gb&d Issue 3: October 2010

green building & design

gb&d

VOL. 1, NO. 3 OcT 2010 P. 48

SILVERLINING INTERIORS Refashioning 1920s apartments for the sustainable 21st century

P. 56

SPaN Embodying nature with re-imagined forms and unique solutions

GREEN BUILDING & DESIGN

The essential guide for sustainable projects and ideas oct 2010 gb&d_Oct2010_ cover.indd 1

green living in the big easy Rebuilding the Lower 9th Ward, P. 60

5/18/10 10:56:37 AM

ţŢŢų ţŢŢų ţŢŢų

Ľ Ĉ Ľ Ĉ Ľ Ĉ

2

Ħ Ħ Ħ Č Ħ Ħ Ħ Č ĩ ĩ Ħ Ħ Ħ Č ĩ ĩ OCT 2010

JRWKDPBIXOO LQGG GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 2

gbdmagazine.com

ĩ ĩ 5/15/10 30 2:15:40 AM

30

contents profile 19

gb&d OCt 2010 VOL. 1, NO. 3

VINCeNt D’aVeNa Explaining his newfound pride in “environmentally intelligent remodeling”

21

jOe sWaNsON jr.

Pushing his family’s business into a new direction with LEED certification

23

discussion board

uP FrONt

FYFFe CONstruCtION COMPaNY, INC.

commodities bookshelf agenda unique spaces

After weathering the history of green building, the general contractor is taking charge

25

j.r. PrIsCO, INC.

11 13 14 15

The third-generation family business sets the bar for sustainable construction management

26

q BuILDers How an efficient name leads to an efficient organization model

28

launch pad

Features

DFs CONstruCtION

rOLLs-rOYCe MeNtaLItY, P. 48

Instilling the commercial market with savings in time, money, and energy

30

GreeNBrOOk hOMes Husband-and-wife team apply prior knowledge of homebuilding to new start-up venture

32

GreeN sOurCe CINCINNatI Seeing is believing, the theme for Cincinnati’s newest living resource center for green technology

inner workings 34

the raINshINe hOuse The ultra-modern, all-season home by architect Robert M. McCain and Pinnacle Builders

community 39

haMeL BuILDers Renovation of a rundown landmark spurs new green standards

taking shape 42

CLINICa VerDe A green clinic in Nicaragua demonstrates Trailmark Construction Management’s values

net zero 44

CharLes rOse arChIteCts Seeking to imbue contemporary designs with sculptural animation

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Finalx.indd 3

Serving the high-end interiorrenovation market for more than 20 years with in-house cabinetmakers, carpenters, painters, and plasterers, Silverlining Interiors is leading the revitalization of Manhattan’s pre-war apartments.

MaterIaL WOrLD, P. 56 The principals of feature architecture firm SPaN discuss their inspirations, projects, and the implementation of green-design elements into their work to create “highly refined architecture with a sustainable backbone.”

reBuILDING NOLa, P. 60 New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Now, one extraordinary organization has helped turn the neighborhood’s fortune around by empowering the community through revolutionary, sustainable developments.

OCT 2010

3

5/18/10 2:34:55 PM

contents

spaces 70

resIDeNtIaL

solutions 127

93

resOLutION: 4 arChIteCture BLuPath DesIGN INC. FIrst DakOta eNterPrIses harrIss arChIteCts jeFFreY W. LeWIs, INC. MINDFuL DesIGNs rIVer CItY MeChaNICaL PrajNa DesIGN & CONstruCtION sIMs COrPOratION ssh hOMes

130

COMMerCIaL & reCreatION

138

surFaCes Sungloss Marble Co. Rivers’ Edge Countertops

133

MeChaNICaL CONtraCtING HMC Service Company OJS Building Services, Inc.

136

restOratION Statewide Disaster Restoration

INsuLatION Go Foam, Inc.

Sustainability—a brand to bank on and a vehicle to bring communities together

aMatO arChIteCture kuNZIk & sara CONstruCtION MW GOLDeN CONstruCtOrs harrY BrasWeLL INC.

MILLWOrk Westgate Hardwoods

Designs that challenge the makeup of America’s domestic landscape

140

MODuLar DesIGN Modular Interior Technologies

142

OutDOOr DesIGN Paver Pro

103

eDuCatIONaL architect to watch

Functional design with environmentalism lead by example for future generations

CarPeNter seLLers DeL GattO arChIteCts CBsa arChIteCts INC. INNOVatIVe MODuLar sOLutIONs harPer COrPOratION LOCI arChIteCture YOst GruBe haLL arChIteCture saMseL arChIteCts urBaNWOrks MaP-LaB, INC. 124

143

DaVID MONtaLBa On achieving a mixture of creativity, rigor, and design within an intentionally broad perspective

last look 146

BareD NeCessItIes A few accessories from the 2010 New York’s fashion show for furniture and interior accessories

urBaN Well-planned community design reestablishes social capital in urban cores

OPtICOs DesIGN, INC.

4

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Finalx.indd 4

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 3:31:09 AM

MANHATTAN A&D Building 150 E. 58th St. 212.688.5990 96 Spring St. 212.680.9000 207 E. 119th St. 212.369.2000 LONG ISLAND 222 Rte. 109 Farmingdale 631.391.9506 75 Garden St. Westbury 516.997.9200 WESTCHESTER 369 Lexington Ave. Mt. Kisco 914.666.5127 QUEENS 57-22 49th St. 718.937.9500

IT’S THE PREMIERE OF SOMETHING PREMIER. Davis & Warshow unveils the world’s first next generation Kohler Premier Showroom in the A&D Building. This new showroom experience offers architects and designers a vibrant and exciting presentation of kitchen and bath products in an environment that encourages in-depth interaction. For over 80 years, architects and designers have relied on Davis & Warshow’s unparalleled service to help them achieve results that inspire. Stop by and experience it today.

W W W. D W N Y. C O M

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 5

OCT 2010

5

5/15/10 2:15:42 AM

editor’s note

reVIVaL BY the FIttest

“T

hrough product evaluation and testing and aggressive sustainability strategies, we aim to transform the building industry and act as a catalyst for building energy-efficient homes that are healthy for humans and safe

for the environment,” says Tom Darden, executive director of the Make It Right

Foundation.

Turning the Hurricane Katrina tragedy into a triumph, “Rebuilding NOLA” (p.60) explores how the Make It Right Foundation and 21 partnering architects are reviving the distraught Lower 9th Ward with 150 affordable, eco-friendly homes.

The only sad part to Make It Right’s story, as said by Darden, is “it shouldn’t take a hurricane to bring green homes to working families.” But one has to admit; it is better late than never.

