December, 2010
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
2011 Edition
Solar Installation LLC installs Spectrum Lighting’s solar array
Dellbrook Construction’s sustainable conversion of the Bourne Mill
Mary M. Hooker Environmental Sciences Magnet School completed
Also Inside: The Sins of (Building Professional) Greenwashing by Barbra Batshalom A Call for Better Green Building Information by Allison Friedman Go Green by Phillip Horowitz Plus sustainable facility news, events, people, projects and more...
BCBS of Rhode Island exemplifies advantages of going “green.”
Green Development News Nexamp named a silver winner in MassEcon’s Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards.
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
Message from the Associate Publisher Hello All, We’re excited to present our second Annual Green Facility Developments supplement to our High-Profile Monthly readers! In this year’s supplement we have editorial contributions from some of the most knowledgeable green resources in the New England A/E/C industry including Rate It Green, the on line community diAnastasia Barnes rectory resource and portal for the green building industry, and The Green Roundtable / NEXUS, the Massachusetts Affiliate of USGBC. Since its inception in 1996, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has grown to more than 14,000 projects in the U.S. and 30 countries covering 1062 billion sf of development area! Developed by the USGBC, Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is intended to provide building owners (both commercial and residential) and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. NESEA’s BE11 You will find many companies that
offer services and products to building owners and sustainable building professionals at this year’s BE11, NESEA’s renewable energy conference and trade show at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. Mark your calendars, March 8 thru 11, 2011. The keynote speaker is lifelong educator and sustainability expert David Orr, offering a unique perspective at the Opening Plenary session Wednesday, March 9. Two highly anticipated offerings by Chris Martenson (Crash Course) and Jason McLennan (Living Building Challenge) are among the new workshops to take place. Workshops receive continuing education units from the following professional organizations: AIA, BOMI, BPI*, InterNACHI, NAHB and NARI. Trade Show will feature 170 exhibitors displaying the products and services that support renewable energy, energy efficiency and high performance building. Those who exhibit are vital resources for state-of-the-art technology and practical applications in the renewable energy and sustainable building industries. Other highlights of the show include: Critical training for energy professionals; HERS workshop accredited by RESNET, a Massachusetts Stretch Code workshop, and a Sustainable Communities workshop. Educators’ Summit; Sixty educa-
tors will engage in focused workshops and network with the multi-disciplinary group of professionals. Attendance is limited to educators and administrators. High Performance Green Modular; Innovative design using high performance green modular is the challenge presented by the 2011 Student Design Competition. Students of architecture are welcome to form teams to take the challenge. Hands-on Demonstration Stage; a new hands-on demonstration stage on the Trade Show floor will allow a close up look at best practices in high performance construction and retrofit. A Special Welcome to Emerging Professionals will offer those who register as emerging professionals the chance to request a one-on-one mentoring session, as well as an opportunity to submit a resume and be connected with pre-screened potential employers on the trade show floor. You can find more information at www.nesea.org Be sure to visit us at our booth #420 and learn more about how we can help you market your company’s services through a series of articles and advertising! Enjoy the supplement. Best, Anastasia Barnes
R.I. First to Adopt IGCC P:rovidence, RI - Rhode Island is the first state to adopt the International Green Construction Code (IGCC). The Rhode Island Green Buildings Act identifies the IGCC as an equivalent standard in compliance with requirements that all public agency major facility projects be designed and constructed as green buildings. The Rules and Regulations to implement the Act took effect in October. The IGCC applies to new and existing, traditional and high-performance commercial buildings. It includes ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1 as an alternative compliance requirement. “The emergence of green building codes and standards is an important next step for the green building movement, establishing a much-needed set of baseline regulations for green buildings that are adoptable, usable and enforceable by jurisdictions,” ICC CEO Rick Weiland said. “The IGCC provides a vehicle for jurisdictions to regulate green for the design and performance of buildings in a manner that is integrated with existing codes as an overlay, allowing new and existing buildings to reap the rewards of improved design and construction practices.”
SRCE Earns Platinum Designed by Sasaki
160 Boylston Street 3rd floor Boston, MA 02116
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t 617.654.9000 f 617.654.9002
Tucson, AZ - The new 54,000sf Student Recreation Center Expansion (SRCE) at the University of Arizona is the first collegiate level recreation center in the United States to earn LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the highest category of sustainable design and construction. Designed by Sasaki in collaboration with M3 Engineering of Tucson, the project integrates passive solar orientation, programmed outdoor space, day-lighting strategies, and indoor environmental quality as fundamental properties of the building. Passive solar measures Student Recreation Center Expansion at the significantly contribute to the University of Arizona facility’s energy efficiency, including optimal building orientation, daylight Most of the plantings that surround and views on the north and south, opaque the SRCE have been selected for their abilwalls on the east and west, deep overhangs ity to thrive in an arid environment. Matethat shade glass and ground surfaces, high rials using recycled content make up over efficiency building envelopes, and cool 20% of the total value of the materials in roofs. the SRCE. The SRCE incorporates high effiMore than 10% of all the materials ciency plumbing fixtures, which reduce used for construction were either manuby 47.5% its water use (compared to the factured or produced within 500 miles of LEED baseline). Passive stormwater har- Tucson. Utilizing local materials not only vesting strategies have been utilized in the resulted in fewer trucks traveling fewer landscaped areas, increasing permeability miles, but also helped local businesses and and reducing runoff through the use of in- local economies to thrive. filtration basins.
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
North Branch Completes Parmenter Place Concord, NH - North Branch Construction, Inc. of Concord has completed construction of new workforce housing in Concord. Parmenter Place is a rental community consisting of six buildings with 25 two and three bedroom apartment and townhouse units for a total of 27,600sf. The wood framed buildings feature vinyl siding, asphalt roof shingles and were built using energy efficient green building techniques. The buildings have received certification from the US EPA Energy Star program and Silver Level Green Home Certification from NAHB Resource Center. Three of the buildings include 2 units each with the remaining three buildings ranging from five to eight units in each. There is also a community laundry room. The buildings are owned by the Concord Housing and Redevelopment Authority and were designed by architectural firm Burnell-Johnson of Manchester. North Branch Construction, Inc., one of the largest construction firms in the state of New Hampshire, has been serving their clients construction needs since 1958.
Interior living room
Parmenter Place rental community consists of 25 two and three bedroom apartments. Recent North Branch projects include additions and renovations of the Sullivan County Community Corrections Center in Claremont, the Dalianis House (conversion of former furniture store into Veteran’s Housing) in Nashua, and the new Windy Hill School at Colby Sawyer College in New London. Current projects include a new multi-purpose building for the Governor Wentworth Regional School District – Kingswood Regional Schools as well as the additions and renovations of the three schools (vocational, middle and high school) on the Kingswood Regional Schools Campus in Wolfeboro; the new Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital in Portsmouth; and a new DPW Building for the Town of Sutton. Interior kitchen
Providing a level of value, quality and service that is unrivaled in the construction industry.
