Featured Sustainable
Because of an early and persistent interest in sustainable design, we have been able to introduce innovative sustainable strategies into many of our projects over the last two decades. Many energy-saving approaches that were once exceptional have become standard aspects of our projects.
Yet, even the baseline isn't a fixed target. We work with each client to determine what makes sense for them and for their project. Sometimes this allows us to push the envelope; we've chosen to highlight the following projects because they surpass our baseline standards for energy efficiency and sustainability and represent a new standard towards which we hope future projects will strive.
UMass Amherst
Marching Band Building
New Construction
Amherst, Massachusetts
LEED Gold
New 15,000 square foot building, connected to an historic livestock arena that houses the university’s percussion program. The new building includes a 5,500 square foot rehearsal hall for the full marching band of 400 students, administrative offices, student staff and support spaces, rehearsal rooms and instrument storage.
New England Environmental
New Construction
Amherst, Massachusetts
LEED Platinum
Part of a two-phase development that consists of two, 2-story, wood-frame office buildings, the first phase houses offices for New England Environmental, Inc., an environmental consulting firm who will occupy approximately 5,000 square feet of the 9,600 square foot building, and tenant space for lease.
Hampshire College
The Ken Burns Wing
New Construction
Amherst, Massachusetts
2010 Finalist Award, Western Massachusetts AIA
LEED Gold
New 6,700 square foot addition to the Jerome Liebling Center for Film, Photography and Video, a part of the Arts Complex at Hampshire College.
Kuhn Riddle Architects Office
Renovation
Amherst, Massachusetts
As part of a larger adaptive reuse of the Amherst Cinema Building, our own offices allowed us to build what we hope is a model of sustainability for future clients. “Green” features include: open floor plan with ample daylight, locally fabricated workstations made of wheatboard, locally grown and sustainably harvested ash flooring and trims, all-natural flooring made from linseed oil and cork, and a 5KW rooftop solar array that generates approximately 16% of the office’s electrical needs.
Habitat for Humanity Housing
New Construction
Amherst, Massachusetts
2010 Special Mention Award, Western Massachusetts AIA
This project is the result of a unique partnering between Amherst College and Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity. Amherst College donated the land to build four houses over the course of four years. Kuhn Riddle provided the design of the prototype houses. Super-insulated envelopes and point source heating provide an economical alternative for affordable housing.
Stiebel Apartments
New Construction
Holyoke, Massachusetts
10 fully accessible units in a highly energy-efficient building provide for a sustainable and supportive community and features: the first, private green- roof system in the city that reduces stormwater runoff by 75%, ten inch super insulated walls with a rating of R60 that reduce heating and cooling loads, solar Hot Water and Radiant Heat throughout building, and 90% total energy savings over conventional construction methods.