In a ceremony yesterday, Shepley Bulfinch was presented with a LEED-CI Silver certification plaque for its corporate interior by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). Barbra Batshalom LEED AP, executive director of the Green Roundtable, a USGBC affiliate, made the presentation to Principal Thomas D. Kearns AIA LEED AP, chairman of Shepley Bulfinch’s board of directors.
Among those acknowledged at the ceremony were project team and building committee members and our consultants including Turner Construction, R.G. Vanderweil, Robert Luchetti Associates, Lam Partners, Creative Office Pavilion, and Roll-Barresi.
LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficient Design) is the USGBC system for designing and constructing energy-efficient, high performing buildings. Our corporate office was designed to achieve LEED-CI Silver certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use, while incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. Certification was based on a number of green design and construction features, including:
- energy performance for HVAC, lighting, equipment and appliances;
- the use of low-emitting materials for paint, carpet, furniture systems and seating;
- indoor pollutant source controls for the print room and model shop;
- promotion of non-automobile transportation, including bicycle storage and shower facilities and proximity to amenities and public transportation;
- collection of recyclables, including plastics, aluminum, and glass, paper and cardboard;
- daylight and view – with windows wrapping the office and a flexible, open seating plan
One of few US architecture firms to win LEED-CI Silver certification for its offices, Shepley Bulfinch also has among the highest percentage of LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED AP) in the US. The firm’s recent and current projects that emphasize sustainable design standards include the Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver (the first LEED Gold law school in the US) and the Queen’s University Library, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