Parmenter Place, Concord, NH - EPA Energy Star Certified and Silver Level Green Building Certified by NAHB Resource Center
North Branch Construction, Inc.
76 Old Turnpike Road, Concord, NH . (603) 224-3233 . www.northbranch.net Green Development News
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
KPMG’s Offices Earn LEED Gold Jones Lang LaSalle CM / Perkins+Will PA
Boston - KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm, has received gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its new 96,000sf offices at Two Financial Center. The six floors of energy efficient, environmentally friendly and customized space serve as KPMG’s new Boston headquarters. Jones Lang LaSalle served as construction manager for the project. KPMG is the anchor tenant in the new 220,000sf mid-rise office tower. Two Financial is the first new building constructed in the city’s Financial District since 2003. To achieve LEED gold status, numerous sustainable design features had to be implemented. Water efficient plumbing fixtures and appliances were selected to reduce water use by 40 percent more than
Air National Guard Green Reno Brookstone Builders CM Newington, NH - Brookstone Builders, Inc., construction managers and general contractors headquartered in Manchester recently announced that they have been awarded an energy-saving renovation project by the NH Air National Guard in Newington. The scope-of-work will involve replacing the site’s central heating plant with more energy-efficient decentralized gas-fired burners, which will be fed by approximately 1 ½ miles of new underground gas lines. Each of the buildings involved will also be outfitted with roof-top solar-heated
© 2010 DamianosPhotography.com
New LEED Gold certified offices
is called for under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines. Highlyefficient light fixtures, lighting controls, and Energy Star rated equipment were used to dramatically reduce energy consumption and save operating expenses. Lighting power density achieved was 25% more than the LEED standard. More than 90 percent of the waste typically generated during construction was diverted from landfills through recycling and reuse. All new materials have an aggregate recycled content of more than 25 percent, and more than 50 percent come from within 500 miles of the job site. Perkins+Will is the project ar© 2010 DamianosPhotography.com chitect and AHA Consulting Engineers the engineer. Interior of KPMG at Two Financial Center
arrays, which will reduce the amount of energy required for hot water. In addition, each of the Air National Guard’s aircraft maintenance hangars will be outfitted with gas-fired radiant heaters, which are more effective for heating open-areas with high ceilings. Jack Boardman of Brookstone Builders is the quality control manager for the project, while David Giovagnoli will serve as project manager. Mario Machado is the site superintendent. A woman-owned enterprise, Brookstone Builders, Inc. was founded in 1984.
News from greenGoat Tons of Furniture Given To Charity
Providence, RI - The major office move from LaSalle Square and 1 Empire Street by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) can boast a very happy side effect: support for 42 non-profit organizations. After significant advance planning, the move team hit the ground running, spurred by a BCBSRI “community call” to charities they had served in the past. The move team, led by Walsh Movers, knocked down 1,000 cubicles in record time in order to meet the aggressive schedule. Leading charitable distribution was greenGoat, itself a 501(c)3 and a WBE as well. BCBSRI helped the team prioritize charities that fell in well with their overall mission – addressing health care needs and helping families stay focused on getting (and staying) well.
The project team had double the orders than they had inventory. They found recipients and distributed all furniture in just over two months. The project entails distribution of unneeded office furniture to local non-profits. The team began by taking a detailed inventory of the available assets. Once complete, communications went to BCBS’s charity list, and the deluge of wish lists went into in full swing. Once the initial requests were organized into lists, greenGoat began leading tours of the LaSalle Square building so that prospective recipients could see “the goods.” Within two weeks, over 100 had perused the floors of the building, making out their orders and waiting for their gift to arrive.
Go Green by Phillip Horowitz Given a choice, most people will opt to do the right thing. But, particularly in an economy as we face today, far fewer people are willing to pay more to do the right thing. Until now, the rap on green and sustainable construction has been that it’s a lot more expensive than using traditional methods. But, that doesn’t have to be true. Making the decision to go green at the start of construction results in far lower costs that trying to retro-fit later. It also maximizes the financial benefits of green construction. They include reduced operating costs and higher real estate values. Building occupants also have a healthier and more productive environment, which can result in enhanced rental revenue. School construction is an area in which green construction is particularly important. One out of every five Americans goes to school each day, and too many school buildings are unhealthy and not energy efficient. A focus on building sustainable schools would preserve scarce resources and help promote development of a generation of responsible citizens. Much of the attention around green construction is focused on energy savings, but it’s also important to remember that water is another precious resource that’s being wasted at an alarming rate. Water shortages
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are generally less severe in our area, but 36 states anticipate shortages in the next seven years. Low-flow toilets, faucets and shower heads also save money and promote a sustainable environment. The United States Green Building Council has the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System to serve as a guide for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of buildings that are healthier for people and profit margins. By building green, our generation can be remembered as the one that reduced energy and water consumption and left our children a planet in as good or better shape than we found it, all without sacrificing our own prosperity.
Nexus LEED Prep/Practice Courses January 21, - 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. January 28 - 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 38 Chauncy Street, 7th floor, Boston For more information: call (617) 374-3740 or email events@greenroundtable.org.
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
Keeping Buildings Green... and Legal Coull Installs Hybrid System for Webb New York - It’s expected that within 25 years, three-quarters of all buildings in the U.S. will be new or renovated, providing both an opportunity and an urgency to ensure they are environmentally friendly. But getting to that point invites a myriad of legal issues to first consider. That is the impetus behind The Law of Green Buildings, co-edited by Michael Gerrard, Director of the Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School. “The book provides an overview of sustainable development and green buildings, including a look at significant laws and regulations that lawyers and clients
need to be aware of when seeking to build or lease a so-called green building,” Gerrard said. “Building green is no longer just a good idea, it’s something that potential owners and tenants of certain kinds of buildings expect, and an increasing number of municipalities require. “However, developers and builders can be confronted with a complex set of rules that may vary widely across jurisdictions. Hopefully, the book can provide a blueprint to help ensure new construction projects don’t encounter unexpected roadblocks when going green.”
Projects Receive $1M in Grants Boston – The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) announced grants totaling more than $1 million to support eight new wind energy projects under the Commonwealth Wind Community Scale Wind Initiative. “These grants will help communities and public and private entities across the Commonwealth reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, cut their emissions, and contribute toward Governor Patrick’s goal of 2,000 megawatts of wind power by 2020,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles, who serves as chairman of MassCEC’s board of directors. The awards include two design and construction grants totaling more than 5 megawatts (MW) in capacity, and six feasibility studies for wind energy that would total roughly 17 MW in capacity if built. The
eight grants go to private and public projects, including cities and towns. The Commonwealth Wind Community Scale Wind initiative is a program of MassCEC’s Renewable Energy Generation division, which is funded by renewable energy charges on electric bills, generating approximately $23 million a year to support renewable energy installations and companies. The wind projects receiving design and construction grants are in Plymouth and Cohasset. The five projects receiving feasibility awards will support efforts in the towns of Westport, Gloucester, Petersham, Blandford, and Amesbury, and a Springfield Water and Sewer Commission project that will be on a combination of publiclyowned land in Blandford, Russell, Tolland, or Granville.