“Architectural components embody nature in re-imagined forms and extract its intrinsic, productive beauty,” explains Peter Pelsinski, principal and cofounder of New York City-based SPaN Architects (p.56). The uniqueness Pelsinski’s statement evokes is a large component found in SPaN’s work, as well as Make It Right’s designs.

These re-imagined forms can take all sorts of shapes, as the renewing or repurposing of supposed waste remains central to sustainable building and design.

Silverlining Interiors (p.48) has become known for transforming Manhattan’s nearly century-old apartments into classically modern, environmentally friendly luxury residences. “These apartments are for [the clients] and their families,” CEO Josh Wiener says, “so they really have to be built as a long-term investment, and they want them to be built really solidly.”

Each of these stories, as well as the products and practices featured throughout every issue of gb&d, illustrate a renaissance happening around us, a revival of something from the past.

Sometimes there is little off of which to build, such as in Nicaragua, where Andrew Bylund is building an eco-friendly health center (p.42). Other times, there is a vast pool from which to draw, as is the case for Mindful Designs (p.81), whose custom homes are imbued with the natural beauty and environmentally conscious mindset of Montana.

What is certain is that the underlying intention of every green design, whether a piece of Tod Von Mertens’ furniture (p.146) or one of Opticos Design, Inc.’s urban developments (p.124), is renewed care for the world and everyone in it. As succinctly stated by Nels Hall, principal and partner at Yost Grube Hall Architecture (p.114), “[Diversity] adds a unique dimension to the firm by tying everyone to the world in terms of seeing sustainability as a global endeavor.”

Thanks to everyone who is part of the revival,

Amie Kesler Managing Editor amie@bgandh.com

6

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Finalx.indd 6

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 3:31:26 AM

gb&d Editorial

Research

Publishing

Adver tising

editor-in-chief Christopher Howe

director of editorial research Jeffrey Powell jeff@bgandh.com

bowen, guerrero + howe, llc

director of sales Titus Dawson titus@bgandh.com

managing editor Amie Kesler amie@bgandh.com

editorial research managers

copy editor Tim Schuler

Dawn Collins Carolyn Marx

correspondents Janet Arrowood Thalia Aurinko-Mostow Zach Baliva Daniel Casciato Joyce Finn Peter Fretty Jennifer Hogeland Dave Hudnall Susan Johnston Laura Judy Russ Klettke Sarah Lozanova Jamie Ludwig Kelli M. McElhinny Lauren McKay Jamie Morgan Anita Paul Matt Petrusek Zipporah Porton Jennifer Samuels Julie Schaeffer Suchi Rudra Vasquez

editorial researchers

Ar t

senior designer Bill Werch

Holly Begle Genevieve Bellon Karin Fjellman Jamie Foley Dana Harkness Laura Heidenreich Sean Kasten Ellie Kim John Kuhlman Jessica Lewis Gerald Mathews Heather Matson Will Megson Bronwyn Milliken Jenny Pandl Molly Potnick Andrea Sedlay Allyson Weninger Erin Windle Katie Yost editorial research assistant Justin Davis

Cory Bowen, president Pedro Guerrero, coo Christopher Howe, ceo & publisher

www.bgandh.com

Administrative

controller Andrea DeMarte accounting assistant Anya Hostetler circulation manager Lee Posey assistant to the publisher Brittany Miranda executive assistant Katherine Lazaroff administrative assistant Chanita Chayaluk

sales managers Desmond Chester Stacy Kraft Krista Lane Williams sales representatives James Ainscough Blake Burkhart Gavin Coll Mike DiGiovanni Andrew Dimit Chuck Finney Scott Hara Michelle Harris Justin Joseph Rebekah Mayer Christopher Miller Colleen Wall Brendan Wittry Daniel Zierk senior account manager Cheyenne Eiswald account managers Kimberly Callanta Lindsay Davis Megan Hamlin Amy Lara

photo editor Zach Huelsing associate photo editor Courtney Weber design intern Yeonjae Huh

Subscriptions + Reprints

Printed in South Korea. Reprinting of articles is prohibited without permission of BG+H, LLC. To order reprints, call Karen Tate at 312.450.2129.

For a free subscription, please visit gbdmagazine.com/sub Of f ices

production 53 W Jackson Blvd., Suite 315, Chicago, IL 60604 sales & research 28 E Jackson Blvd., Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60604

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Finalx.indd 7

5/17/10 12:09:14 PM

REGISTER TO EARN CEUs

Classes available across the country Learn how you can design beautiful and efficient spaces by attending a free CEU event.

DATE: Thursday, October 14, 2010 Offered at Winnelson and Noland showrooms across the country.

RSVP by October 11th by calling 800-677-4380, ext: 0 to register S P O N S O R E D

8

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 8

BY:

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:15:45 AM

Sustainable ‌ Stylish ‌ Not Sacrifice.

Saving water and energy has never been so beautiful. If you're working on a bathroom design, we have the best selection of state-of-the-art green water-saving fixtures.

Visit our showroom today to learn more about how we can help you create the most luxurious and efficient bath and kitchen environments. Call a location near you to schedule a personal consultation.

by

and

Locate the nearest showroom at www.bathandkitchenideacenter.com gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 9

OCT 2010

9

5/15/10 2:15:46 AM

:DVWH 0DQDJHPHQW 5HVLGHQWLDO &RQVWUXFWLRQ &RPPHUFLDO &RQVWUXFWLRQ ,QGXVWULDO 3DWWHUVRQ 6HUYLFHV ,QF LV D IXOO VHUYLFH ZDVWH PDQDJHPHQW FRPSDQ\ ZKRVH JRDOV DUH WR SURYLGH \RX ZLWK VHUYLFHV IRU \RXU ZDVWH DQG UHF\FOLQJ QHHGV :H RIIHU WUDGLWLRQDO UROO RII VHUYLFH WR UHF\FOLQJ :H HQVXUH \RXU SURMHFW PHHWV \RXU JRDOV DQG UHTXLUHPHQWV 3DWWHUVRQ 6HUYLFHV LV KHUH WR HQVXUH WURXEOH IUHH RSHUDWLRQ

3DWWHUVRQ 6HUYLFHV ,QF 5LYHUYLHZ 5G 6( ‹ 0DEOHWRQ *$ 3+ ‹ );

3$&.(5 *5,1'(5 3$<6 )25 ,76(/)

