Resiliency at North Point

Project Overview

• Resiliency efforts located all critical mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment in the building’s mezzanine and roof spaces
• Raising of the ground floor by 19.5 inchesin anticipation of rising sea levels in Boston’s Seaport neighborhood
• Built in adherence with LEED V4 as well as GE’s internal wellness program, HealthAhead and the principles of the WELL Building Standard

General Electric (GE) has developed a new campus along the Fort Point Channel in Boston’s Seaport comprised of two historic brick-and-beam buildings at 5 and 6 Necco Court that once housed the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO). Originally built in 1907, these buildings were completely restored to productive use after being largely vacant and unkempt for decades. The upper levels of North Point hosts offices for up to 280 people as well as internal GE makerspace, with the ground floor hosting Brilliant Labs classrooms, public makerspace and a waterfront bistro.

Perhaps most important to North Point’s design is resiliency. The design located all critical mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment in the building’s mezzanine and roof spaces, and in anticipation of rising sea levels, the ground floor was raised 19.5 inches—roughly two feet above Boston’s 500-year flood line and FM Global’s required flood line. Pitched crawlspace slab-on-grade and strip drains throughout the footprint improve drainage of anticipated flooding, and at the West of the building, Solite Lightweight Aggregate filters stormwater runoff and drains surrounding soil. Resiliency measures also include the incorporation of green roofs, a stormwater retention tank, water reuse systems, below-grade foundation waterproofing and leak detection systems.

The campus was built in adherence with LEED V4 as well as GE’s internal wellness program, HealthAhead and the principles of the WELL Building Standard.