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Green Buildings Case Studies

Boston Children's Museum

300 Congress Street
Boston , MA 02210

617.426.6500x245 (p)
617.426.1944 (f)
Kendra Amaral (contact)
Amaral@BostonKids.org

www.bostonkids.org

Architect: Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc.
Building Size: current: 158,000; future total: 180,000
Project Budget: approximately $28M
Opening Date: approximately Dec. 2007
LEED Certification: Going after at least certified, possibly Silver

About Boston's Sustainable Expansion and Renovation Project:
BCM is improving the existing facility through a 22,000 sq. ft. addition and renovation of the existing 158,000 sq. ft. The expansion and renovation will add to and improve visitor services, circulation and exhibition galleries, consolidate office areas, while upgrading all existing systems. BCM will also be adding exciting new landscaping that will activate the exterior spaces and engage visitors with the Harbor.

The Museum's Decision to Go Green:
The museum's mission is directly tied to environmental issues with exhibits and programs present throughout BCM's history; including our Recycle Shop (over 10 years in business), waterfront learning programs, and exhibits like "Under the Dock". It was natural that BCM would consider green design as the next step.

How Boston's Project is Sustainable:
After a two-month investigation of the green opportunities applicable to our project, their costs and benefits, the board adopted the following green goals:

  • Incorporate sustainable design items that present no added cost to the project
  • Achieve LEED Certification for the expansion
  • Incorporate the remaining sustainable design items within a plan that provides either:
    • Discreet resources to support them (rebates, credits or grants) or
    • A payback of 10 to 15 years demonstrated through energy modeling and based on a modest energy/water costs inflation factor.

Project's Distinguishing Features:
Through this project BCM will:

  • Reduce potable water use and improve the abutting Channel through a stormwater reclamation program that will capture rainwater on site, filter it and use it for gray water needs such as toilets. The museum will also install water efficient/waterless fixtures where appropriate.
  • Improve indoor air quality with a new HVAC system while reducing energy use by incorporating a heat exchange mechanism into the system. The museum will also use a CO 2 monitoring strategy to calibrate the airflow based on real-time visitation not projected estimates. This will ensure that only what is needed is actually used.
  • Upgrade all 'house' lights to energy efficient and where possible use energy efficient fixtures for exhibit lighting
  • Construct a green roof on the expansion to reduce heat islands and capture some rainfall on site.
  • Incorporate renewable energy where possible including considerations for wind energy and building integrated photovoltaics
  • Incorporate renewable and local materials where possible.
    • Make use of recycled content in some of the major building materials.
    • Use construction waste management program during renovation.
    • Use low VOC emitting materials.
    • Make use of water efficient landscaping techniques.

    Piece of advice for others regarding project:
    Sustainable design is not an,'add on'; it is simply a different way of approaching standard project tasks. To make that work, you need to develop clear and concise goals for your project related to green. With the goals in place and fully bought into by leadership and the board, your team can be creative and effective in how they think about everything from materials to systems.