Nashville Civic Design Center Center for Sustainability Education Network of Sustainability An important step in creating a new institution in our city, providing information and education related to water, air, climate change, sustainable development and responsible consumption, is to establish an education and action network focused on sustainability. The network as a physical form would correlate information related to environmental, social and economic sustainability. The network of sustainability – with centers serving distinct yet interrelated constituencies – offers an effective medium for catalyzing measurable reductions in personal consumption within our community. It is also a potential branding tool to position Nashville as an innovative leader in educating citizens and companies on practical and accessible ways to reduce their carbon and ecological footprints (environmental), increase possibilities and variations of work patterns (economical), and ultimately make Tennessee a more enjoyable and equitable place for all its inhabitants (social).
As recommended by the Green Ribbon Committee on Environmental Sustainability in a 2009 report to Mayor Dean, Nashville should create a Center for Sustainability Education (in the report it is called the Green Building Design Center). The creation of a Center could, in fact, act as a vehicle for the “Network of Sustainability.” In December of 2009, Gary Gaston, Design Director of the NCDC, presented work done in conjunction with the University of Tennessee College of Architecture + Design. The Design Center had strategically selected a site bounded by Lafayette St., 6th and 7th Ave, and Peabody St, that would serve to revitalize an underutilized area of downtown. The location anchors a building program for what would be the Center for Sustainability Education. Though the designs were not intended to be built, they helped to establish the scale and scope of the vision at hand. This Center would become the Downtown/Corporate base focus for the network of sustainability.
The scope, complexity and uniqueness of these endeavors are a significant undertaking, but the outcome appears both indispensable and obtainable. The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) noted that the greatest thing that could come about because of an individual center and a network was: “We could benefit from each other’s strengths and help fill in areas where more expertise is needed. So often in our work we see that many groups are all trying to promote the same goals, but separately. This would be a great unifying network for us all to work together to meet these goals more effectively.”
Neighborhood base
Watershed base
Gina Emmanuel Local USGBC Chapter Mak ing the Connections The Network of Sustainability has three potential focuses: •
Downtown/Corporate based
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Neighborhood based
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Watershed based
Downtown base
Map of Nashville and projected network of information exchange. As the watershed base, neighborhood base, and downtown base develop, the opportunity to expand to suburban and rural areas would increase the database of knowledge needed to include a variety of land uses.
Nashville Civic Design Center • Urban Design / Policy Brief • Center for Sustainability Education • www.civicdesigncenter.org
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At the same meeting in November 2009, Doug Hausken and Margo Farnsworth explained the history of the Cumberland River Compact’s work towards creating educational resources. Examples include Green Building conferences, Building Outside the Box programs and a Center for Living Watershed. They then discussed their efforts towards securing the Naval Auxiliary Building in Shelby Park to function as an educational, demonstration and sustainability center. It would also function as a home for numerous different non-profits with sustainability-focused missions. This plan would likely fall under the watershed based focus.
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In November of 2009, Dan Heller and Heather Langford presented plans for the creation of URBAN GREEN LAB. They envision it as a locally-based resource center that could serve to create an art and cultural hub, green jobs, urban farming, lecture and meeting space, and ultimately boost economic development in the area. The proposed location is a currently vacant lot adjacent to Riverside Village in Inglewood/East Nashville. A plan like this falls under the neighborhood-based focus and, if proven successful, could serve as a pilot project for other neighborhoods with comparable needs.
What emerged from the meetings was a vision for a poetic shift in the development of Nashville; a shift that addresses the environmental, economic and social characteristics of a major metropolitan area moving progressively forward through the new millennium. With the construction of the new Convention Center and redevelopment of surrounding areas, a deliberate master plan would need to be created for the area known as SoBro.
