Residences on the Charles

Project Overview

Newton, MA – SES provided building commissioning services for the 40,471 SF Residences on the Charles in Newton MA. This newly constructed, four-story, 39-unit, all-electric apartment building situated along the Charles River in the Nonantum neighborhood is the second building within the Allee on the Charles development. The building’s three upper floors house individual apartment units, while the ground floor accommodates recreational spaces, storage, electrical rooms, and mechanical equipment.

All-Electric, decentralized systems eliminate fossil fuels and provide occupants with individual control over their thermal environment while maintaining low site energy use intensity. Each apartment is served by its own domestic hot water system, a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pump for space heating and cooling, and an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) to deliver fresh, conditioned air.

A rooftop dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) complements the decentralized unit-level systems. Reflecting its commitment to energy-efficient, all-electric operation, the project was designed and built to meet the rigorous Phius passive house standards, achieving Phius CORE 2021 certification in April 2025. SES commissioning services directly supported the verification of the high-performance mechanical systems required for this certification.

Systems commissioned include: DOAS, VRF, ERV, unit heaters, exhaust fans, domestic hot water heaters, and common area Interior Lighting Controls & Occupancy Sensors.

The development sets a new benchmark for sustainable multifamily housing along the Charles River.