BCEC expansion | Seaport

If I were in charge at BCEC, I'd panel the entire 60 acre roof with solar arrays, and power the public utilities in Seaport / ID. Something much more meaningful than a gesture (like the one wind turbine approach in Somerville, Hull, etc.).

A group of us did approach BCEC pre-construction to discuss a solar roof. They told us that it was not possible because the financing didn't allow for a long-term return.
 
The economics of that likely are changing given rapid cost declines, although I think with the build up of new construction nearby- potential shadows would literally kill power output and economics of the project.

EDIT: On occasion renewable energy discussions go down a long, gov't subsidy path...let's not do that here.
 
The sun is predominantly southern to us, so the low rises in South Boston proper wouldn't hurt this. Whether the entire roof could be used I don't know.

PV's are not very good at return versus installed cost because they are still very inefficient to say the least.

Solar hot water on the other hand can be very efficient, and an array of vacuum tubes with a much smaller foot print than PV's could esily provide the hot water for the cooking and most likely heating hot water as well.

I wouldn't rule out PV's, but wouldn't focus solely on them either. I think this would be a very good use of this massive roof, seeing as they couldn't afford the originally planned stainless steel roof.

Of course being the innovation district after all, I think all new construction should incorporate some form of wind and solar power as well as each having a green roof.

Don't just name a district as innovative, actually make it so. Make it a net zero zone with tons of sustainability.
 
2 potential issues with this:
1) would reflections interfere with planes
2) the curvature of the roof would make the sides angle to the side. then you would need more racking, boosting costs.

If it can be done, however, it should.

I am surprised that the building being constructed aren't more "innovative" and promoting cutting edge materials and design elements. That's the great irony and failure of the district. You would think the price points would help justify it, but I guess not.
 
http://www.pv-tech.org/chip_shots_b...otovoltaic_arrays_help_power_north_americas_m
http://www.solarexpert.com/LA-Convention-Center.pdf

Some reading for you. I just remembered seeing how many there were in LA on there convention center.

As you can see from the attached pdf. All those panels only end up accounting for 10% of the power demand at the convention center.

They are very much inefficient still. Even 10 years later, those numbers will not be much better, and LA gets much more sun than us, smog or no smog..
 
I read an article stating the a comedy club Is going in at a hotel in the area. That's a good thing.
 
I love to check out the Environmental Monitor every other Weds. when new MEPA filings come out.
http://www.env.state.ma.us/mepa/emonitor.aspx
Today's offering has the notification form for the BCEC expansion. Given the many opinions among folks here, you may wish to check it out. Comments open until 1/18/13.
 
Semass said:
I love to check out the Environmental Monitor every other Weds. when new MEPA filings come out.
http://www.env.state.ma.us/mepa/emonitor.aspx
Today's offering has the notification form for the BCEC expansion. Given the many opinions among folks here, you may wish to check it out. Comments open until 1/18/13.
Click to expand...

Cool read. It's exciting to see them outline the details we all crave for, especially the two 1,500-room hotels. I think those'll definitely do the most to knit the BCEC with the rest of the Fort Point area and downtown.

Thanks for posting.
 
So if the plan is activate D street, move parking to the D side, and build a great big structure over the south parking lot, more vehicles will use D street than they already do as currently parking lot traffic is routed around the upper deck of the BCEC down to the south lot.
As has been lamented here many times, the intersection of D street and the Silver line is a disaster already. Whether poorly managed lights/signal priority or whatever. Putting additional vehicles on D will screw this up more. This is a good opportunity to demand that this be fixed to benefit Silver Line service as mitigation for the project. Ideally, having the Silver line go under D street, bu signal priority at a minimum.
 
Commonwealth Ventures and Carpenter & Co. seek to build hotels next to Boston convention hall

By Casey Ross, Globe Staff

Two developers are bidding for the right to build hotels on property next to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in South Boston. Commonwealth Ventures of Boston is proposing to construct 450 rooms on property along D Street owned by the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority. Carpenter & Co. of Cambridge is proposing to build 500 rooms.

The bids came in response to a request for proposals issued last year by the MCCA, which is seeking to encourage the development of mid-priced hotel rooms near the BCEC.

James Rooney, executive director of the MCCA, has said additional hotel rooms are needed to serve large trade shows wishing to hold events at the South Boston convention center. The effort to build mid-priced hotels is part of a broader expansion effort that could include another large headquarters hotel and a doubling of the center’s exhibit space.

Commonwealth Ventures is partnering in its bid with hotel operator Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., while Carpenter & Co. is teaming up with Hyatt Hotels Corp. A winning bidder will be selected within the next six weeks.
Click to expand...

And in typical Glob fashion, the lone dope commenter seizes the opportunity to unleash a halfwitted screed on VC's.

trueendurance said:
I thought venture capital firms invested in things like new products, and world changing technologies... not hotels?



I think this is why entrepreneurism is suffering here in Boston and all the venture capital money is headed West... Our VCs simply don'y believe in "the future"... They only believe in money and comfort for themselves... In the end, this will eventually come back to haunt Boston... There will be fewer and fewer new companies starting here, until Boston becomes merely a tourist destination for exploring America's past... and perhaps a place you come to attend a trade show for products invented elsewhere.
Click to expand...

http://www.boston.com/businessupdat...ention-hall/dPgrF5LNXUYFWB7lTAYKZO/story.html
 
That guy must have been avoiding Cambridge like the plague all his life.
 
Smart of Starwood to get on board. The prices they're able to charge at the BCEC Westin is outrageous. They may be able to insulate themselves from some of the price drop by choosing two completely different concepts (and by controlling the pricing).
 
I don't understand that they want more hotels and residential yet are building a 10 story building?
 
I don't necessary care if it's relatively low-rise, but look at all that open space - low rise towers in parks.
 
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