7+( 021(< 6$9(' 21 /$1'),// )((6 $1' '80367(5 )((6 3$<6 )25 7+(6( 0$&+,1(6 'HVLJQHG IRU FRQVWUXFWLRQ VLWH FOHDQ XS DQG UHF\FOLQJ WKH 3DFNHU KDQGOHV ZRRG GU\ZDOO DVSKDOW DVSKDOW URRÃ&#x20AC; QJ VKLQJOHV J\SVXP ZDOOERDUG DQG EORFN DQG EULFN³PDWHULDOV ZKLFK RIWHQ FDQ EH UHXVHG RQ WKH MRE VLWH DV PXOFK IRU HURVLRQ FRQWURO VRLO DPHQGPHQW DQG URDG EDVH

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 10

&DOO 3DFNHU ,QGXVWULHV DW WR UHTXHVW PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ RU YLVLW WKH ZHEVLWH DW ::: 3$&.(5 &20 RU HPDLO ,1)2#3$&.(5 &20

5/15/10 2:15:46 AM

up front 11

COMMODItIes

13

BOOksheLF

14

aGeNDa

15

uNIque sPaCes

< NanoLumen Recessed Lighting The NanoLumen, by leading lighting manufacturer USAI, is a sophisticated recessed fixture that marries impressive optics and performance features with the smallest aperture on the market for metal-halide lamp sources. NanoLumen’s barely-there aperture—just 2.5 inches—fuses seamlessly and discreetly with ceiling planes, allowing for precise, yet flexible, point-source lighting in any installation. With a 12,000hour lamp life, consistent lamp-to-lamp color, and superior optical control the NanoLumen product line meets the industry’s most stringent standards for energy efficiency. usaillumination.com

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 11

OCT 2010

11

5/15/10 2:15:49 AM

up front/commodities

<

Duette Architella ^ Hunter Douglas is now offering the new GreenGuard-certified Duette Architella honeycomb shade. These unique, highly insulating honeycombwithin-a-honeycomb structures are the first and only window shade to qualify for a tax credit without adding on insulation systems. With more air pockets than the traditional honeycomb shade design, the R-values increase dramatically and significantly lower solar heat gain. hunterdouglas.com

Platin HS Glass Wall System

Suitable for low-energy and passive buildings, the Platin HS Glass Wall System by Austria-based Josko Fenster und Türen, features a frameless design with flush-sliding elements.

High-quality composite profiles ensure optimized heat insulation, while barrier-free thresholds and an intelligent water-drain system offer a high degree of flexibility. josko.at

Home Energy Manager ^ GE’s new Home Energy Manager (HEM) acts as a “central nervous system” to monitor all networked appliances within a residence. Equipped with a seven-inch LCD screen, the HEM will provide both real-time and long-term trend information on power and resource consumption and solar generation to the homeowners. While currently under development and not available to the public, the HEM is being tested in pilot projects across the United States. ge.com

12

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 12

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:15:51 AM

up front/bookshelf Machine Room-Less Elevator & EcoDisc > The KONE Machine Room-Less (MRL) elevator eliminates the need for a traditional machine room, saving space and providing more architectural freedom. Based on the KONE EcoDisk technology, a revolutionary elevator-hoisting motor, this solution also eliminates the need for hole drilling and the use of hydraulic oil which is common in most hydraulic elevator applications. Furthermore, MRL Elevators are created from 95% recycled material; are 50% more efficient than a traditional traction elevator; and are up to 70% more efficient than a hydraulic elevator. kone.com

a better way of building

The Engineering Guide to LEED-New Construction: Sustainable Construction for Engineers by Liv Haselbach offers practical discussions of the main concepts of sustainability and presents detailed equations and exercises that can be used to perform the calculations outlined in LEED New Construction. This guide presents up-to-date, authoritative information on sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy, atmosphere, materials, resources, indoor-air quality, innovations in design, and a systematic view of green. (McGraw-Hill, Green Source Press) Published: 08.10, $99.95

San Michele Glazed Porcelain Tile ^ Launched in April 2010 by Daltile, San Michele is a glazed porcelain floor tile that contains more than 50% pre-consumer recycled materials content and is infused with Microban antimicrobial protection. The new collection emulates natural antiqued travertine stone and realistically replicates vein-cut and cross-cut travertine through Daltileâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Reveal Imaging technology. daltileproducts.com/sanmichele

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 13

Inclusive Housing by Edward Steinfeld and Jonathan White is an invaluable resource for architects, designers, and city planners.

Focusing on providing access to people with disabilities while benefiting all residents without compromising design goals, this guide highlights sustainability, affordability, hardware and layout, and lifespan design. It also demonstrates that accessibility issues are not limited to homes, but that designing blocks, lots, and streets are critical to addressing the needs of a diverse population. (W.W. Norton & Company) Published: 05.10, $39.95

OCT 2010

13

5/15/10 2:15:56 AM

up front/agenda

OCt 2010 10.1–2

10.14–17

New aging

arc-us 2010

the university of Pennsylvania,

Laguna Beach, Ca

10.6–7 Ge’s Lighting for healthcare Facilities

10.19–22 Managing the urban rural Interface: strategies and tools for urban Development and sustainable Peri-urban Land use relationships

Philadelphia, Pa

In its 6th year, this service- and

Lighting & electrical Institute,

UPenn’s School of Design sponsors

product-focused forum allows top

Cleveland, Oh

a new conference with a tight focus:

architects and manufacturers from the

Learn how quality and sustainable light-

aging and architecture. Using the new

US and Canada to share informa-

ing can greatly enhance healthcare

university of Copenhagen,

for the old, this conference seeks to

tion in an open, less-pressurized

facilities while reducing operating costs

Copenhagen, Denmark

find sustainable solutions for an oft

atmosphere. Includes an expo with

and energy consumption.

This inclusive, multi-disciplinary event

overlooked demographic.

the latest green technology and

gelighting.com

seeks to include all academic, profes-

new-aging.com

educational sessions.

sional, and scientific entities in a

arc-us.com

conference on the linkages between rural and urban sustainability. It seeks to encourage and inform further research and is sponsored by the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction. plurel.net

PrOFessIONaL DeVeLOPMeNt FOruMs National association of home Builders Build your knowledge base with more than national conferences. Utilize the NAHB’s training courses to enrich your building practices and better market yourself as a leader in the green-home market. nahb.org

advanced Green Building: Building science 10.6

Cherry Hill, NJ

10.21 New Windsor, NY

earthCraft house Building 10.6

Atlanta, GA

earLY Next MONth...

