4-150 dried wood chip boiler generates 190 degree hot water and stores it in a 600 gallon buffer tank. When an area of the library needs heat, circulators pull hot water from the tank and send it through

Net-Positive-Energy School Completed Westborough, MA – The new Annie E. Fales Elementary School, the first net-positive-energy public school built in Massachusetts, recently opened its doors to students. Designed by HMFH Architects and built by construction management firm Gilbane Building Company, it will perform beyond the net-zero energy standard, producing more energy annually than required to power the all-electric school.

The Fales School achieves this ambitious target by consuming far less energy – less than two-thirds the consumption of a code compliant building – while also harnessing renewable energy sources on-site including geothermal heating and cooling and a rooftop solar array system. Combined, these sustainability initiatives are expected to generate a 10% annual surplus that the Town of Westborough will return to the grid. The project is the first completed toward achieving the town’s goal to be carbon-emissions free by 2035.

The school features triple-glazed windows, roof, and wall insulation materials that are 40% above code requirements paired with 40 geothermal wells, high efficiency mechanical systems designed to improve air quality, LED lighting with daylight and occupancy sensors, a 25,000sf solar photovoltaic

Peterborough Town Library heating/cooling system / Concept drawing by Yazaki North America

the pipes to where it is needed. When an area requires cooling, hot water from the buffer tank is circulated through a Yazaki 10 ton absorption chiller which outputs chilled water to the library.

A large solar array was also installed on the roof of the new addition, with a capacity of 71 kilowatts.

A statement on the town’s website reads: “The people of Peterborough have

continued to support and prioritize the first free tax-supported public library in the nation. The library remains as both a historic symbol of the town’s belief in free access to information and knowledge, and as a modern library with opportunities for connection and collaboration for years to come.”

Jim Van Valkenburgh is vice president of sales & marketing at Froling Energy.

Annie E. Fales Elementary School / Photo by Ed Wonsek Artworks, Inc.

array, and a building management system that monitors and controls mechanical and lighting systems for maximum efficiency. The project is targeting LEED Gold and LEED Zero certification.

The facility will accommodate 400 students in kindergarten through third grade. A sculptural, sawtooth roofscape of photovoltaics integrate as part of the exterior architecture. Features also include lofty, light-filled spaces; warm natural materials; and thoughtful integration into the school’s natural surroundings. The building itself is a learning tool, with exhibits and visuals designed to educate students about the natural environment and sustainable practices.

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December 2021

Six Achieve PHIUS Certification

ULI Receives Donation for Initiative

Holliston, MA – Colantonio Inc. announced that six additional staff members have achieved certification as Passive House Builders by the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS): Project Managers Marc Chen, Jacob Robitaille, and Andrew Kantorski, along with Estimators Nick Bean, Brett Szymko, and Lawrence Broderick.

Nearly half of the firm’s project management and estimating staff are now Certified Passive House Builders.

Representatives of the firm say Certified Passive House Builders are prepared to address challenges unique to passive building and specific to their region’s particular climate variations, market conditions, and building components.

According to the PHIUS website, the Passive House standard “stands for quality, comfort and energy efficiency.”

Passive building principles, which can be applied to all building types from singlefamily homes to skyscrapers, focus on superinsulation, airtight envelopes, highperformance window installation, site management, and component sourcing.

They offer a path to net zero and net positive buildings by minimizing the load that renewables are required to provide.

Washington – Lynn with me his plan to launch a Thurber, chairman of JLL Net Zero Imperative at ULI Income Property Trust with a very generous perand former Urban Land sonal gift, I was thrilled and Institute (ULI) global chair, motivated to help,” Thurber has donated $500,000 to said. support the efforts of the Thurber sees the ULI Greenprint Center for program, which will organize Building Performance’s Net technical assistance panels Zero Imperative, a multiin cities to assist building Lynn Thurber year initiative to accelerate owners in all categories decarbonization in the built and local governments in developing environment. decarbonization strategies, as building Thurber is a ULI trustee and a member upon ULI Greenprint’s prior work in of the advisory board and past chair for improving energy efficiency and reducing ULI’s Center for Sustainability and Ecocarbon output. The Net Zero Imperative nomic Performance. The gift establishes “will provide practical guidance to Thurber as a member of the ULI Founbuilding owners, tenants, and residents on dation’s Charles Fraser Society, which how to decarbonize effectively, efficiently honors those with lifetime contributions and in a financially prudent manner,” she to ULI exceeding $1 million. explained.

