New Energy-Efficient Complex to Open on the Missouri Riverfront
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A new, green multi-family apartment complex, situated on the riverfront near the Missouri River, is set to break ground this October. The complex, named Second and Delaware, will be the nations largest multi-family complex to use Passive House Institute-certified building techniques, a system which is even more strict than LEED standards.
The 276-unit complex will include two buildings and will include energy-efficient features and green building standards. The complex, named Second and Delaware, will include 16 inch thick concrete walls, rooftop gardens, and an energy recovery ventilation system that will reduce the heating and cooling needs by about 90 percent from comparable apartment complexes.
Although Large Passive House-certified buildings are more common in Europe, the Natural Resources Defense Council hopes that the Second and Delaware project will draw national attention to the city and the building techniques. Developers on the project have said they are also using lean construction techniques to reduce costs and delays.
Second and Delaware, which will cost around $60 million, has been in the planning phase for almost three years, as the team continues to work towards being Passive House Institute-certified. One aspect the team believes will be extremely helpful is the installation of the concrete panel walls. They will hold insulation between the two panels and will be more durable than wood-frame construction. The building will be able to withstand harsher weather and will last up to 200 years.
The complex, which is on a 4-acre property, is set to open to tenants sometime in 2017.
The team, named Smart Growth Group includes, construction manager, Haren Laughlin, general contractor, John Rohrer, architect, Direct Design Enterprises, Greenfield Mechanical, Palmer Electric, Staengl Engineering, CEO Structural Engineers and Nebel Construction Services. In addition to making the complex energy efficient, the developers hope to use 20 percent of the apartments for low- income housing.