The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Central Massachusetts Chapter has honored Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects with a Merit Award for their design of a sustainable corporate headquarters and distribution center that is among the greenest buildings in the United States. The 160,000 SF project for Subaru of New England has been certified LEED Platinum—the highest rating awarded by the United States Green Building Council. The client, Subaru of New England, set a mandate for the project: the new headquarters needed to meet the high standards for sustainability set by its parent brand, which is the nation’s first Zero Landfill automaker.
The project is the highest rated LEED project in Massachusetts!
To meet this challenge, GRLA’s architecture, interior design, and building envelope teams got to work, providing a sleek, modern design with sustainable features throughout. The LEED certification process is rigorous, and awards points for building elements that increase efficiency, use fewer resources such as water and electricity, and make the indoor environment comfortable and safe with non-toxic and low-emitting building materials. The Subaru of New England project received 86 points out of a possible 110.
GRLA also worked closely with consulting engineers WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff, Landscape Architect BSC Group, and Columbia Construction Company on the project. The project includes solar panels, a highly efficient “chilled beam” heating and cooling system, a high-performing building envelope, drought-resistant landscaping, low-flow plumbing fixtures, recycled and sustainably-sourced building materials, and LED lighting throughout. The project is the highest-rated LEED project in Massachusetts, and the largest privately-owned LEED Platinum* building in the U.S.!
GRLA received its award at the AIA of Central Massachusetts awards dinner on November 19 at the Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston.
To learn more about the project and see photos, click here.
*For new construction, LEED v.2009