She said her donation was motivated Panel recommendations for specific by the need to avert catastrophic climate buildings will be repurposed to create change. “We must develop and implement reference materials that can be shared the changes necessary to take each and and utilized by building owners and every building on the journey to net zero communities worldwide. Thurber said carbon emissions if we want to leave that spreading information and expertise our planet in a livable position for our in that manner “will put us on the journey grandchildren and for the generations to to achieving net zero carbon for our planet come after them,” she explained. and our communities.”

Thurber also cited the inspiration “ULI is uniquely positioned to lead, of Owen Thomas, a member of the ULI connect, and inspire this project, totally Foundation’s board of directors and chief aligned with ULI’s mission statement,” executive of Boston Properties, who Thurber said. “And our members have the through his family foundation recently knowledge and skill to accomplish this donated $1 million to launch the Net Zero huge and important undertaking.”

Imperative. “When Owen Thomas shared

Marc Chen

Jacob Robitaille

Andrew Kantorski

Nick Bean

Brett Szymko

Lawrence Broderick

Photos by Matt Wright Photography

Town of Millis Receives Grant Sustainable Biomass Heating and Cooling Heat Local Peterborough,NH Town Library

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Millis, MA – The Town of Millis has been awarded a $170,000 municipal climate preparedness grant to design a community-centric flood resiliency plan and develop a public engagement program to communicate climate vulnerability and mitigation strategies.

The grant was awarded by the Baker-Polito administration’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program, which pairs local leadership and knowledge with a significant investment of resources and funding from the Commonwealth to address climate change impacts.

With numerous rivers, streams, and wetlands that influence drainage patterns and are susceptible to climate change impacts, the town of Millis has widespread flooding challenges associated with severe weather events. The MVP grant will enable the town to holistically assess risks and develop an all-inclusive, proactive, and cost-effective flood resiliency plan to minimize town-wide flooding under present day and future climate conditions. It will build upon the MVP-funded Building Resiliency Across the Charles River Watershed Study, which identified flooding issues in the

Charles River Watershed.

The plan will seek solutions to restore the area’s natural ability to capture and infiltrate stormwater, support the function and health of the town’s natural wetlands system, and incorporate resilient approaches to reduce the impacts of flooding. Where possible, the plan will identify naturebased methods to integrate co-benefits, including stormwater treatment, habitat restoration, and creating new educational and recreational opportunities.

Environmental engineering and construction firm Brown and Caldwell assisted the town with its grant application and will act as a consultant during the plan’s development. The firm will be responsible for developing a town-wide hydraulic and hydrologic model and developing cost-effective flood mitigation strategies that achieve multiple co-benefits.

A public outreach program to gather knowledge of flooding issues, inform the community on flood risks linked to climate change, and share project results is also included. The plan is scheduled for a summer 2022 completion.

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Solar Hot Water and Multi-Family Housing in Massachusetts

by John Moore Solar Hot Water (SHW) systems were made very popular in the 1970s during the oil crisis when Jimmy Carter installed a system at the White House, demonstrating an efficient way to reduce fuel use. Since then, thousands of systems have been installed, and with today’s focus on sustainability, SHW systems are again an efficient answer to help reduce burning of fossil fuels. Engineers and installers now focus on non-pressurized “drainback” systems, built to last 20-30 years and requiring much less maintenance than older pressurized systems.

The Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) is a large developer, owner and operator of more than 12,000 affordable homes in eleven states and the District of Columbia. One of their core values is sustainability: “investing in energy efficient and environmentally sustainable buildings not only to reduce operating costs, but because it’s the responsible thing to do.” Their staff

Solar thermal collectors at Franklin Square Apartments in Boston

includes professionals dedicated to this effort applied to both new and existing facilities.

Julie Klump, POAH’s VP for design and building performance, first approached New England Solar Hot Water (NESHW) in 2018 to design and build a solar hot water system for Briston Arms Apartments, an existing 150-unit apartment complex in Cambridge, Mass.

The system has proven itself by reducing natural gas used for domestic hot water by more than 50%. Because of the success of that installation, POAH has hired NESHW for four additional large installations in Massachusetts: Tribune Apts. in Framingham, Brandy Hill Apts.

