Hobbs Brook Management LLC, a pioneer in the development of office space in the Boston suburbs, announced today that its building at 1175 Boston Providence Tpke. has achieved LEED Gold for New Construction by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). It is the first office building in Norwood to do so. Designed by Margulies Perruzzi Architects (MPA) and built by Columbia Construction Company (CCC), the 160,000 s/f class A office building opened in 2013 and fully accommodates two tenants with separate entrances, centralized corporate dining, and a complete on-site fitness center.
Hobbs Brook has been incorporating energy efficiency and sound green building practices in the construction and renovation of its properties for more than three decades. This approach to sustainability greatly reduces negative environmental impacts, and as an added benefit, green operations and management mitigate operating costs, enhance building marketability, increase worker productivity, and improve indoor air quality for a more healthful workplace.
"We make it standard practice to require LEED certification for all new construction projects Hobbs Brook undertakes," said Kevin Casey, vice president of real estate and construction for Hobbs Brook. "We've enjoyed great success on recent projects with MPA and CCC and share a commitment to quality design and construction, building efficiency, and environmental stewardship. Receiving LEED Gold for the Norwood building validates the team's commitment to sustainability and provides another gleaming example for our sustainable building portfolio."
MPA and CCC designed and constructed the high-performance green building with sustainable features that include a high reflection roof to reduce a heat island effect, solar shading of the exterior window system to cut down on heat gain in the building, high efficiency irrigation, and the use of drought resistant plant materials. Additional sustainable features include:
* 40% water use reduction;
* 22% optimized energy performance than code designed within the building envelope and high performance HVAC equipment;
* Bioswale and rain gardens to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff water prior to releasing into the storm water system;
* Bike racks and shower facilities for bicycle commuters;
* Onsite reuse of crushed stone and soil;
* Low-emitting indoor building product materials;
* Recycled and regional building product materials reduce extraction and processing of virgin materials and environmental impacts resulting from transportation; and
* Green housekeeping program.

The new building marks the second successful sustainable project borne from the partnership of Hobbs Brook, MPA and CCC. The building utilized many green building elements that helped it to achieve LEED Gold, an effort that was accomplished by working together early in the design process to look at the entire project from a sustainability standpoint.
To show how a truly successful partnership works, MPA and Columbia jointly produced a five-part documentary video series on the teamwork, design, and construction ofHobbs Brook Management's new Norwood building. "The Fusion of Architecture and Construction" video series illustrates the successful partnership and collaboration effort between the building owner, builder, and architect for the project, while educating viewers about building design best practices and providing an insider's look at the construction of the building.
The full project team includes:
* Owner: Hobbs Brook Management
* Architect: Margulies Perruzzi Architects
* Contractor: Columbia Construction Company
* LEED Consultant: RM Environmental Consulting
* MEP/HVAC Engineer: AHA Consulting Engineers
* Civil Engineer: Kelly Engineering
* Building Envelope Consultant: SGH Engineering
As both owner and operator, Hobbs Brook Management LLC is committed to providing its tenants and their employees with a reliable and fully functional business environment.