Adventure Science Center
Schematic map of "Avenue of the Sciences"
Avenue of the Sciences Helping fulfill Mayor Dean’s promise of making Nashville the “Greenest City in the South,” the Nashville Civic Design Center proposes the establishment of a corridor devoted to science education and sustainable development. Situated along 6th Avenue South, from the proposed Convention Center to the Adventure Science Center, this area could ultimately become known as the “Avenue of the Sciences.” In conceiving a new “Avenue of the Sciences” the Design Center envisions 6th Avenue South as a model for education of environmental sustainability through programmed spaces, exhibitions and activities as well as through built structures that act as models of green building design. One key element is the aforementioned Center for Sustainability Education with green roof technology, an energy generation area, and water collection areas for irrigation and grey water recirculation. Other potential elements along the “Avenue of the Sciences” include the following: • Nashville Electric Services (NES) educational substation • Solar-powered battery charging facility for electric vehicles • Partnerships with NES, TVA, local universities (e.g., Lip-
scomb University’s Institute for Sustainable Practice), and a new downtown magnet elementary school • Park and green spaces • “Science Circuit” that guides visitors among elements along the avenue, reinforcing the interdependent forces that affect and define sustainability It is the vision of the Nashville Civic Design Center that an “Avenue of the Sciences” would foster the development of environmentally sustainable and socially conscious enterprises, creating jobs for a new sector of Nashville’s downtown economy. The opportunity exists to expand this vision past the proposed Adventure Science Center to the existing State Fair Grounds. With access via arterial roads, interstates, public transportation, and rail, the fair grounds site could be redeveloped into an urban science park, stimulating the economy and creating green jobs. Ultimately, the “Avenue of the Sciences” would be a vital link to the network of sustainability. Likewise, the avenue could become an integral Downtown/Corporate hub for sustainability at the national level. With its proximity to the new Music
Nashville Civic Design Center • Urban Design / Policy Brief • Center for Sustainability Education • www.civicdesigncenter.org
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City Center, and existing connections being made to the Adventure Science Museum, there are ample opportunities to create an economically and socially sustainable asset with a diversity of new job opportunities.
building guidelines and public promotion for qualified projects. In addition, the program for the Center will contain the following: • Theater/auditorium space • Gallery/interactive educational space • Flexible space
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• Conference rooms • Offices • Services areas • Outdoor demonstration spaces
Partnerships Adventure Science Center
This project is perceived as a public/private partnership. The facility is operated by a non-profit organization that runs and operates the general facility and educational programs specific to the Center. Each associated organization or corporation pays a determined rent to the overall facility. The Center has a shared centralized reception area with computer scheduling and calendar for meeting spaces and events. Possible Partner Organizations Nashville Civic Design Center, United States Green Building Council, American Institute of Architects, Urban Land Institute, Cumberland Region Tomorrow, Cumberland River Compact, US Army Corp. of Engineers, Walk Bike Nashville, Kilowatt Hours, Tree Foundation, Food Security Partners, LandTrust, ect. Tennessee State Fair Grounds
Possible Partner Corporations Ingram, Nissan, Bridgestone, LP, NES, TVA, ect.
Schematic map of expanded science corridor.
Center for Sustainability Education As recommended by the Green Ribbon Committee on Environmental Sustainability in a 2009 report to Mayor Dean, Nashville should create a Center for Sustainability Education. The center would act as a public/private partnership that would showcase and provide education on green building practices. The Center will serve to showcase green building products, educate building owners, contractors, developers, architects and the public on new technologies and building methods. The Center will offer free technological assistance, green Nashville Civic Design Center • Urban Design / Policy Brief • Cohousing: A Community Housing Type for Nashville • www.civicdesigncenter.org
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Patrick Queisser’s rendering for the Center for Sustainability Education
Building Program for Student Design Projects The building minimum height will be 2 Floors above grade. Total building gross enclosed square foot floor area between 30,000 and 40,000 SF (not including parking and site features). 1.
