News
U. Va. Seeks Certification for Five Buildings
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — School officials are making a commitment to have all new construction on campus qualify for LEED certification, and they currently have five projects that may do just that.
Although striving for LEED certification often leads to an increase in design fees, facilities upgrades and construction costs, school officials realized it can create a prompt payback on investment, so they made LEED a top priority in campus design.
County Hopes to Strike Gold with its First Green Building
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — The new $16.6 million county education center in Gwinnett County does more than just rest on its 233-acre site; it lives on it.
Designed by Atlanta-based Lord, Aeck & Sargent, the 59,000-square-foot Gwinnett Environmental Heritage Center is the county’s first green building, and features several sustainable elements, including a water recycling program and a living, green roof that allow the center to “give back” to the environment.
Building Council to Introduce LEED for Schools Construction Category
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Green Building Council is scheduled in March to launch its LEED for schools rating system, which was created specifically for design and construction of K-12 schools.
Based on the LEED for new construction category, the LEED for schools system will update key areas that have the greatest effect on children in the learning environment.
Elementary School to Exceed State Energy Requirements
LINCOLN, Calif. — Construction is under way for the 55,647-square-foot Lincoln Crossing Elementary School, and the building is set to exceed state energy requirements by 22 percent.
Expected to cost approximately $20 million to build, the school will house 660 students and 29 teaching areas. Features of the energy-saving design include high-performance HVAC and lighting systems, an energy-efficient building shell, sustainable building materials, day lighting, deep overhangs and high-tech glazing.
District Plans to Generate Its Own Electricity
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Community College District recently introduced a plan that would allow the district’s nine campuses to generate all of their electricity with solar panels.
The plan could cost up to $9 million and would include installation of photovoltaic panels that would produce one megawatt of power at each campus. Currently, each campus uses less than one megawatt.
Greenguard Certifies Smith System Products
PLANO, Texas — The Greenguard Environmental Institute has certified Smith System’s entire product portfolio of desks, chairs and library furniture.
GEI is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving public health and quality of life through programs that improve indoor air quality. The certification program was created to recognize companies that have products that meet or exceed requirements for low chemical emissions.
Duke Lab Facility Designed to Meet LEED Silver Standards
DURHAM, N.C. — A new medical research facility at Duke University is the latest building on campus designed to meet LEED certification, a requirement for all new construction projects at the university.
The $64 million Medical Science Research Building II, designed by Hillier Architecture of Princeton, N.J., was designed to meet LEED silver certification. It posed a challenge for designers because lab spaces don’t typically allow for efficient use of daylighting, or water or air circulation, according to the firm.
Former Office Building Converted to Elementary School Could Achieve LEED Silver Certification
BRIGHTON, Mass. — Officials are hoping a renovated office building that was converted to serve as the main component of the new home for the St. Patrick School will be awarded LEED silver certification.
In addition to the 36,000-square-foot former office building, the new $10 million campus for first through eighth graders includes a new 14,000-square-foot gymnasium and a 6,000-square-foot lab and studio.
Teachers at the school, which opened in September, will incorporate many of the building’s sustainable design components into course curriculum.