ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge's first phase of a comprehensive renovation of pre-doctoral clinics for Tufts University School of Dental Medicine has received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). ARC completed the 20,000 s/f first phase of a comprehensive renovation plan totaling 60,000 s/f of clinic, office and support space in the fall of 2011. The full renovation plan spans across three floors at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine's health sciences campus at 1 Kneeland St. Among the areas addressed to achieve LEED Gold certification for the Phase 1 renovation of the second floor at the 1 Kneeland St. building were improvements in water efficiency, energy use, building materials and recycling, indoor environmental quality, green design innovation and sustainability of the site.
Increased ventilation and localized temperature controls contribute to improved indoor environmental quality. More than 23 percent of the building materials were manufactured using recycled content and more than 84 percent of construction waste was diverted away from landfills. The project achieved several certification points for design innovations including green cleaning policies, and a green education program incorporating building signage and a website.
Water use on the building's second floor was reduced by 40% through techniques such as the use of metered water fixtures. In addition, the installation of energy-efficient, hands-free dryers is reducing both paper towel and electricity usage. Energy-efficient lighting at the facility uses occupancy sensors in common areas and vacancy sensors in private offices, while single-stream recycling stations are built into common staff areas.
"We are very pleased to have helped Tufts University design its School of Dental Medicine facilities not only as an innovative and cutting-edge teaching clinic, but as an environmentally sustainable facility," said Rob Quigley, AIA, a principal at ARC who served as principal-in-charge of the renovation project.
The Gold-certified Phase I renovation project is not ARC's only Tufts project to receive such accolades. In 2009, ARC completed a 5-story, 105,000 s/f vertical addition to the existing 10-story building for Tufts School of Dental Medicine at One Kneeland Street. That project received LEED Silver certification from the USGBC and design awards from the Boston Society of Architects, the New England Chapter of International Interior Design Association and the Boston chapter of the International Facilities Management Association.