Winthrop Center
The Largest Passive House Office Building in the World - Boston, MA
Roofing, Waterproofing, Facade Consulting
SOCOTEC delivered comprehensive building envelope, roofing, and waterproofing consulting for Winthrop Center, achieving certification by the Passive House Institute (PHI) as the largest passive house office building in the world.
Key Information
Project Name: Winthrop Center
Client: MP Boston
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Services provided: Roofing and Waterproofing, Exterior Wall, Consulting & Monitoring
Project Type: New Construction - Mixed-Use Office & Residential Tower
Building Statistics: 812,000 SF Class A Office Space | 510,000 SF Residential (317 Luxury Residences)
Certification: Passive House Institute (PHI) - World's Largest Passive House Office Building
Awards: 2025 Award of Excellence from the Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU), Green GOOD DESIGN Award from The Chicago Athenaeum, 2024 ENR New England Award of Merit for Office/Retail/Mixed-Use.
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The Challenge
Achieving Passive House Certification for a Boston High-Rise
The vision was bold: replace a 4-story public garage with a high-rise that would set new standards for sustainability and resiliency. Achieving Passive House certification at this scale was unprecedented, requiring innovative design solutions and flawless execution to meet stringent energy performance goals while maintaining aesthetic excellence.
The Solution
Comprehensive Passive House & Building Envelope Consulting Excellence
SOCOTEC partnered with Handel Architects from concept through completion, delivering comprehensive building envelope consulting and monitoring. We engineered a triple-glazed, super-airtight curtain wall system, a critical component for Passive House compliance, ensuring exceptional thermal performance and airtightness. Every design detail was rooted in practicality and constructability, minimizing construction challenges and ensuring long-term durability. This collaborative approach allowed us to integrate advanced energy-efficient strategies without compromising on architectural vision or occupant comfort.
SOCOTEC Team Members included:
- Jennifer Sze
- Christophori Dowd
- Leonardo Toro
- Esteban Mercado Molina
- Kanjin Zou
- Joelle Nelson
- Jeffrey Somerlot
- Alberto Franceschet
SOCOTEC partnered with Handel Architects from concept through completion, delivering comprehensive building envelope consulting and monitoring. We engineered a triple-glazed, super-airtight curtain wall system, a critical component for Passive House compliance, ensuring exceptional thermal performance and airtightness. Every design detail was rooted in practicality and constructability, minimizing construction challenges and ensuring long-term durability. This collaborative approach allowed us to integrate advanced energy-efficient strategies without compromising on architectural vision or occupant comfort.
SOCOTEC Team Members included:
- Jennifer Sze
- Christophori Dowd
- Leonardo Toro
- Esteban Mercado Molina
- Kanjin Zou
- Joelle Nelson
- Jeffrey Somerlot
- Alberto Franceschet
The Results
Setting a Global Benchmark for Sustainable High-Rise Design
Winthrop Center is now a global benchmark for sustainable high-rise design. Its Passive House certification and LEED Platinum status confirm its position as one of the most energy-efficient large-scale buildings in the world. The tower delivers:
Record-breaking sustainability performance for a mixed-use high-rise
Enhanced occupant comfort and health through superior thermal control and airtightness
Long-term resiliency and reduced operational costs thanks to advanced envelope systems
A new era of urban development in Boston, setting a precedent for future projects worldwide
This achievement demonstrates how collaboration, innovation, and technical excellence can transform city skylines while prioritizing environmental responsibility and human well-being.
Winthrop Center is now a global benchmark for sustainable high-rise design. Its Passive House certification and LEED Platinum status confirm its position as one of the most energy-efficient large-scale buildings in the world. The tower delivers:
Record-breaking sustainability performance for a mixed-use high-rise
Enhanced occupant comfort and health through superior thermal control and airtightness
Long-term resiliency and reduced operational costs thanks to advanced envelope systems
A new era of urban development in Boston, setting a precedent for future projects worldwide
This achievement demonstrates how collaboration, innovation, and technical excellence can transform city skylines while prioritizing environmental responsibility and human well-being.
Winthrop Center is a global benchmark for sustainable high-rise development, delivering exceptional results across design, performance, and environmental impact. This landmark project demonstrates how collaboration and technical excellence can redefine urban construction.
- World’s Largest Passive House Office Building – Setting a new global standard for energy efficiency in high-rise design.
LEED Platinum Certification – Achieved the highest level of sustainability recognition.
Mixed-Use Excellence – 812,000 SF of Class A office space integrated with 510,000 SF of luxury residences (317 units).
Innovative Building Envelope – Triple-glazed, super-airtight curtain wall system for superior thermal performance.
Urban Transformation – Replaced a 4-story public garage with a 28-story, 700-foot-tall tower.
Premium Amenities – Fitness center, pool, spa, co-working spaces, library, restaurant, and bar/lounge.
Energy Efficiency
- Passive House standard compliance for large-scale commercial space.
- Significant reduction in heating and cooling loads compared to conventional high-rise buildings.Environmental Impact
- LEED Platinum rating for sustainable design and construction practices.
- Reduced carbon footprint through advanced envelope systems and airtightness.Comfort & Health - Enhanced indoor air quality and thermal comfort for occupants.
Resiliency - Long-term durability and reduced operational costs through optimized building envelope systems.
This project validates SOCOTEC's technical leadership in Passive House consulting and high-performance building envelope engineering.
“With Winthrop Center, we wanted to think beyond the status quo... we are introducing a new era in building design that prioritizes the environment, human comfort, and health. Through collaboration with partners like SOCOTEC, creativity, hard work, and dedication, we’ve brought the most energy efficient solution for large scale buildings to the heart of Boston, and we can’t wait to see more successful implementations of the Passive House method across the globe.”
