Avesta Housing’s Pearl Place II Achieves LEED Platinum Certification

By Joshua Ayers, Senior Editor

Portland, Maine—Avesta Housing, with the help of Thornton Tomasetti Inc., has achieved LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its Pearl Place II community in Portland, Maine’s Bayside neighborhood.

Thornton Tomasetti, which was hired by nonprofit organization Avesta Housing as the LEED for Homes Provider and sustainability consultant, utilized energy modeling to determine appropriate window glazing type, insulation systems, heat recovery ventilation systems and solar hot water systems.

The 55,978 square-foot, 54-unit affordable housing community was designed by PDT Architects and Wright-Ryan Construction was tapped as the contractor. The building’s certification was awarded based on its energy efficient improvements to its lighting and HVAC systems, which accounted for a 21 percent reduction in in energy costs when compared to the ASHRAE 90.1-2007 requirements.

Additionally, the use of efficient panelized construction techniques helped to minimize the time it took to building the community, as well as reduce the amount of waste produced. Of the construction debris that was left over, 85 percent of it was diverted from landfills by way of on-site sorting, which was then sent to the appropriate local recycling facilities.

Pearl Place II, which boasts a Walk Score and Bike Score of 94, features bike storage space and is within close proximity to grocery stores, the post office, the Portland Public Library, several parks and the city’s downtown area.

The community is located at 184 Pearl Street in Portland.