BMR Emery Yards

In response to BioMed’s increasing ESG goals, local trends and opportunities on the site, Emery Yards established three major sustainability priorities: carbon emissions, water, and healthy campus. 5555 Hollis, the first building in the laboratory and office campus, exceeded BMR’s embodied carbon goals and achieved LEED Gold.

The project focused on tackling all aspects of carbon emissions, through measures for energy efficiency, refrigerants, embodied carbon, and transportation. Atelier Ten collaborated with the contractor, structural engineer, concrete supplier, and owner to ensure that low-carbon concrete could be utilized throughout the project. As a result, Emery Yards achieved a 14% reduction in embodied carbon through concrete, steel, and insulation optimizations.

Inherent in the site and building design are several healthy building principles, including connection to the community and public realm, biophilia, active design and enhanced indoor air quality. The project integrates healthy materials and is designed for optimal daylight to support the client’s health and wellness goals.

To ensure maximum water savings, the building is dual-piped in preparation to accept municipal non-potable water from the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). Once connected, there is opportunity for Zero Water Waste by using only non-potable water for flushing, irrigation, and cooling tower water. Even without the non-potable water connection, the project achieves a 41% reduction in indoor water use through low-flow fixtures (compared to a LEED v4 baseline).

Renderings courtesy of Flad Architects.