Waterfront Parks are Critical Resilient Infrastructure continued from page 2

in Wareham, Chestnut Gardens in Lynn, and Franklin Square Apts. in Boston’s South End. These five installations are projected to reduce the portfolio’s total gas usage by over 14,500 therms per year.

Over 20 years, these systems will reduce CO2 emissions by 3.5M lbs., equivalent to the CO2 sequestered by a 100-acre deciduous forest.

POAH’s most recent SHW system, installed this year at Franklin Square, serves 193 apartments housing a lowincome elderly population. The system consists of 28 roof mounted evacuated tube collectors heating a 1400-gallon solar storage tank. The storage tank acts like a “battery,” storing heat produced by the collectors to “preheat” domestic water sent to the existing gas-fired boilers for backup. The system is projected to reduce

fuel use by 54%, offsetting 3500 therms of natural gas or 840,000 lbs. of CO2 every year.

For both new and existing facilities, solar hot water systems can reduce fuel use by 50-80% and can be backed up by conventional heaters fueled by electricity, natural gas, or fuel oil. New “drainback” systems are simple, robust and require little maintenance and they are affordable thanks to incentives including the federal solar tax credit (26% of system cost), accelerated depreciation, and Alternative Energy Certificates (AECs) issued by MA DOER. To reduce a facility’s carbon footprint, solar hot water is worth a look for both new and existing buildings.

John Moore is an architect at New England Solar Hot Water, Inc., based in Canton, Mass.

Build Better Podcast continued from page 4

Swift Factory

Prescott Park includes over 1,150 feet of Piscataqua River waterfront, putting it front and center in the battle against sea level rise.

Well-designed and strategically placed parks like Prescott Park, at the interface between land and water, can mitigate the threat of climate change-driven sea level rise, storm surges, and increased rainfall intensity. It is time to start thinking of them not only as quality-of-life benefits that enhance residents’ health and wellbeing, but also as municipal resources that can be flexibly adapted to mitigate the

effects of a changing climate. We invite you to help us celebrate communities like Portsmouth who think of their waterfront parks and open spaces the same as they do their water, sewer, transportation, and energy systems – as the critical infrastructure components they are.

Cassie Bethoney, RLA is senior landscape architect at Weston & Sampson.

it with Patrick’s team, it was really fun to start thinking about how we could uncover the history on the site but also think about how it can be a real engine for the neighborhood,” he adds.

The collection of buildings opened in early 2021, providing space for an incubator kitchen for local businesses, a community-based private school, and shared office space for local entrepreneurs and start-ups. McKenna says additional tenants will include a community library and an early childhood education center.

Of the example this development can

provide for similar projects, McKenna and Jewhurst say it’s important to get the project team together as early as possible, to engage the community during the process, and empower the community to take ownership of the space. “If you have the time, you build the process the right way with the communities that these buildings are in – then you’re set up for success in a way that is so much more powerful,” says Jewhurst.

Emily Langner is editor for HighProfile Monthly.

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December 2021

Flatley Prioritizes Climate Resiliency in Redevelopment Project

Rendering courtesy of The Flatley Company

Charlestown, MA – In its recent master plan filing, the Flatley Company announced its vision for the redevelopment of the former Domino Sugar Factory site at 425 Medford Street.

In its redevelopment program, Flatley prioritizes climate resiliency, resulting in a project highlighted by a multimilliondollar 2070 solution designed to protect the Flatley land and hundreds of acres of Charlestown and neighboring areas in Somerville and Cambridge. Additionally, it would protect both public and private properties and infrastructure from catastrophic flooding by building a 5-acre resilient solution at what is considered the most vulnerable breach point along the Mystic River.

Flatley would plan to build the

resiliency infrastructure components first.

The resiliency components of Flatley’s plans would also save Charlestown from the need to undertake many of its own public projects aimed at the same goals.

According to several planning studies, including 2017 Climate Ready Boston – Charlestown, without the measures put in place by Flatley, significant public infrastructure projects would have to be undertaken that would be costly to taxpayers and disruptive to residents, for years. The study concludes that the resiliency measures now proposed by Flatley would prevent an estimated $290 million in losses, caused by just a single flood event.

