Global engineering giant GE has this week unveiled plans for its new headquarters in Boston, featuring green roofs, energy efficiency measures, and a giant solar ‘veil'.

 

The veil, which is designed as a tribute to Boston's maritime heritage, is to cascade down the side of the new development, delivering on site clean power to the campus complex when it opens in 2018.

 

However, the iconic solar array is just one of a host of green innovations at the site, which the company said would continue "its global commitment to the environment".

 

The project features a new 12 storey building, but it also incorporates the renovation of two neighbouring brick warehouses in a move that is expected to reduce embodied emissions for the project.

 

Meanwhile, GE said the 2.4 acre campus will be in the "top quintile of similar buildings using the Energy Use Index and will be LEED version 4".

 

Other key ‘green' features include the development of green, vegetated roof areas designed to improve energy efficiency and biodiversity and the incorporation of raised ground floors and critical systems designed to make the harbour-front site resilient to future sea level rise.

 

Most notably, the campus is expected to house 800 employees but includes just 30 parking spots in a bid to encourage staff to walk, cycle, or make use of public transport to get to and from work.

 

"We want our campus to be a global epicenter of innovation, a place to foster relationships among our employees and the greater community," said Ann R. Klee, head of Boston Development and Operations for GE. "Our headquarters is designed to engage and leverage the talent, technology and work ethic of Fort Point and greater Boston, while also giving back to the community through investment, rehabilitation and an inviting public space." (businessGreen)