Margulies Perruzzi Architects recently received the 2009 Brick in Architecture Bronze Award in the commercial category for its design of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) office building in Hingham.

Completed in June 2007, the four-story, 329,000-square-foot office building includes a multipurpose cafeteria space, conference/training center, major data center and child care facility. A five-level, 1,184-car parking structure is linked directly to the main lobby. Currently the home of 1,100 BCBSMA employees, the facility was designed to allow for future expansion with no additional infrastructure required. Located at 25 Technology Place in Hingham, the facility is the region’s largest LEED Silver certified project.

Clay brick was selected for the exterior of the BCBSMA building in Hingham for a variety of reasons.

"The use of clay brick for the exterior was a thoughtful choice consistent with the sustainable design, nature-inspired color theme, and functional goals of the project," said Daniel P. Perruzzi, Jr., principal at Margulies Perruzzi Architects. "We are proud that BCBSMA’s Hingham facility continues to be recognized for sustainability that safeguards the welfare of both its occupants and its surrounding environment."

The Brick in Architecture Awards, sponsored by the Brick Industry Association, honors innovative use of clay brick in eight categories: commercial, educational, health care facilities, houses of worship, multi-family residential, municipal/government, paving and landscape architecture, and single family residential applications. Winning projects highlight clay brick’s performance benefits, aesthetic appeal, and ease-of-use.

The project team for BCBSMA/Hingham consisted of Turner Construction, construction manager; Souza True & Partners, structural engineers; SEi Cos., mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection engineers; Brown Richardson & Rowe, landscape architects; BSC Group, civil engineers; Lisa Zidel Lighting Design; and A.W. Perry, developer.