11.2–5 Bsr Conference 2010 Grand hyatt, New York City, NY Access and interact with a community of sustainability experts, practitioners, and innovators. bsr.org

11.8–9 sustainable Innovation 2010 rDM Campus, rotterdam, the Netherlands Entrepreneurs, CSR officers, and other leaders come from across the globe for education, networking, and a practical discussion of green design. cfsd.org.uk

Green Building for Building Professionals 10.6

Tacoma, WA

selling the Green home 10.14 Tucker, GA

Green Building: risks and realities 10.27

14

Tucker, GA

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 14

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:15:57 AM

unique spaces/ big city living COR status on hold architect Oppenheim structural engineer Ysreal A. Seinuk, P.C. renderings DDox

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 15

MIaMI Set to be the first sustainable, mixed-use condominium in Miami, COR represents a dynamic synergy between architecture, structural engineering, and ecology. Rising 400 feet above the Design District, the 480,000-squarefoot project extracts power from its environment utilizing the latest advancements in wind turbines, photovoltaics, and solar hot-water generationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;while integrating them into its architectural identity. A hyper-efficient exoskeleton shell simultaneously provides building structure, thermal mass for insulation, shading for natural cooling, enclosure for terraces, armatures for turbines, and loggias for congregating on the grounds.

OCT 2010

15

5/15/10 2:15:59 AM

up front/unique spaces

BROOKLYN BOWL NeW YOrk CItY The 23,000-square-foot Brooklyn Bowl is the first bowling alley in the world built to LEED certification standards. Located in the restored 130year-old Hecla Iron Works building, this facility is run off of 100 percent wind-powered electricity. With its “no bottle” policy, 100 percent reclaimed cork floors in the Bowler’s Lounge and Green Room, reclaimed ancient glass from the Brooklyn Navy Yard remade into design features, and a stage floor made from 100 percent recycled truck tires, Brooklyn Bowl has reinvented what it means to bowl.

status completed July 2009 interior design Tristam Steinberg scenic design HGC Studioworks LLC general contractor ECNY photos Adam Macchia

16

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 16

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:16:08 AM

up front/unique spaces

CitYCeNteR Las VeGas Created with a vision to bring a new level of environmental consciousness to the world-famous Strip in Las Vegas by eight world-renowned architects and a joint venture between MGM MIRAGE and Infinity World Development Corp., CityCenter is one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest sustainable developments, from design and construction to operations and guest amenities. The USGBC has awarded LEED Gold certification to ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, Mandarin Oriental, Veer Towers and Crystals retail and entertainment district. This marks the highest LEED achievement of any hotel, retail district, or residential development in Las Vegas.

Sitting on 67 acres and encompassing approximately 18 million square feet, CityCenter features its own natural-gas co-generation plant; a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district; the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first fleet of stretch limos powered by clean-burning compressed natural gas; and a 100 percent electric, cable-propelled tram.

status opened Dec 2009 master planners Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Kuhn Architects general contractor Perini Building Company

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 17

executive architect Gensler design architects KPF Foster + Partners Rafael Vinoly Daniel Libsekind Cesar Pelli Murphy

architects of record Leo Daly Adamson HKS water features WET Design executive lighting designer Illuminating Concepts

OCT 2010

17

5/15/10 2:16:18 AM

up front/unique spaces

LUMeN ChICaGO In 2009, co-owners Jason Freiman and Nick Podesta revamped Lumen helping to expand its already in-place sustainable aspects. The 5,000-square-foot nightclub located in a converted meatpacking factory was designed with clean minimalist surfaces that interact with the historical and industrial texture of the building. Incorporated into Lumenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modern style are recycled bamboo and vinyl, a low-ambient HVAC system, and 5,000 efficient LED lights (including a custom-made LED ceiling designed to adjust with the speed of the music and movement in the room), all while the bartenders serve up organic mixed cocktails.

18

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 18

status completed May 2007 architect Vertu lighting design Peter Gogarty lighting manufacturer Element Labs

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:16:25 AM

profile

Vincent D’avena of A.V. Remodeling and Construction Strategic steps lead to rise in business for rebranded “environmentally intelligent” remodeler

OFFerING the Best FOr CLIeNts A.V. Remodeling implements several specific practices to ensure environmental intelligence:

As green means more profits, few companies are hesitating to market themselves as such. But although A.V. Remodeling and Construction has been using sustainable practices for a number of years, it wasn’t until 2009 that owner Vincent D’Avena was comfortable marketing his company as a green-focused one.

D’Avena’s story begins with a bachelor’s degree in environmental protection and then a master’s in environmental science. With this background, it only makes sense that D’Avena pursued a career relating to the natural world and its protection. He began designing and managing environmental technology projects at a marine environmental firm and remodeled the homes of family and friends on the side.

In the winter of 2004, he decided to start his own company in order to devote all his time to remodeling. “Building and construction is something I had been doing my whole life,” he says.

“So I decided to pursue the field that I wanted to be in the most.”

Despite his studies and early professional pedigree, D’Avena didn’t pursue sustainable construction from the start. The green movement was just beginning, and he was turned off by the way companies bragged about being green while employing mostly surfacelevel efforts. “I didn’t want to be lumped in with everyone else in the green-building industry and how it was perceived,” D’Avena explains.

“At the beginning, I just focused on being a remodeling company and doing that job as well as possible.”

About a year in, D’Avena began considering the environment when working on projects, but he didn’t inform his clients that he was taking this route. The efforts didn’t cost any more—in fact, they often saved clients money. “In 2006, we started using green concepts on every

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 19

• Envisioning the home-building envelope as a whole when designing insulation to minimize air infiltration and maximize function and ensure overall owner comfort • Planning HVAC systems to ensure minimal air stratification • Using radiant-floor heating when sensible and cost effective

“I DIDN’t WaNt tO Be LuMPeD IN WIth eVerYONe eLse IN the GreeN-BuILDING INDustrY aND hOW It Was PerCeIVeD. at the BeGINNING, I just FOCuseD ON BeING a reMODeLING COMPaNY aND DOING that jOB as WeLL as POssIBLe.” —VINCENT D’AVENA home,” he says. “We didn’t tell our clients we were doing anything above and beyond; we just built things well with the best value possible while following our general practices.”

Dissatisfied with certain aspects of the movement—including the term “green remodeling”— D’Avena spent time with Sage Communications to find terms and advertising techniques that served his purpose and made him comfortable.

• Ensuring water is retained and available to the aquifer • Recycling soil, concrete, and other building materials • Donating all products of value that can be reused to Habitat for Humanity or local recycling warehouses • Designing with a focus on short-, medium-, and long-term utilization of the space for the owner and possible resale • Including monitoring and prevention devices to manage electrical usage and prevent floods

Currently, the company defines its methods as “environmentally intelligent remodeling.” The phrase means that the home is constructed in a way that reduces land fill and energy use, saves water, prevents surface runoff, monitors the effectiveness of the home, and does so within the context of its specific environment.