Design Science Architects
Waterford, CT - JM Coull, Inc. (JMC) with offices in Shelton is building F.W. Webb’s newest branch facility in Waterford. JMC has teamed with Design Science architects to deliver the design-build project for April, 2011. Construction began in July on the multi-purpose building, which will feature a showRendering of F.W. Webb’s newest branch facility. room for F.W. Webb’s plumbing supply products, office ly, depending upon fluctuations in the cost and self-serve areas and a warehouse. of propane. An important feature of the project Twelve 500-foot earth coupled boreis the closed loop hybrid solar-geothermal holes—each of which contains a closedsystem, to be used for heating and cooling loop, U-tube heat exchanger—will allow the facility and for hot water. The state-of- the building to make use of the relatively the-art system combines geothermal and so- constant temperatures below the earth’s lar technologies to handle 85 percent of the surface—warmer than the surface in winter heating and cooling load for the building. and cooler in summer. JM Coull hired Turner Building SciFifty roof-mounted thermal solar panence & Design to advise F.W. Webb on the els are integral to the system, harnessing soselection and engineering of the hybrid lar energy and feeding it into the 10,000-galsystem. In addition to supporting the com- lon underground solar storage tank. High pany’s “Go Green” initiative, an analysis efficiency and lower environmental riskof the high cost and relative inefficiency of features include the use of a solar panel propane (the alternative fuel source in the drain-back configuration using plain water area) demonstrated the financial wisdom instead of glycol which eliminates the need of the choice. Jeffrey Harrison, Turner’s for efficiency-robbing heat exchangers or senior vice president and the engineer who glycol additives. A single evacuated tube, designed the system, says F.W. Webb can high-temperature thermal solar panel will expect to save $24,000 to $60,000 annual- provide domestic hot water.
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
S/L/A/M Selected for Fine Arts Center
Nexamp Wins Team Mass. Award
William Rawn Associates Architects Willimantic, CT - The S/L/A/M Collaborative, in association with William Rawn Associates Architects, Inc., has been selected by the State of Connecticut’s Department of Public Works as architects for the new Fine Arts Instructional Center on the campus of Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic. This 136,811sf facility will consolidate the visual arts and performing arts programs into a single, distinctive new building and will celebrate the arts in the University’s everyday life. The Fine Arts Instructional Center is to include space for public gatherings, display of student and travelling art programs as well as three state-of-the-art performance spaces: a 1100-seat auditorium, a 350-seat proscenium theatre and a 150-seat “black box” theatre. Additionally, it will house support and office spaces, art studios, galleries, computer labs, music instruction/practice rooms, multi-purpose instruction space and a 135-seat Lecture Hall. This new campus landmark will be designed to the standards of High Performance Building requirements. For the new Fine Arts Instructional Center, The S/L/A/M Collaborative will be providing project documentation
and management, academic planning/ programming, building information modeling (BIM), campus planning and landscape architecture, and code analysis. William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc. will lead the design, guiding the client and design team throughout all stages and bringing deep expertise in arts centers. SLAM is cited among the nation’s Top Design Firms as ranked by Architectural Record, Engineering News-Record, Building Design + Construction, and the American Institute of Architects’ Architect magazine. In addition to the firm’s Connecticut headquarters, SLAM office locations include Boston, Atlanta, and Syracuse. Since its founding in 1976, SLAM has actualized a unique role in the industry as an “inquiry-based practice”, focusing on outcomes-driven environments of excellence for higher education, healthcare, and research. William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc. of Boston is America’s leading “Architects for the Arts.” Having designed over 24,000 seats for the performing arts, the firm brings expertise in the design of both quality performance spaces and rigorous teaching and rehearsal spaces for a broad range of top institutions.
Shown here are many of Nexamp’s employees in front of the Nexamp-installed 103-kilowatt solar array at Osgood Landing in North Andover, where the firm is a tenant. Wellesley, MA - Nexamp has been named a Silver winner in MassEcon’s (The Massachusetts Alliance for Economic Development) Seventh Annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards. These awards celebrate companies from across the state that have made outstanding contributions to the Massachusetts economy. Nexamp works with businesses across the Commonwealth to help them reduce energy costs through clean energy
master planning, projects such as solar power and efficient lighting retrofits, and ongoing energy management. “We are thrilled to be recognized by MassEcon for our work helping our clients achieve economic development through energy cost reduction, and for our own growth here in the Commonwealth,” said Nexamp President Dan Leary. Nexamp has doubled its employee count from 35 to 70 since the beginning of 2010.
congratulates General Mills of Methuen on its new 110-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array.
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General Mills’ 110-kW solar PV array is offsetting approximately 55% of the facility’s total electricity use. Green Development News
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
Dellbrook, EA Fish and The Architectural Team Convert the Bourne Mill
T
iverton, RI - The Bourne Mill Apartments project involved the adaptive reuse of a historic (1881) former Textile Mill in Tiverton. This conversion project encompassed 186,808sf within seven different buildings, comprising 166 units of mixed income housing. The total project value was $29 million and the project duration was 16 months. “We enjoy the challenge of the mill restoration process because you are constantly assessing the quality of the structures and developing innovative means to address any challenges that arise, said Mike Fish, President of Dellbrook Construction, ”It is satisfying, in this economy, to put a derelict building back onto the tax rolls for its community.” The project was determined to be a brownfield site and extensive remediation and soil removal was performed at the start of the project. According to Ed Dann, Business Development Director, Dellbrook Construction, “Reusing existing infrastructure, building and site, is the best place to start for sustainable design. The energy that is involved in constructing a new building is so immense that it takes 30 years for the new building to use as much energy as the energy that was needed to construct it.” Located on a site near public transportation, local amenities and services, the project provides preferred parking for alternative fuel vehicles, bicycle parking and showers for staff and visitors.
Restoring open space for residents was an important mission of the project, minimized parking footprints and hardscape allowed for green open space throughout. Water use reduction, both for the landscape and building, was another critical goal. There is no permanent irrigation installed and through the use of high efficiency water fixtures, i.e. showers, lavatory sinks, water closets, urinals, kitchen sinks, and janitor sinks the result was an approximate 50% reduction in water use. The green initiatives which resulted in cost efficiencies in water and electric usage contributed greatly towards keeping the units affordable. “This proved to be one of the most challenging rehabilitations of a historic
(Above) The 1880 mill was once the largest cotton mill in the world. (Below) The best place to start for sustainable design was reusing the existing infrastructure, building and site. building that our firm has endeavored to complete, ” stated Betsy Collins, EA Fish Development. “Some of the characteristics of the Mill that we valued in considering its redevelopment into residential use presented some of the obstacles that Dellbrook was able to successfully solve.” Fish added, “We were able to provide much needed quality affordable rental housing to the community. Additionally, we are proud that we were able to participate in the process of taking this historical 1880 mill, which was once the largest cotton mill in the world, and bring it into the current age while simultaneously striving for LEED silver status in the process. This was one of the first LEED certifiable mill conversion projects in the country.”
