Cubellis has been awarded LEED Gold established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), for the firms' headquarters at 281 Summer St.
The Cubellis headquarters achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. By using less energy and water, LEED certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.
"The strength of USGBC has always been the collective strength of our leaders in the building industry," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO & founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "Given the extraordinary importance of climate protection and the central role of the building industry in that effort, Cubellis demonstrates their commitment and tremendous green building leadership through LEED certification of their corporate headquarters."
"Fostering and developing expertise in sustainable business and building practices is a priority for Cubellis," said Steve Leone, AIA, LEED AP, principal and director of sustainable design at Cubellis.
The firm also offers teams a way to stay connected and share ideas and information through its' internal Sustainable Advocacy Group, the Cubellis Green Forum.
LEED Certification of Cubellis' headquarters was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. Some features include:
Site Selection
* Development Density and Community
Connectivity
* Alternative Transportation, Public
Transportation Access
* Alternative Transportation, Bicycle Storage & Changing Rooms
* Alternative Transportation, Parking Availability
* Water Use Reduction
* CFC Reduction in HVAC & R Equipment
* Optimize Energy Performance - Lighting Power
* Storage and Collection of Recyclables
* Construction Waste Management
* Resource Reuse, 30% Furniture and Furnishings
Regional Materials
* Outside Air Delivery Monitoring
* Low-Emitting Materials
* Adhesives and Sealants
* Paints and Coatings
* Carpet Systems
* Composite Wood and Laminate Adhesives
* Systems Furniture and Seating
* Innovation in Design
The teams at Cubellis provided the mandatory documentation which supports the achievements of the credit requirements, achieving the associated points. The project achieved enough points for Gold Rating, based on the Official LEED v2 Scores: Certified: 21-26; Silver Rating: 27-31; Gold Rating: 32-41; Platinum Rating: 42+
About the U.S. Green Building Council
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.
With a community comprising 78 local affiliates, more than 20,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 100,000 LEED Accredited Professionals, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to soar to $60 billion by 2010. The USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.
Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.
About LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system is the preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. 35,000 projects are currently participating in the LEED system, comprising over 5.6 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 91 countries.
By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.
USGBC was co-founded by current President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive. Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has become the preeminent green building, membership, policy, standards, influential, education and research organization in the nation. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.
About Cubellis
Cubellis is an integrated, multidisciplinary design firm offering architectural, interior design, and engineering services to a diverse base of national and international clients. The firm's practice area expertise includes retail & mixed-use, workplace solutions, residential, academic, hospitality, and government/municipal. Cubellis is a team of over 300 professionals, with offices in Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Boston, MA; Rocky Hill, CT; Englewood Cliffs; NJ Philadelphia and Wayne, PA; Tysons Corner, VA; Chicago, IL; Orange County, CA; Baltimore, MD; Dallas, TX; New York, NY; and Dubai, UAE