There is inherent tension between the features A.V. Remodeling offers and the client’s bottom line, but D’Avena skillfully navigates the

OCT 2010

19

5/15/10 2:16:28 AM

profile

Vincent D’Avena of A.V. Remodeling and Construction

“IN 2006, We starteD usING GreeN CONCePts ON eVerY hOMe. We DIDN’t teLL Our CLIeNts We Were DOING aNYthING aBOVe aND BeYOND; We just BuILt thINGs WeLL WIth the Best VaLue POssIBLe WhILe FOLLOWING Our GeNeraL PraCtICes.” —VINCENT D’AVENA

disparity by working to implement such elements at little or no extra cost. The firm also spends time looking at the client’s return on investment for larger items.

A.V. Remodeling is working with more and more green-oriented clients, and on one upcoming project it is working to achieve as many environmental practices as possible. As a result, the firm will be utilizing unique features, such as a grey-water-retention device that uses reusable water for laundry and toilets, geothermal heat and AC, plus a variety of monitoring and active damage-prevention devices.

Over the past five years, the company has been increasingly involved with historic renovations as well. An expert in the field of subterranean construction, A.V. Remodeling has lifted numerous houses to install full-height basements

that provide added space without impacting the historical designation or the surrounding environment.

Since A.V. Remodeling began marketing itself as an environmentally conscious company, D’Avena has seen an incredible increase in business. In 2009, the firm earned $1.79 million for the year. In 2010, the company had reached $1.3 million in contracted sales and revenue by March. “It comes down to two factors: educating people on what they can do, and the way we’re introducing our design practices along with that,” D’Avena says. “We’re still not pushing any one factor too hard—we just want to offer people a broader spectrum of services that balances a cost-benefit approach with sound building/design, while being environmentally intelligent at each step.”

—by Zipporah Porton

*5((1

70&

7HQQHVHH 0HFKDQLFDO &RUSRUDWLRQ

+($7,1* &22/,1*

+HDWLQJ DQG &RROLQJ 6ROXWLRQV 6LQFH 20

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 20

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:16:38 AM

profile

joe swanson jr. of Swanson Realty and Construction Continuing a family’s legacy in Tennessee’s green-building market “We do everything construction,” Joe Swanson Jr. says. The chief manager of Swanson Realty and Construction is adamant about the scope of his company’s services, although the company refers to itself as a general-development, real-estate firm with a recent focus on residential and commercial construction.

Based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Swanson Construction has been around for more than 65 years, serving the people of Rutherford County. As Swanson Jr. describes it, the business is a “family-owned, family-operated business, with an emphasis on quality employees and a focus on customers’ interests.”

Swanson encompasses many businesses— the oldest, a Christian-supplies company started in 1935, is 75 years old this year. The development and general-contracting divisions, which are involved with residential, commercial, and industrial properties, deal with both bid and negotiated properties. Swanson also has an advertising firm, an engine-machine shop, a street-rod-building business, a landscaping business, and a title-and-escrow company. “We dabble in a variety of businesses—all run by family members,” Swanson Jr. says.

Swanson Jr. essentially has been a part of the family business since he was in the womb; his first real construction job started at 14. Married for 25 years, Swanson Jr. and his wife have 3 children, at least one of which Swanson Jr. hopes will keep the family legacy alive and find the same passion for construction that he picked up from his father so many years ago. Swanson Jr. also has three siblings, with whom he meets every week to discuss the businesses, and is a Senior Real Estate Specialist, a certified Aging in Place Specialist, a certified Professional Builder/Remodeler, the life director of the Rutherford County Home Builders Association, and a certified Green Professional.

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 21

“Being green means, to me, managing your resources better today than you did yesterday,” Swanson Jr. says. “Sure, there are specific programs that have guidelines and agendas to help conserve and/or reuse our resources, but more importantly, it is a retraining of a mindset that has been developed over a long period of time. The most important thing is to show up and give your best effort towards using your resources efficiently.”

The Gateway Village project is a good example of the company’s passion for sustainable building. Swanson Jr. is excited by what the team has been able to accomplish. Gateway Village is LEED registered in Murfreesboro and is the first of its kind in Rutherford County. It is a mixed-use development of residential condos and commercial space that sits directly next door to the new $300 million Middle Tennessee Medical Center. The project, consisting of three buildings—the North Wing, South Wing, and the East Towers—is estimated to take approximately 16 months to complete.

“The North and South wings are mirror images,” Swanson Jr. says, explaining that the residential units will feature an open, loft-style floor plan with exposed ceilings. Some of the sustainable features include spray-foam insulation, low-flow faucets, dual-flush toilets that use reclaimed water, custom cabinets, hardwood and stone floors, and low-VOC paint.

There will also be a mandatory recycling program to be serviced by a local recycling firm.

The North and South wings will have stateof-the-art security and entry systems, as well as full showering facilities for employees who desire to either run or ride their bikes to work, using the “greenway network” directly behind the space. There also will be car-charging abilities and car pools. “The East Towers are nearly identical to the other compounds but will also include underground parking for residential condo owners, a fitness studio, a business center for occupants to use for

larger meetings, an entertainment room, and an open-air veranda on the top floor,” Swanson Jr. adds.

In the future, Swanson Construction plans to continue expanding and branching out its business. Swanson Jr. is clear that there are big projects in the dock. “We always have something on the drawing board,” he says.

Now that the family of businesses has established itself in Tennessee, Swanson Construction is ready to take its green mission to the next level, moving towards working in other communities and ideally other states. And it isn’t just the Swansons that have made the business so strong; it’s the 30 employees that keep everything running smoothly. As Swanson Jr. says, “We have an exceptional team who is well versed in development, construction, and leasing and sales.”

—by Thalia Aurinko-Mostow

A MESSAGE FROM IST Insulation Solutions of Tennessee (IST) is a commercial and residential spray-foam company located in Nashville. They service all of middle and west Tennessee with spray-foam, cellulose, and fiberglass installations. IST was extremely honored to be awarded the insulation portion of the Gateway Village project. The material used in the project was a half-pound of open-cell spray foam supplied by Burtin Polymer Labs located in Cartersville, GA. The fact that Gateway is a LEED project prompted us to use Burtin Polymer as our insulation choice; it is manufactured within the LEED-required 500 mile radius of the jobsite. Joe Swanson Jr. is a visionary in his own right and believes that there is a better way to construct today’s buildings through sustainable design.

A MESSAGE FROM S&W CONTRACTING CO. S&W Contracting Co. is a full-service electrical contractor located in Murfreesboro, TN. With over 40 years experience and involvement in the community, S&W Contracting can meet all of your electrical needs. From adding a single electrical outlet to layout and design of the most complex electrical systems, we are your one-call electrical contractor.