We are proud of our association with USGBC and The Green Roundtable. Together we went back in time and created something very special, a historic achievement. One of the earliest LEED Certifiable Mill Restoration Projects in the Country. We along with TAT and EAF are pleased to receive ABC Eagle & Green Awards for this
Bourne Mills Project,
Tiverton, RI
historic project.
Ed Dann Business Development Director 536 Granite Street, Braintree, MA 02184 edann@dellbrook.com
781.380.1608
www.dellbrook.com
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
The Sins of (Building Professional) Greenwashing by Barbra Batshalom It’s uplifting to read reports about the increased demand for green building despite the severely reduced demand for building overall. However, the increased competition in the green building space has forced building professionals to claim expertise in green building and market themselves as such, whether or not they Barbra Batshalom can really deliver on this claim. As I’ve written in recent posts, our 2010 industry survey and other experiences have revealed a significant gap between aggressive marketing and institutional capability. Terrachoice illustrated this last week for products in their excellent presentation on “The Sins of Greenwashing” – today we’re offering our own version of this framework focused on building professionals. The Sins of Building Professional Greenwashing: 1. Sin of Fibbing: Stretching the truth, making irrelevant claims. “We’ve been green since the 1970’s,” or “we specify green carpet all the time.” 2. Sin of Over-Reliance on LEED: This happens when building professionals think delivering LEED projects is equivalent with delivering sustainable projects. This sin can be thought of as necessary but
not sufficient. Many firms who took our survey (link) said that they had worked on LEED projects but did not have the capability to deliver consistent green design. 3. Sin of Misusing LEED: This happens when projects do design to LEED requirements instead of using it as a measurement tool. This problem is compounded by the credit-hunting mentality that prevents projects from realizing their full potential.
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4. Sin of “Certifiable”: This includes claims such as, “This is a green building because we designed it using the LEED checklist”? Rarely has this claim been verified. In fact, in most projects that have taken this approach, third-party evaluations have found the buildings to be noncompliant. 5. Sin of the Leadership Void: This happens when there is a lack of followthrough on promises from leadership. There is no evidence that sustainability is a priority within the organization or a fundamental approach to design excellence. Without a structure of accountability and a clear message of priority, public declarations are meaningless. 6. Sin of the One-hit Wonder: This happens when teams claim that a project is green because they held one kick-off meeting that was a green/LEED charrette but did not incorporate integrative design into their project management. The team starts the project with a feel-good focus on sustainability, but walk away from the charrette without a workplan, responsibilities or deliverables related to performance targets. As a result, the momentum dies and the integrative design process disintegrates. 7. Sin of the Status Quo: This happens when teams continue to repeat the traditional linear approach to design but expect a different outcome. Highly integrated building systems require an integrative and collaborative design process, which is iterative and performance based. 8. Sin of First Cost: This happens when the team fails to look at the life cycle cost impacts of the building or products. Even in the case of public projects, where the capital funds are separate from the operating budget, there are critical elements of building systems that require life cycle costing. 9. Sin of Attitude: This happens when the team says “That can’t be done”,
“We’ve tried that and it doesn’t work”, or “It’s too risky.” Bringing a bad attitude to the table makes it harder for the team to deliver a successful project. However, this isn’t nearly as bad as the… 10. Sin of False Representation: This happens when individuals claim that they are “on board” and committed but in reality don’t make any efforts to support sustainability goals. Such greenwash may be understandable from the point of view of the difficult economy, but it prevents clients from understanding a firm’s capacity to deliver sustainability services. For example, building owner Doug Noonan says, “Every service provider who comes to us tells us they’re experts in sustainable design and construction. In truth, there’s no way for them to back that claim up.” That is now changing. Companues such as Vanderweil, Shawmut and Goody Clancy are going through the SPI Green Firm Certification program, becoming certified as organizationally capable to deliver consistent, high-quality sustainability services. As with products, professional greenwash creates the illusion of sustainability without actually transforming building practices and projects. But as clients become more sophisticated, they look for professionals and teams that can demonstrate measurable, performance-based sustainability. Sometimes, we “sin” out of ignorance or complacency, and sometimes we may be intentionally misrepresenting in order to win a project. The bottom line is that we need to be honest about our level of professional practice and the claims we make (us included). At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is the impact of the buildings we design and if we are contributing to a sustainable future. Barbra Batshalom is executive director of The Green Roundtable/Nexus in Boston, MA.
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
Munro Solar and Spectrum Lighting Confirm the Value of Sustainable Facilities
Fall River, MA - Spectrum Lighting in Fall River recently leveraged non-revenue generating square footage at its manufacturing facility by adding a custom roof top solar array supplied by Munro Solar, a Massachusetts leader in clean energy and electrical distribution. Munro’s solar division designed and provided the components for a 58.8kW solar array at Spectrum’s 120,000sf manufacture, showroom and office facility. The system consists of 299 solar modules panels along with an innovative ballast mounting system which does not penetrate the roof. By using all the available incentives Munro designed the system with a four year payback. Many of the components used for the solar array are American and even
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Massachusetts made such as the Solectria invertors. The system was installed and commissioned by Raynham based Solar Installation LLC. “The program as presented by Munro Solar was easy to understand and their expertise and consulting installation throughout the entire process has been excellent. The installation is near complete and had no manufacturing or other down time. The installation looks amazing, clean and simple.” Chris Roemlein,
The system consists of 299 solar modules panels along with an innovative ballast mounting system which does not penetrate the roof. President, Spectrum Lighting. Munro continues to set the standard for new-economy businesses, with offerings such as lighting, water and gas conservation, complemented by solar-electric solutions. The clean energy initiatives that Munro advances are not short term trends but rather emerging sustainability standards. The nationwide demand for energy efficient lighting has enabled Spectrum to hire and train local Fall River residents and transform their 138 year old former mill building and manufacturing facility into a lean energy efficient facility which is great for their bottom line. Spectrum’s future plans include an addressable LED lamp retrofit coupled with a daylight harvesting system. Spectrum took advantage of the roof-
top activities by replacing their aged roof with a white thermoplastic roofing system supplied and installed by CentiMark Corporation’s Massachusetts division. The new white roof system, with one inch R six of insulation, is UV rated which drastically cuts cooling costs and extends the life of the roof. The reflective characteristics also enhance the solar arrays performance. These are just a few examples that a facility can implement to directly impact their bottom line while also fostering U.S. job growth and energy independence. To view the power being created by the system in real time and photos of the installation please visit www.munrodistributing.com.