The new resilient edge to the waterfront would include an extension

CAMBRIDGE (29.5 acres)

SOMERVILLE (116.25 acres)

CHARLESTOWN A (223.5 acres)

CHARLESTOWN B (41.5 acres)

The gradations of blue in the map show how the 1% annual chance flood extent changes as sea levels rise. The colors do not indicate depth of flooding. The arrows show the flood entry points and pathways with current sea levels, 9 inches of sea level rise (2030s) and 36 inches of sea level rise (2070s).

to the Harborwalk and other public pathways, passive and active recreation areas and seating, green spaces and parks, multiple look-out areas, shade shelters, floodable seat steps, and a public boat launch, kayak launch, and dock.

“We understand the urgency at this vulnerable point in the Mystic River and the tremendous impact it will have on the quality of life of residents and businesses in Charlestown. We felt strongly this is

something that needs to be done first as part of our development in order to protect this area from storms. We believe this project is for the people of Charlestown, the surrounding community and city and will alleviate the tremendous disruption that could occur with multiple municipal infrastructure projects throughout the neighborhood,” said John Roche, The Flatley Company.

CTGBC Recognizes Sustainability, Resiliency at Annual Awards

Accepting the CNG | SCG | UI | Avangrid Award of Excellence (l-r): Hammad Chaudhry, Avangrid; Alicia Dolce, CTGBC executive director; David Ginsberg, WinnCo; and Sheri Dieso, Awards Planning Committee chair / Photo by Mara Lavitt

Derby, CT – The Connecticut Green Building Council (CTGBC) held its 15th annual Green Building Awards ceremony on Oct. 7 at The Hops Company in Derby.

The awards seek to acknowledge excellence in design and construction practice, which supports the broader goals of using the built environment as a vehicle for resource efficiency, access to community, and resiliency to combat human health challenges and climate change within the state of Connecticut and beyond. The awards program also honors individuals and organizations that demonstrate leadership through actions that promote sustainability. In addition to a record number of submittals, there was also a record number of sponsors for the

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2021 Awards Night Out program.

This year’s event featured a keynote

by CEO of Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity, Karraine Moody. Moody’s keynote, “Let’s Dream Green Together,” addressed the need for housing and sustainability to have an equal priority both now and for future generations.

The night’s top award, the CNG | SCG | UI | Avangrid Award of Excellence, was awarded to The Tyler in East Haven, an adaptive reuse mixed-income community for seniors, submitted by WinnCompanies. The Tyler is the first adaptive reuse project in the United States designed to adhere to the Passive House Institute’s EnerPhit program standards with applicable historic exclusions.

CTGBC board, advisors, and staff (from back left): Lindsay Suter, Ilona Prosol, Ken Sgorbati, Paul Keyes, Kris Coperine, Nora Rizzo, Caroline DiDominico, Gioia Connell, Nick Jones, Wayne Cobleigh, Kai Starn, Sheri Dieso, Julia Farber, Alysse Buzzelli, Tanya Cutolo, Melissa Kops, and Alicia Dolce / Photo by Mara Lavitt

The 2021 CTGBC Green Building Award winners are: • CNG | SCG | UI | Avangrid Award of Excellence: The Tyler, East Haven • Judy Swann Green Advocate Award: Sara Dodson Holmes, AIA, LEED AP, CPHD • Trailblazer Award: Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises, Bridgeport • Single Family Residential Award of Merit: Passive House Inspired Modular Home • Multi-Family Residential Award of Merit: Sendero Verde • Commercial Award of Merit: Capitol Crossing, 250 Massachusetts Avenue • Institutional Award of Merit: Ann and George Colony Hall, Choate Rosemary Hall

• Institutional Award of Merit: Schiller Coastal Studies Center, Bowdoin College • Institutional Award of Honor: Fellows Hall, Williams College • Student Design Award of Honor: The Array Hartford Boutique Hotel • Student Design Award of Merit: The Ulmus Pumila • Student Design Award of Merit: Palisade Hotel The CTGBC selects a new panel of independent jurors every year to maintain the integrity of the awards program. This year’s jurors were Leonard Wyeth of Wyeth Architects, LLC; Karla Butterfield, Steven Winters Associates; Antonia Ciaverella, Tecton Architects; Steven Burke, Consigli Construction Co.; and Katherine Jacobs, the City of New Haven.

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