OCT 2010

21

5/15/10 2:16:39 AM

Commercial & Residential Projects Spray Foam, Cellulose & Fiberglass Installations for more information, please contact us at:

Servicing all of Middle & Western Tennessee

2406 Cruzen Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37211 Office: (615) 873-4508 | Cell: 731-234-2291 Email: kfowler@insulationtn.com www.insulationtn.com

Insulation Solutions of Tennessee is proud to have been selected to participate in the LEED Certified, sustainably designed Gateway Village project.

S&W UÊ iÀV > ÊÉÊ `ÕÃÌÀ > Ê7 À } UÊ ià } É Õ ` UÊ > Ê*>À Ê } Ì } UÊ/À>vv VÊ- } > â>Ì Serving Rutherford County Since 1963

Ì>VÌ\Ê, V iÊ ]Ê*Àià `i Ì ÈÓÊ iÜÊ-> i Ê, >` ÕvÀiiÃL À ]Ê/ ÊÎÇ£Ó (615) 893 - 2511

Õ `i`Ê Ê£ ÈnÊ-E7Ê ÌÀ>VÌ }Ê ]Ê V°Ê >ÃÊLii Ê>Ê i>`iÀÊ ÊV iÀV > Ê> `Ê `ÕÃÌÀ > Ê i iVÌÀ V> Ê` ÃÌÀ LÕÌ ÊÃÞÃÌi ÃÊv ÀÊ ÛiÀÊ{äÊÞi>Àð 7 Ì ÊÌ iÊ i>`iÀà «Ê vÊ7i `i Ê Ê­ "®Ê> `Ê, V iÊ Ê­*Àià `i Ì®]Ê-E7Ê ÌÀ>VÌ }Ê ]Ê V°Ê >ÃÊV Ì Õi`ÊÌ ÊLÕ `Ê>Ê«À ëiÀ ÕÃÊ> `Ê«À v Ì>L iÊi ÌiÀ«À ÃiÊÜ iÊ > Ì> }Ê>Ê iÛi Ê vÊ iÝVi i ViÊÕ ÃÕÀ«>ÃÃi`Ê ÊÌ iÊ `ÕÃÌÀÞ° 7 iÊ`i` V>Ìi`ÊÌ Ê«À Û ` }ÊÌ iÊÛiÀÞÊLiÃÌÊÃiÀÛ ViÊ ÊÌ iÊi iVÌÀ V> ÊLÕà iÃÃÊ-E7Ê ÌÀ>VÌ }Ê

]Ê V°Ê >ÃÊV Ì Õi`ÊÌ ÊiÝ«> `Ê ÕÀÊ vviÀ }ÃÊÌ Ê V Õ`iÊÌ iÊÛiÀÞÊ >ÌiÃÌÊ Ê`ià } ]Ê` >} ÃÌ VÃ]Ê> `Ê «À >VÌ ÛiÊÃiÀÛ Við / iÊ-E7Ê ÌÀ>VÌ }Ê ]Ê V°Ê iÀV > Ê Û Ã ÊV Ì ÕiÃÊÌ ÊLiÊÌ iÊ«ÀiviÀÀi`ÊV ÌÀ>VÌ ÀÊ Ê > ÞÊ iÜÊV ÃÌÀÕVÌ Ê«À iVÌðÊ"ÕÀÊÃÌÀ }ÊV Ì i ÌÊÌ ÊµÕ> ÌÞ]ÊÃ>viÌÞ]Ê> `Ê«À viÃà > Ã Ê >ÃÊ }> i`ÊÕÃÊ>ÊÀi«ÕÌ>Ì ÊÜi Ê`iÃiÀÛi`° / iÊ -E7Ê ÌÀ>VÌ }Ê ]Ê V°Ê `ÕÃÌÀ > Ê Û Ã Ê V Ì ÕiÃÊ Ì Ê vviÀÊ vÕ Ê ÃiÀÛ ViÊ Ã ÕÌ ÃÊ Ê `ÕÃÌÀ > Ê> `ÊV iÀV > Êv>V Ì ið / iÊ-E7Ê ÌÀ>VÌ }Ê ]Ê V°Ê/À>vv VÊ Û Ã Ê >ÃÊLii ÊÃiÌÌ }ÊÌ iÊÃÌ> `>À`Êv ÀÊÌÀ>vv VÊà } > Ê V ÃÌÀÕVÌ Êv ÀÊÓxÊÞi>Àð / iÊ-E7Ê ÌÀ>VÌ }Ê ]Ê V°Ê-iÀÛ ViÊ Û Ã Ê ÃÊ ÜÊ«À Û ` }ÊÌ iÊÛiÀÞÊLiÃÌÊ«ÀiÛi Ì>Ì ÛiÊ ÃiÀÛ ViÃÊ ÊÌ iÊÜ À `°Ê"ÕÀÊ-iÀÛ ViÊ Û Ã Ê> Ã Ê vviÀÃÊÓ{ À°Êi iÀ}i VÞÊÃiÀÛ Við

WWW.SANDWCONTRACTING.COM 22

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 22

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:16:43 AM

discussion board persevering through the times General contractor, Fyffe Construction Company, Inc., has seen multiple phases of sustainability; now it intends to lead the charge over a nearly 40 year history, fyffe Construction Company, Inc. has undergone a dramatic shift in its construction focus, but this versatility has allowed it to weather tough economic times.

Fyffe Construction, an Alabama-based general-construction company, was incorporated in 1971 for the purpose of building and developing residential real estate; commercial construction was only a very small part of the company’s mix. Fyffe Construction sustained itself in this manner through the 1970s and ’80s.

That is ultimately where we got our start, and it is still one of our mainstays.” Today the construction of apartment housing comprises more than 50 percent of Fyffe Construction’s gross sales.

Recent projects ranged from $300,000 for a smaller structure to an $11 million commercial development, although these numbers don’t define Fyffe Construction’s minimum or maximum capabilities. Concentrated in the southeast United States, the company is licensed in Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee, and may also work in Florida and Kentucky.

Murray cites two situations that pushed the company toward sustainability. Their first

“It is our goal to implement what we believe are longterm sustainable practices.

We’ve always embraced change and will continue to do so.”

Then, in the late ’80s, Fyffe Construction got involved in a farmers home program in Alabama; they responded to the cry for affordable multi-family developments and concentrated on subsidized urban-housing construction.

“We have a history of, and continue to service fringe- and rural-market areas,” says Coy Murray, vice president of Fyffe Construction. “We —Coy Murray, Vice President, Fyffe work in the smaller towns that are often overlooked by the larger developers and contractors. Construction Company, Inc.

glance into the green movement occurred as far back as 1973 when the Tennessee River Valley Authority started to subsidize storm windows and insulation to improve energy efficiency. “One of the things we did as a general contractor was supply storm windows and, at times, the insulation,” Murray says. “That was the start into what we considered efficiency.”

