021010, 021011 - Watermark I
350 Third St
Cambridge, MA 02142
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Watermark West is a 321-unit, 23-story single apartment building located at 350 Third Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, approximately 1.5 blocks from MIT campus and the Kendall/MIT stop on the Metropolitan Boston Transit Authority’s Red Line subway. Constructed in 2005-2006, the building is both ENERGY STAR and LEED Gold certified. The facility consists of apartments on floors 3 through 23 and retail on the ground level and second floor. The retail spaces include two restaurants on the ground level—EVOO Za and Kika Tapas—and a health/fitness club on the second floor. These spaces have been excluded from LEED and ENERGY STAR certification since they are outside of management control and comprise less than 10 percent of the gross floor area of the building. The property also includes a four-story underground parking garage that is operated by a separate entity. There is a development agreement which gives Watermark residents the right to one space in the garage per unit.
The site is a former brownfield that was re-zoned as a planned urban development known as "Kendall Square." The Kendall Square neighborhood is known as an office, lab, and technology hub, but recent residential additions to the area (such as Watermark) are changing the area into a 24-7, mixed-use community.
Since the original certification, a vegetated roof and landscaped terrace were added to the property. The vegetated roof is located on the 21st floor sky deck and is composed mostly of mixed-fescue grasses. The landscaped terrace in on the 2nd floor and consists of native trees and other vegetation, as well as large artificial turf area due to weight limitations of the structure.
The main highlights of the project were the energy efficiency upgrades implemented at the property. During the LEED performance period, an ASHRAE Level II audit was performed. Several Energy Conservation Measures (ECM's) were identified as a result of the audit. All practical no- and low-cost ECM's were completed, including the following:
-- Retrofitting 2.2 GPM residential lavatory and kitchen faucets with 1.5 GPM aerators
-- Replacing 2.5 GPM shower head fixtures with 1.5 GPM fixtures
-- Retrofitting 60 watt incandescent fixtures in residential units with 15 watt CFLs
-- Retrofitting 1st floor common area fixtures with LEDs and installing occupancy sensors
-- Retrofitting 22 watt lamps in elevator cabs with 2 watt LEDs
-- Retrofitting 50 watt CFLs in lobby with 7 watt LEDs
The above ECM's are estimated to save more than 907,000 kWh annually. This will result in a reduction of more than 600 estimated metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, which is equivalent to the amount of emissions produced from the electricity use of more than 80 homes for one year.
Another highlight of the project was the 40% reduction in indoor water use. Existing efficient fixtures, along with the installation of 1.5 GPM faucet aerators and 1.5 GPM shower heads, are estimated to save more than five million gallons annually compared to standard fixtures. The upgrades are implemented at no cost due to NSAR rebates.
The building's educational program was also a highlight. A Green Living Guide was developed as part of the initial certification and continues to be updated as additional ECM's are implemented. The guide is distributed to all residents either online or in a hard copy upon move in. The Guide educates residents on the sustainable features of the building, such as the green cleaning program, and provides instruction on green practices. Additional signage is installed in model units, allowing prospective residents to learn about the building's sustainable features and benefits before move-in. The Green Living Guide is a living document that will be revised over time as building management identifies and adopts new best practices.
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Testimonial:
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Please note: Narrative information in this profile has been provided by Residential Tower Unit, LLC or a representative of this facility. Other building information was verified and submitted to EPA at the time of application. Building energy performance, operating characteristics, and ownership/management may be subject to change over time.
Building Owner:*
Residential Tower Unit, LLC
Property Manager:*
Gables Residential
Year(s) Labeled (Rating):
2015 (79)
2016 (91)
Facility Type: Multifamily Housing
Total Floorspace: 340574 sf
Year Constructed: 2006
Contract Type: None
Technologies Used:
| Stage 2-Lighting |
| Stage 3-Load Reductions |
| Stage 5-Heating and Cooling Plant |