The Architect’s Newspaper is bringing Facades+ back to Boston on July 12. The conference will highlight the most exciting projects in New England and feature high level conversations covering local building codes and commissioning. AN worked with Bradford Prestbo, director of Studio NYL’s Boston office as the conference’s co-chair. Click here to view additional information and register.
Achieving Net Zero in Boston
The program will begin with a presentation by John Dalzell, senior architect for sustainable development at Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA). Dalzell will provide an overview of the BPDA’s Net Zero Carbon Building Zoning Initiative as well as case study examples of the program’s implementation. Last month alone, the BPDA approved over a billion square feet of net-zero carbon projects.
Critical Changes to Stretch Code for Enclosures
Continuing with the themes developed by the first presentation, Lara Pfadt, sustainability strategist for Finegold Alexander, and Michelle Fennell, senior associate at BR+A, will discuss recent changes to the Massachusetts stretch code. As members of the task force which developed these changes, Pfadt and Fennell will break down the history of the code, what has changed, and provide practical advice for how attendees can incorporate these changes into their practice.
Efficiency in Building Envelope Commissioning
Brian Neely, vice president of Gale Associates and director of the firm’s Building Enclosure Consulting and Commissioning group, will share insights into the commissioning process taking inspiration from local enclosure hero Wagdy Anis.
Timber: Exterior Enclosure, Superstructure & Opaque Assemblies
Chris O’Hara, founding principal at Studio NYL, and Shu Talun, senior facade consultant at RDH, will delve into the technical considerations necessary to implement mass timber on the exterior or superstructure of a project. Given mass timber’s recent popularity as a building material, this panel will provide attendees with valuable lessons regarding the properties of mass timber, including response to weather conditions and moisture, as well as sharing strategies for avoiding damage during construction.
11 E Lennox: Constructing Multifamily Passive House in Boston
In this project spotlight, Monte French, founder of Monte French Design Studio (MFDS); Alex Yoon, design director at MFDS; and Patrick Haydon, founder of Haycon, will present 11 E Lennox, Boston’s first ground-up mass timber structure. The case study will delve into the development, design, and construction of this groundbreaking project as well as its path to become passive house certified.
Wellesley College Science Complex: Detailing Multi-Material Enclosures
The program continues with a case study of Wellesley College’s redesigned Science Complex. Leonard Lopate and Jongwoon Lee, associate principal and associate at SOM, respectively, as well as Michelle Maheu, director for Planning, Design, and Construction at Wellesley College, will detail the reuse and expansion of the campus’ original science center. The design team implemented a mass timber frame to support the building’s curtain wall and zinc-clad pavilions.
National Conservation Legacy Center
In the final presentation of the day, Tom Chung, principal at Leers Weinzapfel Associates, will cover the design and construction of the United States Forestry Service’s National Conservation Legacy Center. Utilizing timber from national forest trees, the museum center was designed to achieve a number of low-carbon targets.