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As climate change causes sea levels to rise by as much as 6’ over the next century, our cities will be required to redefine their relationship with water. Architecture, circulation networks, and green space must all be designed to be resilient and to expect frequent inundation. Sponsored by the Urban Land Institute Boston and The Kresge Foundation, Arrowstreet took lead…

In 2015 the City of Cambridge adopted the Net Zero Cambridge plan aimed at achieving net zero emissions over a 25 year period for all public and private buildings. Leading by example, the King Open/Cambridge Street Upper School & Community Complex that was started earlier in 2015 was the pilot project to design to the plan. It was the first…

Seaport Circle is designed to achieve the highest level of electrification, resilience, wellness, and equity of any life sciences project in the Boston Seaport. The project is seeking LEED Platinum, WiredScore, and SmartScore certification and has already received Fitwel 2 Star certifications and the core and shell are ready for tenants to seek WELL certifications. The net zero carbon building…

This redevelopment of a vacant parcel into affordable housing for the Mattapan neighborhood is leading the way in the next generation of healthy, zero carbon housing. The building features a, first in the region, building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) facade that, along with a rooftop array, generates a majority of the building’s annual energy. Utilizing the facade cladding to also produce…

Town of Acton adopted a Climate Emergency Declaration to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030. Like many towns with early adoption of future proofing goals, they were faced with the task of understanding how to carry out this goal, where to concentrate their efforts, and what to tackle first. Arrowstreet was hired to assist in answering these questions through…

The study and planning tool allows MIT to develop campus strategies and prioritize improvements that lower greenhouse gas emissions, maximize energy savings, improve storm water management, increase biodiversity, reduce the urban heat island effect, increase energy production, and provide more educational/research opportunities. Consistent with MIT’s Plan for Action on Climate Change, Arrowstreet developed a tool that evaluates options for making…

Design for 355 Bennington began in 2020 as the first Net Zero Carbon market-rate multifamily project in Boston. This all-electric building, which is Design Certified and currently in construction, utilizes passive building principles as a key component of its resilient and healthy design. Additionally resilience measures to minimize the impact of high-temperature events, including the planting of trees along the…

Arrowstreet believes that occupant engagement is the foundation to creating spaces that perform as designed. Occupants of identical buildings can affect annual energy consumption by as much as 300-400 percent based on their unique use of a space. Understanding how occupants use a building, and gaining their commitment to energy conservation goals is key to the overall performance of that…

Bay Area Transect, a collaboration between Arrowstreet, Copley Wolff Design Group, and HTM Office/Madrid, received the Merit Award in the 2018 Architecture at Zero design competition. This international competition presented by PG&E, San Francisco State University, and the AIA California Council challenged entrants to create a net zero energy Bayside Community Education and Visitors Center. The proposal combines site-sensitive planning,…

In 2015, Arrowstreet engaged in a process of research, outside collaboration, and critical design thinking to submit an entry for the City of Boston’s International Design Competition, Living with Water. Intended to catalyze an increase in the city’s sustainability and climate change resiliency, the competition challenged leading planners, designers, and thinkers to envision new solutions and concepts that promote our…