Genzyme's 270,000 s/f operations center earns LEED-CI Gold

According to Genzyme and designer Perkins+Will, the Green Building Certificate Institute (GBCI) recently awarded Genzyme's 270,000 s/f operations center the LEED-CI Gold certification, making it the only operations center in New England to receive a LEED Gold rating. Lighting and HVAC design strategies, the use of locally-sourced materials, a high rate of construction waste recycling, and a selection of low-VOC emitting materials all contributed to meeting the project's sustainability goals. Genzyme has a commitment to building responsibly. Genzyme recently achieved its publicly stated, 25% carbon-reduction goal 2 years early, completed 79 new energy projects, and is on track for 15 Green Buildings. Originally envisioned as a traditional distribution center, a program and value stream analysis by Perkins+Will helped identify opportunities to save the company time and money by redefining the program into a multi-channel operations center supporting basic distribution functions as well as 8 other groups, including quality control, packaging and labeling, and clinical research. The resulting streamlined supply chain and enhanced efficiency will support Genzyme in its mission to make a major positive impact on the lives of those with serious diseases. The project team included contractor A/Z Corp. and MEP/FP engineer Vanderweil Engineers.