John A. Volpe National Transportation System Center Achieves LEED Platinum Certification

• Topics

• Sustainability

The John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center has been recognized for its high performance in its resiliency and sustainability with a LEED Platinum certification, the highest mark of excellence for sustainability as awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Conceived as a vertical campus, the project brings the entirety of the U.S. DOT Volpe Center under a single roof in one of the nation's cooler climates, Cambridge, Massachusetts, where sunlight is limited. In response to these unique site challenges and the changing conditions of the day, the facade and orientation play a major role in helping the building achieve its LEED Platinum certification. In collaboration with Atelier Ten,we engineered a structure with an orientation that fully maximizes daylighting and a glass and aluminum facade that minimizes glare, all with triple-glazing and an overall window-wall ratio of 48 percent that further contribute to the building's exceptional energy performance. Our holistic approach to energy-efficient and sustainable design achieves 41 percent regulated energy savings, while optimizing electrification and responsible water management.

• Topics

• Sustainability