Boston, MA According to Skanska, the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) has awarded the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex (ISEC) Pedestrian Bridge at Northeastern University with Envision Bronze certification. This is Skanska’s second local project to achieve the Envision verification, a designation that confirms a given infrastructure project’s environmental, social and economic benefits far exceeds conventional practice. In 2017 Skanska received Envision Silver verification for the construction of Boston Landing Station, the first transit project in New England to achieve the prestigious accolade.

Consistent with Skanska’s triple bottom line approach to sustainability, the Envision system rates infrastructure projects across a full range of environmental, social and economic impacts. Skanska earned credits in all five categories – Quality of Life, Leadership, Resource Allocation, Natural World, and Climate and Risk – for its work to construct and install the ISEC Pedestrian Bridge, in collaboration with the project’s architect, Payette.

Key accomplishments that contributed to Skanska’s accolade include:

• Enhancing Public Space and Promoting Future Growth: The original project site was once an active parking lot that has since been restored to provide public space, offering pedestrians unparalleled views of the campus and city. The implementation of the ISEC Pedestrian Bridge also supports ongoing development along Columbus Ave., enabling new dorms, dining halls, playgrounds and sports fields to be more accessible for the university. 

• Protecting and Improving Public Health and Safety: Skanska re-designed the construction crane and lift plan to erect the entire bridge over the course of two nightshifts instead of doing so piece by piece which would have taken multiple weeks. The bridge was first erected in a laydown yard and then two large sections of the bridge were hoisted by crane and put in place. Construction work plans were coordinated with MBTA, Amtrak and the university to ensure maximum public health and safety outcomes throughout the process.

• Using Energy Efficient Lighting and Minimizing Light Pollution: Automated lighting controls and zoned systems work in concert with energy efficient light fixtures to reduce energy requirements and minimize light pollution, while still maintaining sufficient lighting levels required for both safety, comfort and enjoyment of the space.

• Maximizing the Use of Durable Materials with Recycled Content: Formed of weathering steel (COR-TEN), the bridge’s metallurgy is designed to rust in a controlled and deliberate fashion. 

Over time, this rusting process will form a protective corrosion-resistant surface layer, extending the durability and useful life of the bridge. The specialty steel includes a high percentage of recycled content and will reduce maintenance requirements and associated costs over the life of the bridge while also mitigating the need for rail line disruptions during routine maintenance.

 “Sustainability is embedded in our values as a company, and is something we are committed to pushing the boundaries on every day to deliver projects that are environmentally friendly, efficient and safe, as well as assets to the community that are consistent with the city’s transportation and environmental goals,” said Paul Pedini, leader of Skanska’s civil construction practice throughout New England. “The ISEC Pedestrian Bridge at Northeastern enabled us to exercise our ability to build overactive rail tracks using 3D technology, and create a link between the university’s north and south campuses that fits into the architectural context of the school and Boston’s urban fabric.”