The second phase took place in the early 2000s.

“We started seeing a push for more efficient insulation and windows and had become part of infiltration discussions with our governmentstyle subsidized housing,” Murray adds.

To incorporate sustainability to their projects, Fyffe Construction participates in EarthCraftand Energy Star-certified building programs.

Energy Star appliances and light fixtures, upgraded insulation, and infiltration-provision packages are included in the build process.

“Now we are trying to accomplish an R-50 insulation factor for Zone 2 in the United States and R-20 insulated walls,” Murray explains.

The company just completed a 116-unit, garden-style apartment complex called Chestnut Trace II in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, that used energy-smart components. Bridges of South Lake, a 55-unit townhouse project in Albany, Georgia, was an EarthCraft-certified structure.

the Bridges of south Lake, a 55-unit multi-family townhouse project in albany, Ga, is an earthCraft certified project and required raising the site five feet above the floodplain.

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 23

OCT 2010

23

5/15/10 2:16:46 AM

discussion board

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We work in the smaller towns that are often overlooked by the larger developers and contractors. that is ultimately where we got our start, and it is still one of our mainstays.â&#x20AC;?

The Best Roofing Products for the Professional

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Coy Murray, Vice President, Fyffe Construction Company, Inc.

Two projects underway in Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Landing in Albany and Terrace in Augustaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;have been designed to use significantly less energy and are expected to be completed in January 2011. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The push for green has strongly taken over the industry,â&#x20AC;? Murray asserts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are seeing everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;from hotel owners to apartment buildersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;interested in green, not only for the marketing notoriety, but I believe they are really starting to see the benefits.â&#x20AC;? He adds that, while the process has been slow, builders are getting on board.

Fyffe Construction is taking opportunities to further the knowledge it can offer of greenbuilding practices; company contractors are pursuing their LEED AP certifications.

The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best practices go beyond the installation of sustainable products. It participates in the Davis-Bacon Wage Determinations Act, ensuring fair wages for workers.

It also recognizes Section 3, a government initiative to support local communities, by offering employment to local-area contractors. From architects to subcontractors, Fyffe Construction also seeks to partner with woman- and minority-owned businesses.

Murray explains that green advancements mean there is big change on the horizon for developing housing and commercial properties, and Fyffe Construction intends to lead the charge. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is our goal to implement what we believe are long-term sustainable practices,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always embraced change and will continue to do so.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D;by Jennifer Hogeland

For quality products and superior service, WEÂ&#x;CANÂ&#x;PROVIDEÂ&#x;YOUÂ&#x;WITHÂ&#x;ALLÂ&#x;OFÂ&#x;YOURÂ&#x;ROOĂ&#x161;Â&#x;NGÂ&#x; and other building product needs.

7EÂ&#x;SPECIALIZEÂ&#x;INÂ&#x;SERVICINGÂ&#x;THEÂ&#x;ROOĂ&#x161;Â&#x;NGÂ&#x;CONTRACTORÂ&#x;ANDÂ&#x;ALSOÂ&#x; PROVIDEÂ&#x;AÂ&#x;VARIETYÂ&#x;OFÂ&#x;SERVICESÂ&#x;TOÂ&#x;THEÂ&#x;HOMEOWNER Â&#x;BUILDINGÂ&#x; OWNER Â&#x;ARCHITECT Â&#x;GENERALÂ&#x;CONTRACTORÂ&#x;ANDÂ&#x;MORE

7100 Stringfield Rd Huntsville, AL 35806 Phone: (256) 851-8990 Fax: (256) 851-8991 *8/)($*/( 6833/<

www.gulfeaglesupply.com

42)Ă&#x2DC;.',%

0LUMBING #OMPANY

7 E Â&#x; W O U L D Â&#x; L I K E Â&#x; T O Â&#x; C O N G R A T U L A T EÂ&#x;

* 2 0RISCO )NC 7EÂ&#x;WISHÂ&#x;YOUÂ&#x;CONTINUEDÂ&#x;SUCCESS

- O U N T A I N S I D E .EW *ERSEY

24

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 24

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:16:59 AM

discussion board

service diversification With more than 60 years in service, president of J.R. Prisco, Inc. describes how his company has become, and stayed, one of the top 50 contract-management companies in New Jersey three generations in, the family culture at J.R. Prisco, Inc. remains as active and durable as it has since its founding in 1946.

James Prisco, Jr., the current president and son of founder James Prisco, Sr., today employs his own two sons to run the day-to-day operations, along with a daughter who is an engineer with the firm. A large number of the office staff and field personnel are also second- or thirdgeneration employees. “We’re people-oriented, and very focused on close-knit relationships,” James Prisco, Jr. says. “It’s a big part of the reason so many of our clients continue doing business with us.”

Another explanation for the firm’s success might be its turnkey operational approach: providing carpentry, engineering, and construction management to the private and commercial sectors in and around its Summit, New Jersey headquarters. “In the past five years, we’ve gotten into construction management, and we’re now one of the top 50 CMs in the state of New Jersey,” Prisco Jr. says. Typically, J.R. Prisco operates with ten employees in the office and close to 25 out in the field, but those

numbers have decreased of late due to the effects of the recession. “There’s just less work out there right now,” he explains.

What is increasing at J.R. Prisco, however, is its number of projects with a green bent to them. The firm has been a member of the USGBC since 2008, and Nick D’Amore has been the staff LEED AP since 2009, when he helped lead the construction of an addition for the Far Hills Country Day School, in Far Hills, New Jersey. Sustainability is a significant component of the school’s curriculum: students participate in a recycling program that includes composting kitchen scraps and taking care of their classroom’s recycling at the end of the day.

digitS LEED-certified school buildings, as of April 2010...

282

US schools have been LEED certified

1,699

have been registered to become certified

9

of those LEED certified are in New Jersey

26

of those registered are in New Jersey

the LeeD Gold-certified Far hills Country Day school gymnasium.

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 25

As part of a four-phase modernization and expansion of the school, J.R. Prisco was responsible for construction on a new Lower School and a gymnasium. On three sides of the gymnasium, a translucent wall system provides an R-10 insulation value and reduces the need for artificial lighting. The lighting system is multizoned, and the fixtures are double-circuited to adjust to ambient lighting conditions. The thermal envelope was designed to be as efficient as possible, and a cool roof was selected to reduce the heat-island effect as well as the cooling load.

