Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The development of sustainable and well-integrated casino buildings and grounds was the topic of a public forum held by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in Boston on Dec. 12.
The forum, held in partnership with the American Institute of Architects Massachusetts, was intended to advise the commission on the creation of casino design standards that could promote sustainability and “design excellence” that is well-integrated with local communities.
The 2011 legislation authorizing three casinos in Massachusetts requires the commission to promulgate regulations promoting sustainable design principles, which could include LEED certification, “stretch” building codes, vehicle trip mitigation, water conservation, stormwater mitigation, and the use of Energy Star equipment.
Vernon Woodworth, president of the American Institute of Architects Massachusetts, framed the issue of sustainability as the integration of environmental and community considerations.
He noted that there are 122 Green Communities in Massachusetts, a designation sought by municipalities on a voluntary basis. While many of the standards of the Green Communities program involve energy efficiency, casino design presents an opportunity to go beyond this with more holistic sustainability measures, he said.
Woodworth also noted that Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification was a breakthrough “market transformer” that got developers to consider all aspects of sustainability when designing buildings.
Laura Wernick, president of the Boston Society of Architects, discussed design excellence in terms of both buildings and grounds.
“Design excellence is creating a standard that will improve the community and make it a better place for local residents,” she said. “This must be a part of design goals.”
She suggested that goals could include a casino design that:
• Supports and enhances the community
• Is “exciting and inviting” but appropriate for its context
• Includes a thoughtful and well-integrated use of site elements
If such goals are included early in the casino design process, said attorney Julie Taylor of the firm Noble & Wickersham, there may be no additional cost to developers – and instead major savings in long-term operating costs.
Casinos are mixed-use, she said, and each element can be designed to advance sustainability. High-performance buildings are technically feasible and increasingly common.
The forum drew an audience of about 50 architects, designers and developers.