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December, 2010
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
Mary M. Hooker Environmental Sciences Magnet School
H
artford CT - The recently completed Mary M. Hooker Environmental Sciences Magnet School sits on 15 pristine acres near downtown Hartford and is one of the first schools in New England and the first in the City of Hartford to be designed to the USGBC LEED Gold standard. Designed by Meriden, Connecticut-based architectural and engineering firm BL Companies, the existing 75,000sf facility was completely renovated along with the addition of 31,000 sf of new academic areas. The theme of the school is Education in Energy Efficiency and Environmental Responsibility. The ecologically and environmentally inspired spaces include a
Students will raise and study butterflies in the butterfly vivarium.
greenhouse, a butterfly vivarium for raising and studying live butterflies, an interactive science theater providing a 28-foot dome for the digital projection of astronomical and meteorological educational programs, and an aquatics laboratory with over 60 tanks for the study of both fresh and salt water species, as well as aquaculture techniques. A 3,500-gallon eco-pond located in the school’s main lobby complete with plants, trees and a waterfall provides a complete ecological system to enhance the
educational programs at the school. The entire school facility is used as a teaching tool, including the boiler room, cogeneration plant and main electrical rooms, which provide observation windows for the students to learn about the systems that run their school. One of the focuses of the school is recycling; the construction materials utilized in the project exceed 20% recycled content and 98% of all construction waste was recycled. In addition, two composters Continued on next page
Building Controls
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Green Development News
December, 2010
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments Continued from previous page have been provided to process biodegradable waste generated by the kitchen and cafeteria. The City of Hartford challenged the design team to integrate state-of-the-art mechanical systems into this 60-year-old facility to bring it into the 21st century. Among those systems are high performance features such as a fully integrated digital energy management system with extensive levels of control and monitoring of the interior environment. Interior CO2 levels control the introduction of outdoor air to reduce energy consumption during periods of reduced occupancy. Photovoltaic panels and a 60 kW cogeneration plant provide electrical generation and the simultaneous re-use of com-
bustion exhaust to heat domestic hot water and to provide supplemental heat. Also included are ultra-high efficiency gas-fired condensing hot water boilers and domestic water heaters. High efficiency lighting systems were designed to less than 1 watt per square foot with occupancy, time-of-day, and day-lighting controls to reduce artificial illumination when there is sufficient daylight. Energy savings for the project achieved 10 out of 10 LEED points for Energy Performance and the maximum 4 points out of 4 for innovation in design. Six acres of the site are designated as an outdoor nature center and trail system used for environmental instruction in an urban environment. This extraordinary site Continued on page 14
LEED Consultant
The cafeteria bright with daylight overlooks the outdoor nature center and trail system.
The success of the Mary Hooker School project can be credited to a team of dedicated contractors who approached the LEED process with enthusiasm and earnestness. Without their constant pursuit of regional and recycled materials, maintaining optimum indoor air quality measures, and overall teamwork, we could not have strived to make this school a LEED Gold project. Working with this team was truly a privilege. -Cynthia M Kaplan, LEED AP BD+C, Assoc. AIA
Cynthia M Kaplan, LEED AP BD+C, Assoc. AIA 64 Blue Ridge Dr., South Windsor, CT 06074
860 338 7902
Program Manager
Architect/Civil Engineer
MARY M. HOOKER ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES MAGNET SCHOOL AS PROGRAM MANAGER, DIGGS CONSTRUCTION WOULD LIKE TO THANK AND CONGRATULATE THE PROJECT TEAM ON THE COMPLETION OF THIS SCHOOL.
Mary M. Hooker Environmental Sciences Magnet School · Hartford, Connecticut BL Companies, an employee-owned firm, is a leader in delivering high-quality, integrated architecture, engineering and related services to public and private clients for land development, building design, and infrastructure projects. We are a community of professionals working in partnership with our clients to develop creative, sustainable, and practical solutions that enrich the built environment. D e l i v e r i n g I n t e g ra t e d S e r v i c e s
1010 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford, CT 06114 860.296.1664 DIGGSCONSTRUCTION.COM
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Architects · Engineers · Planners · Environmental Scientists · Land Surveyors w w w. b l c o m p a n i e s . c o m 800.301.3077 C o n n e c t i c u t · N e w Yo r k · Pe n n s y l v a n i a · M a r y l a n d
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments Mary M. Hooker Environmental Sciences Magnet School Continued from page 13 extends the learning experience beyond the walls of the school and enables the faculty to develop a wide-ranging environmental curriculum. The site also includes a bio-swale to provide for the natural filtration and treatment of storm water runoff that is discharged to Cemetery Brook, a natural resource unique for an urban environment. The Mary M. Hooker Environmental Sciences Magnet School project is just the latest in BL Companies’ academic portfolio to reach completion. Other projects the firm is currently involved in include the Davis Street Arts Magnet School in New Haven, Meeting House Hill Elementary School and the High School in New Fairfield, as well as projects at Southern Connecticut State University and the University of Connecticut.
An interactive planetarium provides digital projections of astronomical and meteorological educational programs.
Project Team for Mary M. Hooker School Owner: Mary Hooker Env. Studies Magnet School Architect/Civil Engineer: BL Companies Program Manager: Diggs Construction EEO/AA Consultant: Nutmeg Planners, LLC. Building Controls: Automated Building Systems, Inc. LEED Consultant (for PDS): CMK LEED Concrete Contractor: Division 3 Technologies Geotechnical Engineer: Earth Design Associates, Inc. Construction Manager: PDS Engineering & Construction, Inc. Structural Engineer: Santo Domingo Engineering, LLC LEED Consultant (for BL): Veridian Energy & Environmental
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December, 2010
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
BCBS of Rhode Island Exemplifies Green Advantage
Symmes Maini & McKee Associates Architects, Dimeo Construction CM
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rovidence, RI - The new 327,000sf benchmarks Green roofs headquarters for Blue Cross Blue Three vegetated green roof areas Shield of Rhode Island in downtown Providence demonstrates the value ease urban heat island effect; 25% of the of a green workplace and achieves signifi- roof surfaces are vegetated or green roofs Curtain wall cant and measureable cost savings. WorkHigh-performance insulated glass reing with Cambridge, MA-based Symmes Maini & McKee Associates and Dimeo duces solar gain in summer and keeps heat Construction, the 1,100-employee health inside in winter contributing toward the care company fulfilled its health and well- overall building energy savings. Daylight ness mission through the design of its new reaches 75% of interior spaces, and 90% of 13-story headquarters (completed October occupied spaces have exterior views. Transportation 2009). The team’s success has translated The new building is within walking into high productivity, low turnover and high marks in the form of awards and rec- distance of 26 bus lines and steps away from Providence’s commuter rail and ognition. Amtrak station. BCBS RI pays for public Among the achievements of note: transit passes; preferred parking for bicyEnergy cost reduction The new headquarters building has cles and hybrid cars is provided. Resource recycling and reuse reduced energy usage by more than 21% 86% of all waste materials during beyond the requirements of ASHRAE 90.1-2004., according to a third party re- construction were recycled; more than view of building systems and benchmark- 20% of building materials contain recycled ing against commercial real estate data. Primary savings come from selection of high performance HVAC equipment, building envelope technology, and reduced reliance on electrical power through innovative lighting design and ample use of daylighting Sustainable Interior Design The building’s interior space is designed as open office floors that benefit from abundant natural light and feature views through the floorto-ceiling glass curtain-wall facades Rainwater collection and water recycling Stormwater is collected from all roofs and drains, and stored onsite; recycled water is used in the building’s cooling towers, and recycled graywater is used to flush toilets and urinals; 20,000 gallons of rainwater are collected, stored and Exterior view of new headquarters for reused, and water savings are Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island 31% over conventional office
content. An aggressive reuse and recycling program is in place, embraced by BCBS RI employees; compost and recycling stations throughout the building are cutting the waste stream; green-certified furniture is used throughout the building. Printing Protocols Printing in the building was transformed into a high-tech centralized service, allowing employees to print from their computers to central printing stations. This not only helps keep the insurance provider in compliance with the confidentiality requirements of healthcare regulators, it also saves the company significantly compared with cost and paper waste of individual desktop printing
Design/Construction Team Architecture/Interior Design: Symmes Maini & McKee Associates Contractor: Dimeo Construction Company MEP/Civil/Structural Engineering: Symmes Maini & McKee Associates Landscape Architecture: Symmes Maini & McKee Associates Lighting Designer: Lisa Zidel Lighting Design
Sustainability Team LEED Consultant: Symmes Maini & McKee Associates Commissioning Agent: BVH Integrated Services Energy Modeling: DMI Inc.
