Bank of America Tower

The project team set out to achieve a goal that had never before been realized by an office building in the U.S.—LEED v4 Core and Shell Platinum certification. This raised the bar for environmental responsibility, energy efficiency, and workplace design.

This was one of the country’s first major commercial developments to quantify building materials’ embodied carbon. A new approach was needed to drive meaningful emissions reductions at the material level.

While the team initially explored options to repurpose the existing structure on site, economic and performance analyses revealed that demolition and rebuilding would be more viable—requiring a deeper commitment to sustainable new construction.

We engineered a cost-efficient structural frame that delivers column-free floorplates and up to eight corner offices per level—maximizing leasable area and long-term flexibility for tenants.

Our team pioneered a new environmental accounting method using Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA) tools. This approach identified concrete as the primary contributor to embodied carbon and guided targeted emissions reductions.

We collaborated with suppliers for the 9,500-cubic-yard mat foundation to develop a custom concrete mix with significantly reduced Portland Cement content. This mix alone cut more than 3 million pounds of CO₂ compared to regional averages.

Our civil engineers designed a rooftop water harvesting system that irrigates the 12th-floor landscaped terrace—an urban oasis featuring native plantings and stormwater management features.

Bank of America Tower became the first U.S. office building to earn LEED v4 Core and Shell Platinum certification—and at the time of certification, the highest-rated project of its kind in the world.

Through thoughtful design and material selection, we achieved a 20% reduction in embodied carbon, a 13% drop in emissions contributing to ocean acidification, and a 35% reduction in ozone-depleting substances.

The building’s three-story indoor plaza, rooftop garden, and tunnel-level daylighting create inviting public spaces that foster social interaction and enhance tenant experience.

This project established a new benchmark for sustainable commercial development, showcasing how integrated design and engineering can deliver performance, beauty, and long-term value.