New Residence Hall Earns Prestigious Sustainability Recognition

Pachyderm Place, a new 660-bed residence hall at 401-403 Boston Avenue, has achieved pre-certification from the Passive House Institute (PHI), a rigorous international standard for high-performance, energy-efficient buildings. The milestone reflects detailed energy modeling, optimized design, and adherence to strict construction standards.

"Pre-certification is an important milestone during construction that demonstrates that everything is on track to deliver the energy efficiency and comfort benefits of passive design," said Dano Weisbord, associate vice president for campus planning and chief sustainability officer.

The project also reflects Tufts' broader strategy to reduce campus emissions. Electrifying buildings is a key step in decarbonization, allowing them to be powered by renewable energy and operate without on-site fossil fuel use. Pachyderm Place is part of a portfolio of all-electric campus projects-including the Cummings School Veterinary Learning Center and the Aquatics Center-that rely entirely on electricity for heating, cooling, cooking, and hot water.

Passive design further strengthens that approach by dramatically reducing energy demand. Features such as triple-glazed windows, highly insulated and airtight building envelopes, and advanced ventilation systems minimize heating and cooling needs while maintaining consistent indoor comfort.

"Another great thing about a passive building is that it circulates lots of fresh air," Weisbord said. "Even with the windows closed, fresh air is always flowing through the building, without drafts or the hot and cold spots common in older buildings."

Additional sustainability features include a hot water system that uses a more climate-friendly refrigerant and panelized construction, in which building components are prefabricated off-site and assembled on-site to improve efficiency, quality, and sustainability.

The design also aligns with the City of Medford's adoption of the Massachusetts Specialized Stretch Energy Code, which requires high-performance energy standards. Passive certification is one way to meet those requirements.

When complete, Pachyderm Place will use significantly less energy over its lifetime than a conventional residence hall. Passive House-certified student housing remains relatively uncommon in North America, making the project a notable example of high-performance campus design.

Located across from the Medford/Tufts MBTA Green Line station, Pachyderm Place will house more than 660 juniors and seniors and include ground-floor commercial space.

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