Green Development News
BCBS headquarters at dusk. Indoor Air Quality The ventilation and air conditioning system serving the building is automatically controlled to adjust the amount of conditioned outdoor air to occupied spaces based on occupancy using a demand control ventilation strategy; when occupancy is high, the systems increases the amount of ventilation air as appropriate; when oc-
View of interior lobby
Awards
• Providence Business News: 10 Best Places to Work (2010) • Environmental Design & Construction Magazine: 2010 Design Excellence Award (Commercial category) • CoreNet Global New England: 2010 Best New Workplace Award (Large Building category) cupancy is low, the system automatically reduces the amount of outdoor air, thereby saving a substantial amount of energy. The biggest transformation within the BCBS workplace is in the employee participation and leadership in the new green workplace. Shortly after occupancy, a green educational program was started. Signage was placed in break rooms and the cafeteria regarding what could be recycled and composted. The staff embraced the recycling of paper, plastic and other materials, and the sustainability program experienced its greatest boost with the eager adoption of green practices and programs throughout. Today, the employees recycle all paper, and was recently named the #1 recycler among clients of Cintas, the document management company. An estimated 5200 trees are saved annually by the recycling, along with 718 barrels of oil and 2.2 million gallons of water that would have been required to produce new paper. “We’ve been amazed at the way our staff has responded to the opportunity for a healthier, more sustainable workplace,” stated Tom Bovis. “As a health and wellness company, the practices adopted throughout our business are proving to be a powerful contributor to productivity and staff satisfaction.”
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December, 2010
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
Navy’s Largest Photovoltaic System
‘I don’t like Greenwashing’
Foundations Designed by Oldcastle PreCast
A Call for Better Green Building Information
The Camp Pendleton solar project will provide enough to provide electricity to power 400 homes. Camp Pendleton, CA – Oldcastle contract to construct the Navy’s largest Precast was contracted by Synergy Electric photovoltaic system in existence. Synergy Electric owner, Diane Keltto design, engineer and manufacture the precast solar panel ballasted foundations ner, explained that to avoid disturbing the for the more than 6,000 solar panels that earth, the solar panels will be attached to frames anchored by precast concrete cover six acres. The $9 million NAVFAC solar ener- blocks, set in beds of gravel on the ground. gy project is located on top of an old land- She believes the design is likely to catch on, fill on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton as people realize the panels can be installed without affecting the ground beneath. known as the Box Canyon Landfill. Oldcastle Precast’s non-soil penetratThe Camp Pendleton solar project is the Navy’s largest photovoltaic system ing precast ballasted footings that support in San Diego County funded by federal the solar panel assemblies are designed stimulus money. The system will provide for use in the most demanding solar panel almost 1.5 mega watts of renewable ener- applications where the panels need to be gy, enough to provide electricity to power secured on unstable, environmentally sensitive, or impenetrable ground conditions 400 homes. Oldcastle Precast, manufacturer of such as landfills, contaminated sites, or inprecast concrete products, supplied the so- stallations going in over bedrock. lar precast concrete ballasted foundations AECOM is the architect of Record to Synergy Electric who was awarded the for this project.
S G
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er? The answer is unfortunately that you by Allison Friedman I don’t like Greenwashing. Before often don’t know. Back in 2007, I attended a meeting at anyone gets excited and agrees, let me clarify. I don’t like the EPA’s Chicago offices where a group of the term “Green- industry participants discussed what a suswashing.” We’re tainable information infrastructure might at a point where the look like. This meeting produced so much green building in- excitement and hope. We talked about how dustry is expanding to drive market change while remaining rapidly, and good, open and fair to a variety of constituents, clear information and we discussed how regulations might fit can be hard to find. together with certifications and labels. I was surprised to attend a follow up Does it really help to Allison Friedman presume that manu- meeting this year around a similar topic. facturers and service How had so much time gone by? This providers are hiding behind trees waiting was a meeting hosted in May by the EPA, to jump out and dupe the rest of us with bad Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) information? While I agree that false or and GreenBlue to see if it would be advismisleading claims are not ok, I don’t think able to establish a Green Building Products Coalition. At this meeting, companies this perspective is true or helpful. Buyers are confused and want better and information providers expressed their information. But so do manufacturers and concerns. Potential challenges included service providers. They don’t have credible and affordable ways to reach “I believe there is a call for an orout, and they aren’t always ganizing body or coalition to organize sure what information is information across the green building required, which vendor to work with, or what method industry and offer advice to industry.” might be best for finding target clients. Many are also small companies that can’t pay or make the time to apply for the the number of certifications and labels, the changing nature of information and how latest and greatest or every certification. I created an online resource called to educate buyers, the fuzziness of certain Rate It Green (www.rateitgreen.com) years measurements, and the lack of funding for ago when I could not find the information an organization that might be able to help. I needed. Rate It Green is a directory, peer Companies were clear that their budgets review resource and online community for were stretched. So how do we reach conthe green building industry. I went through sensus, who makes the rules, and how can a green building learning experience where such an effort be funded? I believe there is a call for an orgaI struggled to source materials effectively, and I just wanted advice from people who nizing body or coalition to organize inforhad “been there” and could share some of mation across the green building industry what they knew. My idea was to help in- and offer advice to industry members. And crease the amount and availability of green that means the creation and funding of a building information. I am still building consensus-based body to provide informathis resource, and I am eager to add social tion and services to companies so they can networking to create the most robust con- navigate better and provide better and more versations and content. But this is just one organized information. A first step would be to identify the stakeholders in such an piece of a wider information puzzle. Advertising materials made up the effort and invite them all to the table. Next, bulk of green building information when I we need to map out the current space and first created Rate It Green. But today, fed- work to agree on the best environmental eral, state, and local regulation have prolif- and economic outcomes. And finally, the erated, Rate It Green is now one of perhaps industry needs a real action plan to orga50 related online resources, and certifica- nize and distribute information more effection and labeling programs have grown tively. If we can create better information rapidly. Some report that there are over 400 labeling and certification organiza- and resources for both buyers and sellers, tions, and my company counts over 1,000 perhaps we can reduce misinformation and green building information resources in the use of negative terms like greenwashour information resource guide. The FTC ing. We can also let companies get back to is working on revising the agency’s Green focusing on what they should: providing Guides, and I hear that Congress is con- the best green building products and sersidering Eco-Labeling legislation as well. vices. I look forward to working with anySo, with a veritable flood of information, one who wants to be part of the solution. Allison Friedman is the founder of how do you navigate, who can you trust, and how do you even know what to fairly Rate It Green. claim as a manufacturer or service provid-
