Two Pickard Chilton projects honored for sustainable design by AIA Connecticut’s 2022 Sustainable Architecture awards

New Haven, CT According to Pickard Chilton two of its projects, Akamai Technologies’ Global Headquarters in Cambridge, Mass., and the design concept for Uber Sky Loft were recognized by AIA Connecticut’s 2022 Sustainable Architecture awards.

Akamai’s HQ received a merit award in the new construction category, while Uber Sky Loft was honored with a commendation for conceptual design with a focus on adaptive reuse, embodied carbon, & mobility in the conceptual or research-based projects category.

AIA Connecticut’s Sustainable Architecture awards program recognizes the efforts of licensed Connecticut architects who have developed and demonstrated ways to secure a more sustainable and environmentally thriving future. Equally important is the creation of durable, comfortable, and healthy spaces. The award raises awareness for the role played by construction, maintenance, and operations of the built environment.

The 2022 judges included Rachelle Ain, AIA, CPHC, WELL AP and Julie Janiski, co-chairs of the Carbon Leadership Forum Boston; and, Paul Torcellini, principal engineer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Akamai Technologies Global Headquarters
The 482,000 s/f, 19-story glass-clad building at 145 Broadway serves as the global headquarters for Akamai Technologies, one of the world’s leading providers of content delivery network services. In Kendall Sq., one of the fastest growing technology hubs in the country, the high-performance corporate office tower consolidates Akamai’s entire work force from across six locations into a single unified vertical campus.

About the Akamai headquarters, the jurors commented,
“… this is an exciting project with many positive impacts. It features robust site and source energy savings alongside health and wellbeing strategies like the AkaMile walking pathway. The combination of LEED Platinum and WELL Platinum is commendable and supports a realized high-performance project.”

Uber Sky Loft
For the 2019 Uber Elevate Summit, Pickard Chilton and Arup were again engaged to design a concept for a Skyport Mobility Hub, the Uber Sky Loft, for its first international launch market in Melbourne, Australia. The proposed initial network included the retrofit of an existing parking structure and the design of a bespoke greenfield solution.

The high-performance design of the 40,000 s/f Sky Loft is distinguished by its use of sustainable mass timber structure to offset carbon. The design was driven by Pickard Chilton’s aspirations to deliver a structure that positively contributes to the built environment while stewarding the natural environment.

Of the Uber Sky Loft concept, the judges said, “The reuse of an existing parking structure supports the built environment’s need to address adaptive reuse at large and engages some provocative questions about mobility, and this is an attractive solution. The concept of a new multi-modal transit hub is an important discussion to shift away from single owner vehicles…”

AIA Connecticut’s Sustainable Architecture Awards program launched in 2020. Pickard Chilton’s projects have been honored each year; 2+U received a Merit award in 2021 and 609 Main was given an Award of Excellence in 2020.