Boston Macallen Building Sets Green Standard for Condos

As Green building and development continues to spread across the country, Boston has joined the club.  The Macallen Building, a 140-unit development in South Boston is one of the most progressive developments in the city, opening its doors to residents in June of 2007, it has achieved a coveted Gold-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design  (LEED) certification badge, currently the only across all Boston real estate.

The sloping 6 to 12 story Macallen Building, nestled among hip, and up and coming, condo developments near the Broadway Red Line T-Stop, including Court Square Press, Allele Boston, and the Lofts at 36 A, sets itself apart with its focus on being the eco-friendly neighbor.  The Macallen Building has strived hard to achieve the highest LEED green certification level.  Due in part to its green roof, the Macallen will save over 600,000 gallons of water each year, and its systems allow for annual electric savings of approximately 30% compared to similarly sized buildings. The Macallen’s roof is set with sedum, a flowering plant that will change colors with the seasons collecting rainwater runoff for landscaping use.

The entire building is non-smoking, and unique to Macallen is heating and air conditioning systems in each unit that pull fresh air, not re-circulated air, from the outside directly into your unit to maintain the best indoor air quality, while insulation comes from recycled jeans.  The development team, Pappas Enterprises, went so far as to come up with a Green Manifesto.  The Macallen Building at 141 Dorchester Avenue in South Boston has set the gold standard in Green construction for the city of Boston, and it will be up to those following the Macallen to keep pace with the high standards that have now been set for Boston condo developments.

The Macallen Building is phase II of the Pappas Properties’ Court Square Press development, at the foot of West Broadway, where it meets Dorchester Avenue.  Pappas partnered with OfficedA and Burt Hill Architects, the latter being the first AE firm member of the US Green Building Council and involved in developing the original LEED standards. Included in the design was an outdoor heated pool on an 18,000 square foot plaza, 24-hour concierge, onsite health club, and a recreation-media room for use by all residents.

Whereas Pappas’ Court Square Press is a renovated printing press building converted into 130 loft-spaces, the Macallen Building is brand-new construction. There are 140 units spread across the sloping structure, mixing upscale design with extensive use of natural and recycled materials. There are three levels of parking below, and street-level retail (the openings of a restaurant and a second shop are imminent).

The standard has now been set for environmentally conscious condo developments in Boston (and beyond), and with the warm reception the building has received in the city, both from an exterior and interior design, as well as green elements perspective, more developers will begin to consider how they too can incorporate the environment into their creations.

• Macallen Building
• Boston Real Estate
• South Boston Condos

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