Green Development News
December, 2010
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
S/L/A/M Green Happenings U.S. Department of Energy’s The Commercial Building PartnerBrookhaven National Laboratory ship targets actual, measured energy savN.Y. - The S/L/A/M Collaborative ings of over 50% for new construction has been retained by Brookhaven Science and 30% for existing buildings. CBP alAssociates, LLC (Manager to Brookhaven lows companies to explore energy-saving National Laboratory for the U.S. Depart- design alternatives that may be too techment of Energy) to provide design phase nologically challenging or expensive to construction management services for a ma- consider without the doe-funded technical jor science laboratory renovation project. expertise of the national laboratories and Called “RSL-II” the project is in- national technical expert teams. tended to provide newly renovated and The strategies and technologies used modern laboratories, offices and support to achieve these savings will be documentfunctions for detector development and en- ed and shared to help improve the efficienergy-related R & D in two separate mission cy of all US commercial buildings-though critical laboratory buildings. The work a concurrent call for projects, agencies represents 80,000sf totaling $ 31.5 million are in the process of selecting a group of in direct 2012 construction dollars. participants to engage in multiple new and This Construction Management existing building construction projects to contract continues a relationship between create, test, and validate design features. SLAM and Brookhaven, initiated in 1996 The CBP objective is to develop with the Laboratory’s 5300-acre Site Mas- a set of energy-efficient, market-ready ter Plan which created a framework to building solutions that will be deployable improve campus organization, locate 23 throughout the commercial building sector. new buildings, and provide room for continued campus expansion. The Master Plan “The CBP objective is to develop a set was most recently updated by of energy-efficient, market-ready building SLAM in 2007-2009 with a solutions that will be deployable throughcomprehensive plan for modout the commercial building sector.” ernization, of which “RSL-II” is a component. SLAM also provided programming services to Brookhaven for “RSL-II” under SLAM will be responsible for providing separate contract. lead architecture and design services for “Greening” of the U.S. Forest Service’s the North and South Regions, representnorthern research station ing approximately two-thirds of the United Conn. - Construction Services of States, as a key contributor to a national Somerset, Inc. (CSS) was recently awarded team of experts in architecture, HVAC, the design-build greening and renovation lighting, day-lighting, energy modeling, of the U.S. Forest Service’s northern re- controls, building auditing and data colsearch station facilities in Hamden and An- lection, cost estimating, commissioning, sonia. Selected by the U.S. Forest Service, refrigeration, computational fluid dynamEastern Region, CSS will be joined by The ics and renewable energy expertise. The S/L/A/M Collaborative as Architect, Code project is funded by the U.S. Department and LEED Specialist and by MEP Engi- of Energy through the American Recovery neer Consulting Engineering Services of and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Middletown. Work will involve construcIndustry “2030 Commitment” to tion and design for renovation/replacement Carbon Neutral Design and Practice of existing infrastructure, equipment, and The American Institute of Architects systems as well as the study and potential (AIA) recently welcomed The S/L/A/M installation of new equipment and systems. Collaborative as one of 103 firms nationAdditional scope may involve investiga- wide to support the Institute’s “2030 Comtion of the potential for solar power on mitment” to reach at least a 60% carbon both the Hamden and Ansonia campuses, emission reduction by 2010 and carbon evaluation of energy savings potential for neutral buildings by 2030. heating and cooling system replacement The AIA 2030 Commitment is a volin the Ansonia Greenhouse and the design untary program for AIA member firms and of user amenities. The project is funded other entities in the built environment that in whole by the American Recovery and asks these organizations to make a pledge, Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Construction develop multi-year action plans, and imServices of Somerset, Inc., is a subsidiary plement steps that can advance carbon neutrality in both design and practice. of The S/L/A/M Collaborative (SLAM). Architects are confronting the fact US Department of Energy’s that buildings are the largest single contribNew CBT Initiative Nationwide - The S/L/A/M Collab- utor to the production of greenhouse gases orative was recently selected as part of a and almost half of the total annual productechnical expert team led by Hallam-ICS tion. In order to reach the goal of carbon of South Burlington, VT by the Lawrence neutral buildings by 2030, there is a cruBerkeley National Laboratory, the Na- cial need for design experts, like SLAM, tional Renewable Energy Laboratory and to apply their experience, innovations and the Pacific Northwest National Labora- talents to current practices that will lead to tory for the U.S. Department of Energy’s significant reductions in the use of natural Commercial Building Partnerships (CBP) resources, non-renewable energy sources, and waste production. initiative.
Green Development News
Spruce HQ Gets Solar System
A solar array provides electricity for Spruce Environmental Technologies headquarters Ward Hill, Mass. Spruce Environmental Technologies, Inc., an Energy Star® Partner, recently completed the installation of a solar array to provide electricity for its Ward Hill headquarters building. The 78.8-kilowatt (kW) array was installed by clean energy company Nexamp. For more than 20 years, Spruce, a manufacturer of inline ventilation fans and the parent company of RadonAway; AccuStar Labs; and HomeAire, has been committed to researching and developing new technologies, techniques, products, and services to make the indoor environment a healthier, safer place in which to live. “With the installation of a system that captures solar energy,” said David Kapturowski, Spruce’s Executive Vice President, “Our Ward Hill building will be generating one-third of our electrical needs from the sun. As an added bonus, when Spruce is not using the solar energy generated by our new system (weekends, holidays, etc.) the unused power will be available to National Grid for use elsewhere.” A Commonwealth Solar Stimulus rebate for $91,250 helped make the project
more affordable and reduced the payback period. “Massachusetts is in the midst of a solar boom that is creating the clean energy jobs of the 21st century. By the end of this year, the Commonwealth will see a nearly 20-fold increase in solar installations over what we had when Governor Patrick took office,” said Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles. “I congratulate Spruce Environmental Technologies for becoming part of the Massachusetts solar success story.” “Spruce Environmental Technologies understands the value of clean energy from an environmental and economic perspective,” said Scott McClintock, Vice President at Nexamp. “We are proud to partner with Spruce on this project to help them reduce electricity costs with solar power.” The 78.8-kW solar array offsets approximately 137,150 pounds of carbon dioxide annually, the equivalent of taking 12 cars off the road each year or growing 1,595 trees from seed for 10 years.
