Bedford, NH – Bedford Falls, Benchmark Senior Living’s newest Assisted Living community, constructed by C.E. Floyd Company and designed by Bechtel Frank Erickson Architects, is expected to receive the Platinum Certification through the US Green Building Council (USGBC)’s LEED for Homes rating system this fall. Platinum is the highest level in the LEED for Homes Certification ranking, and Bedford Falls is one of the first Assisted Living Facilities in the U.S. to reach this level.
“Benchmark Senior Living is very proud of Bedford Falls and our ability to provide our excellence in care and environment to the seniors in that market,” said John Dragat, Senior Vice President of Development at Benchmark Senior Living. “We are equally pleased with our anticipated LEED Platinum certification. As an organization, we made the decision to build the community with these standards to provide a high quality, healthy environment to our residents in addition to realizing long term energy efficiencies and reduced operating costs in the years to come…LEED Platinum is the right thing to do for our residents and for the environment. It is our intention that all future Benchmark communities will be built to LEED standards.”
The building is in position to be an exceptionally high performance facility, with significantly reduced energy and water consumption as a result of reaching the summit of the LEED for Homes rating system.
Lauren Baumann, Vice President at New Ecology, Inc., a community‐based sustainable development company, worked alongside the project team and played a crucial role in obtaining Platinum Certification for Bedford Falls.
“The unique feature of the LEED for Homes rating system, as compared to other USGBC rating systems, is that certification is dependent on third party inspections…at frequent intervals,” said Baumann. “[The inspections] confirm that the building is meeting rigorous standards related to energy and water use, indoor air quality, durability, materials use, and natural resource impact. The Bedford Falls facility achieved stellar results…”
Exceptional highlighted achievements comprise of an insulation installation that met Grade I, which is the highest obtainable standard, as well as exceptionally low air infiltration, as a result of a sophisticated exterior envelope air sealing approach (1.6 air changes per hour at 50 Pascal). Additionally, 77% of all construction waste was recycled.
The quality and high level of performance of the building, the quality reputation of Benchmark Senior Living, and extensive marketing efforts led to an exceptional lease‐up for a new community; currently at 65%.
C.E. Floyd Company, Inc. specializes in construction management for Senior Housing, Private Education, Corporate, and Hospitality markets with offices in Massachusetts and Connecticut, Serving Southern New England. Benchmark Senior Living has 46 communities throughout New England that offer assisted living, memory care, independent living and short term/respite care. LEED for Homes is a consensus developed, third party‐verified, voluntary rating system which promotes the design and construction of high‐performance green homes. New Ecology, Inc. is a community‐based sustainable development company that promotes development solutions that deliver positive economic, environmental, and social returns.