Sustainable is a word and a concept that John D’Amelio, President of Precast Specialties Corp., wants you to think of when you think about precast concrete as a building material. Precast concrete is a sustainable building material and an excellent green building material choice because it is energy efficient, durable and eco-friendly. Because of the versatile application of precast concrete, the use of precast can contribute to the LEED points of a final project. Precast Specialties Corp. thanks all of the builders and contractors we’ve had the opportunity to work with who share our focus on sustainability and look forward to working on even more local and sustainable projects in the future for New England’s built environment. Stay tuned for more information about precast’s sustainable properties.
Hobbs Brook Office Park via Margulies Perruzzi Architects website
For over 20 years, Margulies Perruzzi Architects (formerly known as Margulies & Associates) has specialized in designing and building the ultimate workplace for their clients’ needs. Known for their corporate, healthcare and professional services work, Margulies Perruzzi Architects delivers innovative and cutting edge spaces. With numerous awards and achievements, including 3rd Place in the 2011 Sidewalk Sam (Chalk One Up, Common Boston) and ranking as the 18th Largest Architecture Firm in Boston (Boston Business Journal), Margulies Perruzzi Architects “remain[s] at the forefront of new processes…[to] benefit their projects.”
Precast Specialties Corp and Margulies Perruzzi Architects recently teamed up on the Hobbs Brook Office Park in Waltham, MA. With Columbia Construction as the General Contractor, this project won the 2010 Projects Innovation Grand Prize from Buildings Magazine and with the help of sustainable benefits from precast concrete, the building achieved a LEED-Gold certification.
The Interview with John D’Amelio, President, Precast Specialties Corp.
What codes, standards and peripheral trends might be affecting the popularity of your product?
One trend that is growing in popularity, and acceptance, is the use of precast concrete in residential housing construction. Precast concrete basement walls are gaining popularity because they can be pre-insulated to increase energy efficiency in the home. These walls also provide a finished interior wall system. There’s also a lot being said about precast concrete floor slabs. They appear to be gaining more acceptance in residential construction.
by Marc Margulies, AIA, LEED AP
Published in Environmental Design + Construction
Sustainable design and construction has become the norm rather than the exception in commercial real estate, with new construction and existing buildings alike striving for LEED certification. The key to approaching a sustainable project, especially one going for LEED Gold, is to look at the entire project from a holistic point of view and consider every aspect of design and construction as a piece of the “sustainability puzzle.”