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December, 2010
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
An Autobody Shop that Glows Green by Paul Hauser, LEED AP and Ryan Haggerty, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP Providence, RI - Vision 3 Architects of Providence is known for their sustainable approach to design. Although not every project the firm designs is designed for LEED certification, Vision 3 works closely with each client to integrate sustainable design elements to fit their unique project and budget goals. In 2008, Anthony Bodine of Cranston approached Vision 3 with an innovative idea: to design his new company, Protech Automotive Services, as a “green” auto repair shop on Plainfield Pike in Johnston. Bodine wanted to provide customer, and environmentally friendly automotive services, in a sleek, high-end setting that had a European feel. “I chose to open a “green” shop because I felt there was no other way,” commented Bodine. “The entire automotive industry is going green; the car manufacturers, the parts suppliers, collision repair, etc. It’s time that the auto repair industry gets cleaned up. Protech will set the bar, and hopefully other shops will follow. “Green repair” will soon be the new standard.” A unique building design, Protech’s exterior is built using a combination of black and white, ground face concrete block, where each color defines different programmatic elements within the building. The main entrance features a high-recycled content, aluminum metal panel system prefinished in the company’s signature neon green. The neon green metal panels are also used throughout the building as a complementary accent to the black and white concrete block.
Vision 3 specified a white thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roof to reflect sunlight, and minimize the heat-island effect created by black roofs. This small but significant change in the building design will save Protech roughly 30% in heating, cooling, and ventilation expenses. Protech’s two oil change bays are located in the front of the building to the right of the entrance. This allows customers quick, in-and-out access. Running along the length of the building are six service bays with glass overhead doors. This, when combined with skylights above each service Photo credits: (add) ventures and Bob DiCaprio bay, provides ample natural Protech Automotive Service in Johnston, R.I. light. On bright, sunny days technicians can turn off the • Lighting throughout the building is overhead lighting and rely on energy-efficient. daylight. In addition, oper• Countertops are made from recyable windows across from cled glass bottles. each overhead door allow for • Protech recycles almost every part cross ventilation and passive or liquid that they replace, including anticooling on mild days. freeze, oil based products, batteries, tires, As an integral feaoil filters, wheel weights, metal parts, pature of Protech’s sustainable per, and more. design, Vision 3 specified Protech Automotive Services’ new a boiler that can be fueled building was completed in March of 2010. by recycled waste oil that is “The best part about the design is typically discarded. At ProView of Protech’s Service Bays the transparency, in both green design and tech, all superfluous waste automotive service,” remarked Bodine. oil is stored in a holding tank be low V.O.C. “From where the customers sit, they can where it is pumped to the boiler. Waste oil In addition, all restrooms use low- see everything, with no obstructions. Most is filtered and burned as a heat source for the flow toilets and sensor operated faucets to shops have a waiting room that is separate radiant floor heating system. reduce water consumption; and high ve- from the service bays, with walls that block Protech’s signature neon green color locity electric hand dryers to cut down on the customer’s view of their vehicle. Our is used with a bright orange, to create a paper waste. waiting room is separated from the service lively and welcoming atmosphere for cusAdditional sustainable elements: area by only glass walls. This creates a tomers in the lobby and lounge areas. All • A waste management recycling feeling of trust between customers and eminterior and exterior paints are specified to program was used during construction. ployees because nothing is hidden.”
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
The Institute for Global Citizenship Unites Academic Units Architect: Bruner/Cott St Paul, MN - The Institute for Global Citizenship (IGC) exemplifies Macalester College’s mission, showcasing a commitment to internationalism and community participation in a building that demonstrates a new standard for energy conservation and sustainable design. As a result, the building is a citizen of the world. The IGC unites three academic units that previously were dispersed across campus: the International Center, the Center for Civic Engagement and the administrative offices of the IGC. Principally a series of offices, workrooms and conference rooms, the program is organized on three floors around a central gathering space. The design acknowledges the conservative architectural traditions of a midwestern campus while also embracing other architectural traditions from across the world. The texture and finish of each surface responds to solar orientation to create the widest possible array of patterns, textures, shapes and shadows. These patterns change with time of day and the season of the year. The IGC is the first project implemented after the ratification of the college’s 2005 Master Plan. The Plan identified the IGC site as an important gateway to Macalester’s campus and link to the St. Paul community. The IGC is designed to withstand Minnesota’s frigid winters and hot humid summers. A super insulated envelope surrounds the workspaces maximizing occupant comfort with individual operable windows, an abundance of natural light and individually controlled radiant heating/cooling panels. The design exceeds the 2030 challenge’s 2010 goal of 50% reduction, is performing 63% better than the base case energy model, and has achieved LEED Platinum certification. This performance was accomplished by sensibly siting and massing the building, and then designing the high performance envelope. The construction cost was competitive with the cost of other high quality campus buildings recently completed in Minnesota. The low cost of electrical energy
Main entry embraces ‘global’ architectural traditions in Minnesota made the payback for photovoltaic systems unfeasible, and the region’s coal-sourced electricity generation made ground-source heat pumps unattractive. Instead the greatest efficiencies were achieved by connecting the new building to the campus central utility plant. The energy load of the new building is less than the load of the building it replaced. As an added benefit, LEED process induced Macalester to upgrade their central chiller plant to meet contemporary standards. As the first project built after the campus master plan, the IGC provides a benchmark for future construction. The design team worked closely with senior administration, building users, and campus facilities in a process that focused on whole building design and measurable results. The resulting thermal performance and occupant comfort are being incorporated into Macalester’s campus standards. The project team includes Architect: Bruner/Cott & Associates, Inc. Cambridge, MA; General Contractor: McGough, St. Paul, MN; MEP/HVAC: vanZelm Heywood & Shadford, Inc., Farmington, CT; Structural: BKBM Engineers, Minneapolis; Commissioning: Karges-Failconbridge,
Inc., St. Paul; Specifications: Kalin Associates, Inc., Newton, MA; Lighting: Lighting Matters, Inc., Minnepolis; Sustainable: Energysmiths, Meriden, NH; Landscape: Close Landscape Architecture. St. Paul; Code: Department of Safety and Inspections, St. Paul; Building Envelope: Thompson & Lichtner Co. Inc., Cambridge, Ma; Roof: Roof Spec Inc., Minneapolis; Photography: Richard Mandelkorn, Lincoln, MA.
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Interior lobby welcomes students, faculty and visitors. FSC certifi ed American Cherry lines the walls. Floor is composed of recycled glass and ceramic tile.A ‘green’ touchscreen connects visitors to the building and provides data and educational information on sustainable design around the campus.
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December, 2010
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High-Profile: Annual Green Facilities Developments
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