In the News

Shawmut Helps Gucci San Francisco Achieve LEED Silver Certification

Boston, MA – October 5, 2009 – Shawmut Design and Construction, a leading national construction management firm, announces that the San Francisco Gucci retail flagship located at 240 Stockton Street in San Francisco has recently received Silver LEED® Certification. This 11,000square foot project, designed by architect Atmosphere Design Group, LLC, included new storefront windows, a custom metal and glass façade, a two-story feature staircase, glass walls at the mezzanine, an elevator, dumbwaiter, and extensive millwork. Work also included the installation of a new cooling tower, condenser water piping, and HVAC units. The project was completed on an aggressive nine-month schedule.  

The Gucci store was required by their lease in downtown San Francisco to meet LEED® certification standards, and Shawmut partnered with M-Retail Engineering on the project to successfully complete the certification process. Choices were carefully made to meet the LEED® certification requirements while adhering to Gucci branding. For instance, although energy efficient lighting options are becoming more common, this is typically a sticking point for retailers since lighting is a crucial part of store design. So the team compromised and chose high efficiency HVAC components, while the lighting system remained as the Gucci brand standard. The client and architect were also flexible on some finish choices, opting for rapidly renewable wool carpet and low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paints and adhesives throughout the space although this was a break from typical Gucci finishes.  

Shawmut's Construction and Demolition Best Practice were also put to work as the team carefully managed the disposal and recycling of all waste material, ensuring every bit of recyclable material that could be saved was hauled to the appropriate vendors rather than to a landfill. The team's 76.65% recycle rate earned the project two additional LEED® certification points, pushing the project—which was initially planned for only a basic level LEED® Certification—over the threshold to achieve Silver LEED®  Certification. Gucci San Francisco represents the Shawmut's Retail Group's first project that has achieved LEED® Certification.  

According to Shawmut's Project Executive Vincent Spataro, "On the success of this project, Gucci plans to build more LEED® Certified projects and we should be proud that Shawmut played an important role in this process."   Shawmut's "green guru" and Director of Engineering Services, Tom Perry, LEED® AP, is excited about this milestone in Shawmut's sustainable construction efforts. "Achieving LEED® Certification while remaining sensitive to our retail clients' branding and design needs is a major step forward in helping reducing our industry's carbon footprint. It is a major testament to our employees' ability to use their knowledge and expertise to come up with solutions, alternatives, and compromises to achieve the desired goal. Being a leader in sustainable construction is excellent for Shawmut's business. But more important, it's crucial for our planet."

About Shawmut Design and Construction
Shawmut Design and Construction is a 100% employee-owned company headquartered in Boston with offices in New York, Providence, Las Vegas, and New Haven. Shawmut is a leading ENR top 100-ranked national construction management firm providing client-oriented services in the following markets: Academic, Commercial, Corporate Interiors, Cultural and Historic Preservation, Gaming, Healthcare and Science, Hotels, Restaurants, Retail, and Spas and Health Clubs.