The new Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems, with construction managed by Gilbane Building Co., involves a retrofit that will transform the historic, 100-year-old building at 5 Channel Center in Boston into a building technology showcase for clean energy technologies and research.
The Center will serve as the Fraunhofer’s new headquarters, housing advanced research labs and staff. In addition to pre-construction and construction management services for the renovation of the building’s core and shell, Gilbane will provide Fraunhofer with specialized knowledge and expertise related to the construction of energy efficient buildings.
Fraunhofer is also using $2.7 million in energy efficient building products donated by nearly 40 companies, ranging from building material manufacturing giants like Dow Corning Corp. to Massachusetts start-up companies. CSE researchers will evaluate the reliability and effectiveness of the technologies incorporated into the building, helping technology developers prove out their products with building-integrated and other applied research.
The facility is being designed by DiMella Shaffer with BR+A as engineers. Renovations will begin in July and are scheduled to be complete by the end of this year. The Center will target LEED Platinum.
Related Stories
Office Buildings | Nov 3, 2015
Emotional intelligence and design
In a world in which technology and its skills are constantly changing, good people skills are becoming more important, writes VOA's Angie Lee.
Architects | Nov 2, 2015
NCARB: Interactive tool helps architects prep for exam
The Transition Calculator for the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) will help licensure candidates transition from ARE 4.0 to ARE 5.0.
Architects | Nov 2, 2015
China Accord: Design firms sign pledge to tackle climate change
52 companies will collaborate to reduce carbon emissions.
BIM and Information Technology | Oct 29, 2015
MIT develops ‘river of 3D pixels’ to assemble objects
The Kinetic Blocks can manipulate objects into shapes without human interference.
Architects | Oct 27, 2015
Top 10 tile trends for 2016
Supersized tile and 3D walls are among the trending tile design themes seen at Cersaie, an exhibition of ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings held in Bologna, Italy in October.
Architects | Oct 27, 2015
Architecture at Zero 2015 design competition names award winners
Entrants created family-style student residential plans for the University of California, San Francisco Mission Bay campus. All projects needed to be as close to net-zero as possible.
Architects | Oct 22, 2015
AIA: Architecture firms reporting progress on achieving carbon reduction targets as part of the 2030 Commitment
The AIA 2030 2014 Progress Report highlights an increase in design projects, gross square footage, and net-zero energy projects.
Architects | Oct 21, 2015
Strong rebound for Architecture Billings Index
Business conditions continue to be weak in the Northeast, but the other regions are in good shape.
Museums | Oct 20, 2015
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Bachman Wilson House finds new home at Arkansas museum
Crystal Bridges Museum reconstructed the 61-year-old Usonian house and will open it to the public in November.
Architects | Oct 20, 2015
Four building material innovations from the Chicago Architecture Biennial
From lightweight wooden pallets to the largest lengths of CLT-slabs that can be shipped across North America
