East Walpole, MA A three-story office building constructed by Columbia for Siemens Healthineers’ local campus has achieved LEED Gold status. The project was built in collaboration with Jacobs Engineering.

“We are thrilled by this recognition for Siemens Healthineers. It was our shared mission that this project demonstrate the highest possible consideration for employee health and well-being and the strongest possible commitment to energy reduction measures, sustainability, and resiliency,” said Columbia president, Shaun Lover. “Congratulations to all involved in achieving these important goals.”

Among the building’s numerous noteworthy features: 70% of electricity usage is procured from clean renewable energy sources. Exterior passive solar window shading, which minimizes heat entering the building, reduces air conditioning needs during summer months. The HVAC system refrigerant impact is reduced by 45%, lowering potential global warming impact while providing a 30% increase in fresh air for improved indoor air quality. Abundant natural light throughout the building is augmented with occupancy/vacancy sensors, and 98% of workers have control over their lighting. Since opening in 2018, the building has achieved 26% savings on its energy usage. 

Indoor air health is supported through the use of low-VOC emitting adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, flooring, and composite wood products. 100% of the wood in the new building is sustainably sourced from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified forests, mills, and vendors. Among other materials used at the site, 23% are recycled and 15% are locally sourced. Best practices in waste management during the construction process produced a 90% reduction in landfill/incineration waste. 

Additional features include electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and bicycle storage facilities. Native and adaptive landscaping in the 25% of open space at the project site requires no permanent irrigation, partly because 90% of annual rainfall is captured and naturally filtered to remove 80% of suspended solids, which helps keep local waterways clean and the site healthy. Potable water use for the entire project is reduced by 42%.

The new building is part of Columbia’s expansive portfolio of work at the Siemens Healthineers’ Advanced Manufacturing and Research & Development (R&D) Facility, which represents one of the more complex and challenging life science expansion and renovation projects ever undertaken. This multi-year, $300 million program substantially expanded the research and production footprint of the Siemens Healthineers’ Laboratory Diagnostics campus. The campus is now comprised of six buildings providing dedicated manufacturing, warehousing, office, and research space. Siemens Healthineers’ Walpole campus contributes to production of more than 10 billion diagnostic tests annually and operates on a 24 hour per day, seven days per week schedule. Most recently, the facility has begun production of more than 25 million SARS-CoV-2 antibody test kits per month to aid COVID-19 efforts.