Long-time NESEA Members Kuhn Riddle Architects (KRA) based in Amherst, MA  have recently earned LEED Platinum (New Construction) certification, in conjunction with Arrowwood Construction (also of Amherst, MA)  for their work on New England Environmental’s headquarters (NEE.)

According to their press release, a sampling of the building’s energy specs include a 39,000 kW photovoltaic array (installed by other long-time NESEA members PV Squared), 12” thick walls (2×6 and 2×4 with a 3” thermal break) filled with 12” cellulose insulation (recycled material), and 24” of cellulose insulation for the ceilings. And for one more additional member shout-out – Solectria Renewables products were used!

While LEED certifications seem to be popping up all over, Andy Grogan of KRA comments,

“[the project] shows how local professionals and an engaged community can create a project that achieves levels of energy efficiency that too often feel out-of-reach for commercial projects without substantial budgets…For this project, the architects (Kuhn Riddle), most consultants, and the contractor/subcontractors were all local.  Many were educated here at UMASS Amherst.  And as the client will tell you, this project did not cost an arm-and-a-leg to construct, but it achieves remarkable levels of energy efficiency.”

Moreover, as John Kuhn (one of the lead architects on the project) noted, the integration of PV into the building was not an afterthought, but rather part of the process all along. Jon Child of PV Squared also mentioned the collaborative design process – for example, that the architects went for a long, rectangular roof  to accommodate the solar panels.

This type of collaboration is a  perfect example of the kinds of conversations that should be happening between builders and designers and renewable energy installers to ensure that all the systems work together seamlessly. Jon Child commented on how essential it is to have the systems in communication with one another, otherwise things fall apart – for example the HVAC needs to be in conversation with the renewables which needs to be in conversation with the overall design. This is, I’m sure, very basic to NESEA member thinking, but it’s always nice to hear about it in practice! I know when I hear about LEED failures, I find myself wondering, “Where was the communication?”

On that note, we complain a great deal within the NESEA community about having LEED buildings without LEED people. But, as it turns out, the people at New England Environmental are LEED people! They have about a year’s worth of data (you can see their PV performance here – as linked to their website), as the construction was complete last year, and they embody how LEED residents  make LEED successful. According to John Kuhn (of KRA), Julie Marcus (of NEE) truly spearheaded the LEED process. As New England Environmental is an environmental consulting firm, they wanted to use their headquarters as a lab for what they do and were instrumental in achieving many of the landscaping site points. Another exciting detail is that this was the first LEED project for John Kuhn and Ann Marshall of KRA and for their contractors. Thanks to their excellent collaboration and support from NEE, this project was successful.

You can view some of the photos and more information at the Kuhn Riddle website here and here, and more detail of the PV installation and array here (also linked above).

Even better, you can visit the building yourself on October 1^st, as New England Environmental HQ is part of our Green Buildings Open House event!

Our warmest congratulations (and a high five) to Kuhn Riddle Architects, to everyone who worked on the project (way to go PV Squared!), and to New England Environmental.

Hey Members! Do you also have news to share? Let me know! Highlighting your good work is why we are here. Contact me at 413.774.6051 ext. 20, or rheldt@nesea.org.

…And we’re still accepting host sites for GBOH, so if you have a high-performance or otherwise energy efficient building, contact Michelle Rose at 413.774.6051 ext. 17 or mrose@nesea.org.