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Lobby/reception (1000 SF) a. Receptionist b. Publications/Displays c. Seating d. Toilets Theater / auditorium space (3000 SF) a. Auditorium (Sloped Floor; Seating capacity 120-200 max.) b. Stage/Back of house c. Media/Equipment/Projection room Gallery / Interactive educational space (4000 SF) Café (2000 SF) - not sure of the space requirements – similar to the Frist Center - stand in line, order, pick up food, sit and eat – capacity of 100 people or 25 4 top tables) a. Dining Area (1,000 SF?) b. Food Prep Area (500 SF?) c. Optional Outdoor Dining Terrace (500 SF) Library (3000 SF) a. Reading Area 600 SF b. Stacks 2,500 linear feet of shelving 1,500 SF c. Media/DVD 200 SF d. Reference Terminals 4 @ 20 SF each 80 SF e. Circulation Desk 80 SF f. Librarian’s Office 200 SF g. Book Store h. Store Room 300 SF Meeting rooms (4 @ 1000 SF) Conference rooms (4 @ 500 SF) Flex space (4000 SF) a. Multipurpose room: meeting, exhibition, banquet, … b. Subdivided into 3 spaces @ 1000 SF each c. Storage Design Studio (1,500 SF)
Open plan for 8 connected work stations Visiting student studio space (for up to 6 students) adjacent but connected to design studio – possible mezzanine c. Pin up space for staff and students d. Print areas to be shared with offices 10. Offices (3500 SF) a. Lobby/Reception b. Administration Offices 4@ 150 SF c. Agency Offices 4@ 150 SF d. Intern/Volunteer work stations 4 e. Copy Room f. Server Room g. Kitchen h. Storage i. Toilets 2 @ 200 SF Circulation and Service areas (25% +/-)
Site Program Outdoor demonstration spaces (Perhaps a rain garden, outdoor classrooms, recycling center, demonstration organic garden or urban farm and composting area etc.) Green Houses – 2 to 3 @ 400 SF Parking Staff Parking (including x# with charging stations for electric vehicles) Visitor and Handicap Parking Bus Parking (on-street) Service Dock and Parking
Jonathan Sexton’s rendering for the library of the Center for Sustainability Education
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Additional Sustainable Design Features • Green Roof • Energy generation area (solar PV panels) and potential charging station for electric vehicles • Water collection area for irrigation and grey water recirculation • Pervious paving surfaces • LEED Platinum certification • Hot water solar panels • Storm water collection (filters and cisterns) for use at lavatories • Geothermal heat pumps (Approximately 48 300-feet deep wells • Operable windows for ventilation/cooling (sensors and motor-operated windows) • Day lighting (light sensors for automatic dimming of electric light sources) • Use of recycled and renewable materials • High insulation values in building envelope • Use of local materials • Building systems monitoring center (visible by the public, within the building)
Caitlin Turski’s cut-away axon for the Center for Sustainability Education
Tyler Etris’s elevation for the Center for Sustainability Education
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AIA 4th Year Integrations Student Competition
Fleming Smith – Prize Winner Jury Comments:
Clay Adkisson – Prize Winner Jury Comments: • Fresh and novel view of sustainability as a concept and how it is implemented. Healthy dose of local sourcing and understanding of regional materials. • Took the “building-as-teaching-tool” to the next level by not just exposing systems, but doing so in a uniquely thoughtful and artistic way. Initial concept of 'exposure' well articulated throughout building experience and detailing. • Approach and entry sequence off of 6th Ave was well thought out and effective. • Took a bold approach by adding an abundance of leasable space to the program, but did so with thought and consideration of densifying this site while offsetting some of the cost of implementing the technologies listed.
• Great outdoor amphitheatre space formed by folding the earth up to unveil the partially underground Auditorium space. Most inventive use of outdoor space as it relates to building. Building becomes landscape and becomes building again as an elegant site solution. • Interesting nod to southern vernacular with the “deep porch” created by the exaggerated overhang. • Attention to scale of the façade along Peabody Street gives the building a human scale at the street level. The solar blanket creates a creative building skin as roof, facade and street canopy. • The light wells that broke apart the copper roof wrapper were noted and appreciated.
Nashville Civic Design Center • Urban Design / Policy Brief • Center for Sustainability Education • www.civicdesigncenter.org
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Case Study
Chicago Center for Green Technology Chicago, Illinois http://cityofchicago.org •
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Primary Focus: house organizations and businesses committed to the environment by providing environmental products and services; educate about green building systems, environmental and economical benefits of such practices, and how to incorporate environmentally friendly, cost saving features into homes or businesses. Site Details: 17-acre urban site, renovation of a 40,000 sq. ft. 2-story building, certified LEED Platinum; building/site features include solar panels, rainwater collection for irrigation, recycled building materials, smart lighting, a green roof, and a geothermal exchange system; building houses the Green Building Resources center, which offers green building reference materials, product samples and technical assistance to the general public.
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Organization Details: municipal building owned by the City of Chicago’s Department of Environment occupied a department satellite office, a solar panel production company, and I community gardening and job training program; visitations are permitted.
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Vision: Helping professionals and homeowners learn how green technology is cost-effective and good for the environment and people.
University Science Center Philadelphia, PA www.sciencecenter.org •
Primary Focus: Providing both the physical space and the key resources needed to help commercialize new technologies and nurture new companies.
