GBI announces the 2021 Green Globes Project of the Year, Runner Up, and Honorable Mentions in Virtual Awards Ceremony on Earth Day 2022.
Portland, Ore. – The Green Building Initiative (GBI) announced the VA Boston Healthcare System Research Service as the 2021 Green Globes Project of the year in a virtual awards ceremony on Friday, April 22 in honor of Earth Day. The Sustainable Interiors project earned a Four Green Globes rating, the highest level of recognition under the Green Globes certification system.
“We are pleased to recognize the VA Boston Healthcare System Research Service as the Green Globes Project of the Year,” said Vicki Worden, GBI President & CEO. “This project truly demonstrates the intention of the collaborative Green Globes assessment and rating system, to serve as a roadmap to improve the sustainability, health and wellness and resilience for individual buildings and portfolios.”
The VA Boston Healthcare System located in Boston, MA, has one of the largest and most active research programs in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The space at the Research Service was designed to use as little energy and water as possible, while mitigating the appropriate needs for ventilation, lighting, controllability of systems, and optimized acoustics. The project addressed occupant wellbeing goals with an optimized indoor air quality through minimum ventilation, thermal comfort, ergonomic seating, “free-address,” acoustic controls, daylight sensors, operable shading at all perimeter glazing, and low-to-no VOC specifications. This space supports community health, is accessible, and well-served by public transit, and is elevated to mitigate against stormwater and sea level rise as well as urban heat. The project earned 729 out of 808 applicable points for an overall score of 90%. The project earned full applicable credit in three of the six Environmental Assessment Areas, including Project Management, Water, and Emissions & Effluents.
While only required to earn a One Green Globes rating, the project team, led by Stantec’s Sustainability Design Leader – US North East, Senior Associate, Blake Jackson, implemented an integrated team and worked with their Green Globes Assessor to improve the sustainable design to increase their rating from Three to Four Green Globes.
“We are thrilled to be selected as the 2021 Green Globes Project of the Year,” says Jackson. “This was everyone’s first Green Globes project. The format of the rating system, with clear strategies and objectives, helped us align the talent of the team and goals of the owner. It was important for us to match the opportunities we have through design and construction to the Green Globes standard and achieve certification. The fact that we achieved the highest possible rating, on time and on budget, inspires us to keep prioritizing sustainability on all future projects.”
GBI also recognized the Green Globes Project of the Year Runner Up, the Incyte Administrative Headquarters in Wilmington, DE. This four-story, 275,500 square foot facility was the first project to certify under Green Globes for Existing Buildings 2021, earning a Three Green Globes rating. The Incyte Headquarters was built in 2017 and is part of a sustainable corporate campus. Credit was achieved for Incyte’s commitment to energy and water conservation, indoor environmental quality, and the usage of resilient or cradle-to-cradle materials. Incyte employs sustainable site strategies for both employee comfort and energy conservation. A multi-model path encircles the entire campus, and the company provides infrastructure to encourage biking, carpooling and use of electric vehicles. The biopharmaceutical company also prioritizes Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG) Management, earning 71% of the total applicable points in the Environmental Assessment Area new to Green Globes in 2021.
The Young Living Global Headquarters in Lehi, UT and the Artis Senior Living of Wilmette in Wilmette, IL were recognized as 2021 Green Globes Project of the Year Honorable Mentions. The office and senior living facilities each certified under Green Globes for New Construction, earning Two Green Globes ratings.
GBI congratulates the VA Boston Healthcare System Research Service, the Incyte Administrative Headquarters, and the Honorable Mentions Young Living Global Headquarters and Artis Senior Living. GBI applauds all Green Globes certified buildings and appreciates projects submitted for the 2021 Green Globes Project of the Year Award.
MEDIA CONTACT | Megan Baker, Associate VP, Engagement, megan@thegbi.org, (971) 256-7174