New Arup office in Boston meets sustainability and wellbeing standards
Arup’s new down town Boston office, to which the firm recently moved its operations in the city, has been fitted out to meet a range of key sustainability and health related standards, including LEED v4 ID+C Platinum and WELL Silver.
Arup has had an office in the Boston area for over 17 years. In that time, Boston staff have worked with a broad range of clients including companies, institutions and agencies. Current and recent projects include Northeastern University Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering Complex, MBTA Green Line Extension, Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building at Dudley Square, MIT Site 4 Graduate Student Tower, Boston Properties Back Bay Station mixed use development and Partners Healthcare Resiliency Masterplan.
The engineering and consulting firm recently moved into a new, highly sustainable office – the firm has received the LEED v4 standard, a benchmark developed by the US Green Building Council which focuses on strategies that reduce energy and water consumption.
Arup’s new office location, among others, features active movement design, which reduces the sedentary nature of office work; Circadian lighting systems designed by Arup to dynamically simulate the sunlight based on the time of day; and end-of-pipe water filtration system, focused on increasing staff hydration; material selection to avoid contaminating staff with chemical contaminants; and outside air ventilation, with ventilation rates based on occupancy levels.
The office also received a WELL Silver status – a standard which recognises the quality of health and wellbeing initiatives to achieve a workplace optimised for people. The standard is operated by the international WELL Building Institute.
Tim McCaul, Arup Principal and leader of the Boston office, remarks, "Arup is committed to creating both a sustainable and healthy office environment. We believe that working in a healthy building relates to employee performance, recruitment and retention, reduced absenteeism, embodiment of brand, and company culture."