News
July 21, 2011
Alumni Collaborate on LEED Platinum Building for New England Environmental
South side of New England Environmental's award-winning
headquarters,
featuring a roof of solar panels.The U.S. Green Building Council has given the headquarters building for New England Environmental, Inc. (NEE) in Amherst, MA, its highest rating, LEED Platinum. Kuhn Riddle Architects, also of Amherst, assembled a consulting team that included a host of UMass alumni, including:
• Andrew Bohne '99 (landscape architecture), RLA, LEED AP*, New England Environmental, Inc., *LEED AP of record for the building.
• Bill Rock '84 (computer science studies, Arrowwood Construction
• Thomas J. Hogan '95 (civil engineering), MS '98 (environmental engineering), P.E., CPESC, Doucet & Associates, Inc.
• Chris Stidsen '98 (civil engineering studies), P.E. - Doucet & Associates, Inc.
• Joel Patruno '05 (electrical engineering), Lindgren & Sharples
• Neetu Singh MS '08 (architecture), LEED AP, The Green Engineer
• Jon Child MS '95 (geology), Pioneer Valley Photovoltaics
"Achieving a LEED Platinum Certification is a validation of how much talent comes out of UMass,” says NEE President Michael Marcus. “This is an exceptionally sustainable site and building, designed and constructed by exceptionally well prepared professionals.” NEE currently employs eleven UMass alumni and two UMass interns.
NEE is only the fifth building in Massachusetts to receive a LEED NC (New Construction) Platinum rating. Over 23,000 buildings have been registered with USGBC since 2000; roughly 7,800 have received some level of certification. There are 245 LEED NC Platinum buildings in the United States.
“NEE’s Platinum certification is an expression of NEE’s overall commitment to environmental responsibility,” says Marcus. “This beautiful building is also incredibly comfortable and energy efficient. We are delighted with the level of interest our site design and building has generated and pleased to have given over 500 tours in the first year alone.”
For more information on the building's sustainable features, please visit NEE's website.
