YDC Tour: Atlantic Wharf

We live in a world where the built environment often competes with nature. At a time where more than half of the world’s seven billion people live in urban areas, urbanization rates anticipate six billion people will live in cities by year 2050. The natural environment will continue to rapidly diminish if future building and infrastructure designs neglect the current metamorphic state of society. It is in the hand of the architect to design for such change.

Atlantic Wharf tower contributing to the Boston skyline
Photo Credit: Garrett House

As the urban fabric of Boston continues to evolve, architects have made attempts to contribute to a more sustainable future. In May 2016, PAYETTE’s Young Designers Core (YDC) took a closer look at the building the office calls home – the Atlantic Wharf building. Designed by CBT Architects, the Atlantic Wharf demonstrates a “confluence of sustainability, modern architecture, historic building reuse and successful mixed-use development.” Most interestingly, the building is noted as Boston’s first “green skyscraper,” receiving a LEED Platinum “Core and Shell” certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The building’s large floor plates and perimeter windows offer expansive views
Photo Credit: Garrett House

Formerly known as Russia Wharf, Atlantic Wharf is a 1.2 million square foot building that utilizes sustainable adaptive-reuse strategies in order to use 33% less energy than comparable buildings in downtown Boston and 42% less energy than typical existing offices in New England. Efforts were made to preserve the historic 1899 Peabody & Stearns Russia building. Much of the original brick façade remains as a shell.  Infill cores, floor slabs and structural elements were added to redefine space vertically within the historic envelope. With open and expansive floors, the building was designed to yields itself to programs including a 750,000 square foot office tower, 70 residential units, a number of restaurants and a waterfront plaza.

View looking down at the Boston Tea Party Museum
Photo Credit: Garrett House

The water reclamation system is one of the most notable building systems integrated in the design of the Atlantic Wharf tower. Gray water is collected from the roof surfaces of the building and is channelized into an elaborate system of pipes and tanks. Underground, a 40,000-gallon water tank is positioned to serve as a supply used for the building’s HVAC and landscape irrigation systems. This move allows the Atlantic Wharf tower to conserve about 1 million gallons of water per year. Additional sustainable strategies include the utilization of new recycled building materials (20% of all materials used) and high-performance building envelope, glass and roof systems. Throughout the construction process, over 85% of construction waste was diverted from landfills.

Storm water reclamation system diagram
Credit: Diagram from http://www.atlanticwharfoffice.com/

The YDC team was guided to one of the last remaining vacant floors for a view of the buildings green roof. This 18,000 square foot vegetated roof is constructed with a modular grid system that is positioned directly on the roof membrane. The nature of the vegetation system allows for a reduction of a “heat island effect,” a reduction of storm water run-off, and provides a habitat for a colony of honeybees and native feathered friends. While the notion of the green roof draws much publicity, the team felt as if there are some improvements to be made – including integrating more plant species and allowing for pedestrian access.

View of Atlantic Wharf modular green roof system
Photo Credit: Hilary Barlow

The tour was concluded with conversations with a surprise “occupant”. A local artist has been setting up his easel in the vacant space to paint a picture of the beautiful streets below.

A local artist paints a picture of the city below
Photo Credit: Garrett House

While terms like “green”, “sustainable”, and “ecological” are often used as a greenwash, the Atlantic Wharf surpasses the norm. The building contributes to the greater good of Boston’s urban fabric. Efforts of sustainability at the urban and architectural scales are further supported by the individual efforts of the building occupants. It is especially rewarding to see such a value is shared within the design studio at PAYETTE.

The upper levels of the Atlantic Wharf tower offer engaging views to the heart of downtown Boston
Photo Credit: Garrett House