Sustainable Design

“I highly recommend The Berkshire Design Group to effectively create, plan, and oversee construction of municipal parks and playgrounds. Their expertise in Landscape Architecture can not be surpassed by even the largest of firms anywhere in New England.”

CHRISTOPHER M. SPARKS
DIRECTOR OF PARKS & RECREATION,
TOWN OF AGAWAM, MA

The Berkshire Design Group, Inc. has been leading sustainable design strategies for the New England Region since 1984. 

We work with our clients holistically to craft an integrated project that minimizes negative impacts on the environment and improves a project’s immediate surroundings. We’ve been reducing greenhouse emissions, improving water quality, and developing cutting edge design solutions since the firm began.

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Leading the Industry in Sustainable Design

Not only has the firm developed many of the prototypes and standards used by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for Stormwater Design, we’ve lead the site design and construction of the:

  • First Certified Living Building Challenge in the United States

  • First Net Zero Community in New England

  • First PassiveHaus Childcare Center in New England

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Sustainable Accreditation

Across the country there are several voluntary accreditation programs which a client or project may pursue. Of these, USGBC’s LEED Rating System is the most common; others include: The Sustainable Sites Initiative, The Star Communities Rating System for Cities, Envision Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System, and the Net Zero Building Challenge. The Berkshire Design Group has completed numerous projects within each category and serves as a regional expert for many of these programs. For example, The Berkshire Design Group is working with Mass Development on the first Net Zero Neighborhood in Northampton, Massachusetts In addition, we recently completed two Living Building Challenge on the campus of Hampshire College.

 
NEWS
Bird notes: Hawk takes roost as Meadow Blooms
Bird notes: Hawk takes roost as Meadow Blooms

A hawk stretched its wings and swooped overhead, making circles as I snapped this photo during a Construction site visit early this morning. Granby’s East Meadow School is going through the final phase of construction.

Capturing Rain for Community
Capturing Rain for Community

As summer comes to a close, our project at the Greenfield Community Center is starting to put down roots and reach towards the sun. The project developed in conjunction with Dietz Architects and the City of Greenfield, provides a new community center near downtown Greenfield. Planting within the project pursues multiple strategies including foundation planting, rain gardens, and community gardens. In addition, an arrival garden was designed and installed by the local gardening club.

Living Building Workshop
Living Building Workshop

Join us and the USGBC Massachusetts Chapter and the New England Living Building Challenge Collaborative this Tuesday Jan 30, 2018 for a multi-disciplinary approach to incorporating LBC (Living Building Challenge) into your current projects.