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Site Details: 17-acre urban site, 15-building campus; located in the heart of Philadelphia’s University City; specializes in providing wet and dry laboratory facilities, turnkey management services, and industry expertise to life science and technology companies.
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Organization Details: Established in 1963 as a fully independent non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Over 100 companies reside in the Science Center facilities employing approximately 7,500 people.
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Vision: To improve the success rate of emerging technology companies.
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Sciencenter Ithaca, NY www.sciencenter.org •
Primary Focus: Empowering young people to use science in shaping a better future and encouraging the long-term stewardship of our environment, society, and economy though education and action.
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Site Details: entire facility (building, mechanical systems and Science park) designed to be an exhibit and to be used to demonstrate the application of science; attached outdoor science park contains a number of science exhibits and is itself an exhibit built on a NorthSouth coordinate grid with most poles located on that grid.
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Organization Details: A non-profit 501(c)3 educational organization.
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Vision: To inspire excitement for science through interactive exhibits and programs that engage, educate, and empower.
Biosphère, Environment Museum Montreal, QC http://biosphere.ec.gc.ca/ •
Primary Focus: Eco-action, showcasing, observing and studying water and the Great Lakes-St. Lawerence River ecosystem.
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Site Details: The sphere is an adaptive reuse of the former United States pavilion at the 1967 World’s Fair with a set of enclosed buildings currently owned and operated by Environment Canada; includes permanent and rotating exhibits, age specific programming, tours, outdoor demonstration space, and conference rooms.
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Organization Details: Canadian museum.
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Vision: An exclusive venue to better understand major environmental issues, including those related to water, air, climate change, sustainable development and responsible consumption.
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The Centre for Sustainability Vancouver, BC http://www.centreforsustainability.ca/ •
Primary Focus: Act as an important access and referral point for not-for-profit organizational development resources in British Columbia through the dissemination and cataloguing of information. It also provides training programs.
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Site Details: office that mostly assists individuals or groups through the internet or telephone.
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Organization Details: A not-for-profit organization.
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Vision: To assemble, design and deliver well-funded, knowledge-rich and highly collaborative capacity programs for British Columbia’s not-for-profit organizations and their funders.
Thoreau Center for Sustainability San Francisco, CA/New York, NY http://www.thoreau.org/ http://www.tidessharedspaces.org/index.php •
Primary Focus: green not-for-profit centers operated by Tides Shared Spaces typically providing office space, rental rates and lease terms oriented to the not-forprofit sector, and provide services, meeting space, and opportunities for collaboration and cost sharing; advocates the creation of Multi-Tenant Non-Profit Centers (MTNC’s) as a sustainable infrastructure solution to meet the needs of non-profits.
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Site Details: San Francisco – 150,000 sq. ft., 12 buildings, over 60 non-profits; New York – 150,000 sq. ft, one building, 10 non-profits.
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Organization Details: Tides Shared Spaces is part of Tides, a group of non-profits that share a common vision for a healthy society – a society based on principles of social justice, broadly shared economic opportunity, a robust democratic process and sustainable environmental practices.
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Vision: Tides Shared Spaces creates, operates, and promotes sustainable workspace for non-profits and strengthens non-profit capacity in the real estate area.
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Citation Selected wording in describing the Center for Sustainability Education was adapted from the report to the Honorable Karl Dean, Mayor, from the Green Ribbon Committee on Environmental Sustainability (June 2009). All information and images gathered referring to particular organizations was accessed from that organization’s website listed with their name and location. Websites accessed: June 28-July 2, 2010. Credit to specific student projects: Clay Adkisson, Fleming Smith, Patrick Queisser, Caitlin Turski, Tyler Etris and Jonathan Sexton Thanks to the 4th year design studio class of 2009 from the University of Tennessee’s College of Architecture + Design. A special thanks to all participants involved in discussions and meetings dealing with the Center for Sustainability Education, The Avenue of the Sciences, and the Network of Sustainability.
This Case Study was created by the Nashville Civic Design Center. The report was written by Brent Hunter (Design Intern) and adapted from a case study by Matthew Gonser (2009 Summer Intern). It was edited by Gary Gaston, Design Director of the Nashville Civic Design Center. Nashville Civic Design Center • Urban Design / Policy Brief • Center for Sustainability Education • www.civicdesigncenter.org
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