First Net-Zero Building by State Opens in Westborough

Officials, legislators and other concerned folks helped to celebrate the official opening of the Richard Cronin Field Headquarters, which opened this past week at the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and Office of Fishing and Boating in Westborough.

The building is a massive update to a brick structure that was once part of the Westborough State Hospital, now an updated glass, steel and stone creation that includes labs, meeting rooms and offices for the division, reported the Worcester Telegram and Gazette.

Maeve Vallely Bartlett, the secretary for Energy and Environmental Affairs, stood in for Gov. Deval Patrick to address the attendees at the opening.

The 45,000-foot facility is the first zero energy office building constructed by the state, and cost $25 million. It features a geothermal heating and cooling system, solar panels and innovative mechanical systems.

In 2012, when the project broke ground, Gov. Patrick remarked, “This project will set a benchmark for energy efficient office buildings, support many engineering and construction jobs and, once completed, be a great place to work and learn about the conservation of our natural resources,”

Energy levels are driven down to levels that are some 60 percent lower than other buildings of this type and design.

The project was chosen by Governor Patrick’s Zero Net Energy Buildings (ZNEB) Task Force in 2009 as a demonstration project for zero net energy in a Commonwealth building project.