The latest to receive the Environmental Merit Award from EPA, New England is Phoenix Park in Shirley, Massachusetts. This award was given away on the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, April 22nd. The principal owner Eric Shapiro and project manager Robert McDermott were presented the award at a ceremony at Faneuil Hall in Boston.

Background & Building Plan

Phoenix Park has been redeveloped from an old cotton mill; to redevelop an old building into an energy-efficient structure is one of the greatest challenges to modern architecture. And today, Phoenix Park stands as one of those few constructions that has faced and overcome this very challenge.  Starting from the development plan and going right up to operation of the building in a way most advantageous to the ecosystem, this business park has left no stone unturned in ensuring that it is one of the most energy-efficient manifestations of great architecture.

Phoenix Park is a 325,000 square foot refurbished 14-building office and industrial complex in Shirley, Massachusetts. It is located on a 56-acre campus setting close to the commuter rail, comprises office and flexes space and is equipped with modern amenities. The frills include a free fitness facility, conference room, cafeteria, internet connectivity and low-cost commercial storage space.

Energy-Efficient Features

Phoenix is equipped with a 506kW solar power harnessing system. This system includes 2,530 Evergreen 200 Watt rooftop and ground-level solar panels and Solectria Renewables Photovoltaic Inverters. The Park’s choice of Massachusetts-made components from Evergreen and Solectria bolsters and reinforces the state’s leadership position in the nation’s growing green economy.

The system offsets roughly 40 percent of the total electricity load on the park. Over its lifetime, the system will offset over 950,000 pounds of carbon dioxide - the equivalent of planting 52,000 trees and eliminating the burning of over 9,800 gallons of gasoline each year.

The entire architecture is also retrofitted with energy-efficient windows and maximum roof insulation. Energy-efficient lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems are other salient features of this unquestionably green structure.

Phoenix Park exemplifies the policy of "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle" in its broadest sense. It has presented the community with an invaluable asset without compromising on advanced technology.