Green Buildings Case Studies

Boston Children's Museum

300 Congress Street
Boston , MA 02210

617.426.6500x302 (p)
617.426.1944 (f)
Neil Gordon (contact)
Gordon@bostonchildrensmuseum.org  

www.bostonkids.org

• Green Buildings, Green Kids, (pdf) Neil Gordon (Boston Children’s Museum), Hand to Hand, volume 20, Spring 2006

Architect: Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc.
Building Size: 175,000 ft sq.
Project Budget: $47 M
Opening Date: April 2007
LEED Certification: Gold

About Boston's Sustainable Expansion and Renovation Project:
In April 2006, the museum began a project to add a 23,000-square-foot
(2,100 m2), glass-walled enclosure to the front of the museum, a new theater, and new exhibits in addition to renovating the existing 158,000 sq. ft. This expansion and renovation served to improve visitor services, circulation and exhibition galleries, and the consolidation of office areas, while upgrading all previously existing systems. BCM will also added an exciting newly landscaped park to activate the exterior spaces and engage visitors with the Harbor. BCM re-opened in April of 2008, becoming Boston’s first “green” museum.

The Museum's Decision to Go Green:
TThe museum's mission was 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:

• Storm Water Reclamation and Water-use Reduction
  BCM harvests storm water from both the green roof and main roof for building services such as irrigation and dual flush toilets. The program helps to reduce water runoff into Fort Point Channel by 88% and potable water demand and use by the museum by 77%.
• Real Time Heating and Cooling Controls
  BCM has installed carbon dioxide measuring tools into the heating and cooling systems to meet real time occupancy needs.
• Green Roof
  BCM’s new addition is covered with a 6,400-square-foot green roof of plantings and organic materials. The roof helps to improve insulation, collect storm water, diminish height islands, and reduce air pollution.
• Efficient Lighting and Features
  BCM has replaced its ambient light fixtures with highly efficient fixtures that reduce energy consumption.
• Materials
  BCM chose recycled and rapidly renewable materials as well as materials with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during its expansion and renovation project. The museum also obtained 55% of the materials from locations within 500 miles of Boston.
• Glass Addition
  The 23,000-square-foot expansion includes full height windows that allow more natural light in, exterior walls that open for light and ventilation, new halide lighting to reduce energy, and perforated metal panels that reduce heat gain.
• Green Cleaning/Housekeeping
  The museum has developed a list of approved cleaning products and trained housekeeping staff on the proper way to store, use, and dispose of chemicals, paper products and other materials.

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.