Winthrop Square – A Passive Addition to Boston’s Skyline
LEED Platinum
Project Background:
Winthrop Square, a mixed-use high-rise in the heart of downtown Boston, will feature retail, office, and residential spaces. This iconic project incorporates an ambitious green building strategy that includes pursuing LEED© Platinum certification for the entire building, plus certification through the Passive House Institute and WELL Building Standard™ for the 20-story office space located above four floors of retail space. Because of the unique nature of this project, the Passive House Institute has agreed to use it as a PH Pilot Project intended to better understand and define the implications of building a high-rise office space to PH standards in a cold climate.
Currently, SWA is working collaboratively with the Passive House Institute and the development team to move the project forward towards PH certification. Designing to Passive House standards will drastically reduce the project’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, making the building well-positioned to help the City of Boston meet its stringent GHG emissions reductions targets. If certified, the project is slated to be the largest Passive House office space in the world.
Project Services:
Steven Winter Associates performed a range of Passive House feasibility consulting services including PHPP modeling with variant analysis, 3D thermal bridge modeling, and direct coordination with the certifying body on specific certification requirements for this very unique project.
Primary Energy Conservation Measures:
- High performance unitized curtain wall façade to achieve superior thermal efficiency and air tightness
- Optimized four-pipe fan coil heating and cooling system
- Demand control ventilation with energy recovery
- Advanced lighting controls
For more information about Winthrop Square, contact us!
Photography courtesy of MP Boston