In addition, using a three-split system of airhandling units, the HVAC load for the gym can adjust to larger occupancy uses. Ultimately, J.R. Prisco’s portion of the project was awarded LEED Gold certification. “We received credits for water retention, lighting, HVAC, shades, the plumbing system, and the recycling program we implemented, among other things,” Prisco Jr. says.

The firm’s socially responsible contributions extend beyond the world of green building and design. It has donated bus stops in the area and contributed to the construction of the local Madison Ambulance Corps and the Summit YMCA. It handles larger-scale projects as well, like the Corpus Christie Roman Catholic Church in Chatham Township, which featured an 80-foot-high bell tower. The community activity combined with excellent work is great for business. “At least 75 percent of our work is repeat and recommendations,” Prisco Jr. says.

“We don’t bid a whole lot; we tend to live on our reputation.”

J.R. Prisco’s planned expansion of its corporate facilities in Summit may be its next LEED project. “We’re looking very seriously into it,” Prisco reports. The company is also exploring grant opportunities from the state of New Jersey that would allow its contractors to obtain state money for LEED AP testing. Prisco says his goal is contained growth. “We want to grow a little larger,” he says, “but stay within our niche—projects in the $6–7 million range—and continue the sound operations that will keep us going for a few more generations.” —by David Hudnall

OCT 2010

25

5/15/10 2:17:03 AM

discussion board

the Carlmont high school Music and art Building is awaiting LeeD Gold certification.

what’s in a name?

Q Builder’s president discusses how an efficient name can permeate how an entire organization works

26

manently toward sustainable building; Olsson and others wanted to provide excellent green services. Experienced superintendents, project managers, and financial experts were brought together to form the basis for the current company, which now retains 12 employees and targets $20 million of work each year.

of his clients request LEED certification or at least a substantial green emphasis. Five years ago, clients barely knew the acronyms and terminology. Now, they research sophisticated photovoltaic arrays and inquire about pervious concrete, LED lighting, and other efficient products. In some cases—especially in the K-12 education market—some builders are requesting LEED construction because the greater community is demanding it.

as suggested by its short name, q builders is a company that emphasizes efficiency.

John Olsson is president of the Palo Alto, California, company and says that the simple name has a dual purpose—to convey the ideas of quality and also effectiveness. “It’s a short name that we hope makes people think of quality people, products, and communication. It doesn’t get in the way of running the business,” he explains.

In addition to being more economically viable than ever before, Olsson views green practices as the responsible way to build. “Indoor airquality is better for workers,” he says, “and recycling is important because our industry heavily uses resources. Everything gets recycled or reused for a minimal extra cost. It makes sense on a business level and on a values level.”

The philosophy extends beyond the name and permeates all that Q Builders does. The company strives toward efficient and cost-effective methods, with work in healthcare, education, biotech, manufacturing, and other sectors. The company was founded four years ago when it was realized that the industry was moving per-

Q Builders employees design and build using LEED or green standards on every job including those not seeking certification from the USGBC. A California company can hardly afford to do otherwise as more companies and clients incorporate official, internal, green initiatives. “Construction, by nature, disrupts the client,” Olsson estimates that more than 90 percent Olsson admits. “We minimize that as much as

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 26

As clients and owners become more sophisticated, Olsson sees them making wise decisions.

As a builder, his job is to stay active in the decision-making process, identify opportunities to increase efficiency and maximize savings, and show clients how each choice affects the entire system. Q Builders uses an integrated project-delivery system and works with everyone involved on each project to foster a sense of respect, camaraderie, and communication.

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:17:04 AM

discussion board

“It’s a short name that we hope makes people think of quality people, products, and communication.”

ty policies, which Q Builders helped to develop and supplement during preconstruction. The building contains heavy insulation, drought resistant landscaping, highly efficient mechanical and electrical systems, no-VOC materials, and recycled content.

—John Olsson, President, Q Builders

Previously, Olsson worked on a data center in Phoenix, Arizona, that achieved LEED Gold certification. The project was especially memorable, Olsson says, because the client didn’t mention the LEED program until construction was nearly 30 percent complete. Because Q Builders routinely builds to LEED standards, many areas like recycling, air-quality, and efficiencies were already addressed. The team was able to add covered parking and a nonchemical water-treatment system to score the extra points needed for official LEED status.

possible and use good technology to communicate up front, because we save money by being as efficient with time and planning as we are with resources and energy.”

When Q Builders is called upon early, the company has more opportunities to introduce solutions, as was the case at a recent behavioral-health center in Santa Clara, California. The 19,000-square-foot project is designed to meet the nationwide client’s corporate-sustainabili-

Though investment and payback always are important, Olsson is discovering that clients are willing to take more sustainable steps with every passing day. Still, he says it remains vital

to provide smart solutions that meet a client’s goals in verifiable ways. Q Builders monitors and tracks its systems and progress so owners know their efforts are indeed paying off both financially and environmentally. The process is one of collaboration that Olsson and his coworkers enjoy. And it seems that the feeling is mutual, as Q Builders already has doubled its 2009 numbers, bolstered by frequent repeat business.

Although healthcare and education represent the most active current markets, Olsson says his company will continue to work in various sectors because sustainable principles are appropriate in almost every building function. “Whether you’re building a hospital or a gym, the basics are always there. Then, we look at the specs of a building and determine what’s called for after analyzing the business, markets, and clients,” Olsson says. The process promotes efficiency and quality—two attributes that have defined Q Builders from the very beginning. —by Zach Baliva

Providing excellent construction services utlizing our years of knowledge and experience in building quality projects.

OFFICES: Northern California 385 Sherman Avenue, Suite 1 Palo Alto, CA 94306 Phone: (650) 321-9110 Southern California 111 E. Broadway, Suite 204 Glendale, CA 91205 Phone: (818) 265-4019

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 27

OCT 2010

27

5/15/10 2:17:05 AM

launch pad dFS CONStRUCtiON Bringing sophisticated sustainable practices to the commercial market location Arlington, VA founded 2009 employees 10 2010 annual sales $14 million

although still in its first year, dfs Construction is doing quite well. The company, based in Arlington, Virginia, is on track to complete $14 million in annual sales, and stays active with up to eight jobs at a time. Grant Stephens, founding principal, attributes his early success to previous experience—he and his two partners are all veteran contractors.

The trio worked together at another firm in the same region before deciding to launch DFS in 2009. The decision, Stephens says, came as partner saw an alternative to mainstream contracting practices. “We realize that a good company with a good business model needs to deliver a quality product in a competitive market. We accomplish that with sophisticated, up-front planning and sustainable practices,” he says.

Stephens, LEED AP, built his first LEED-certified project in 2001, the first LEED-CI project certified in the Washington,DC area, and has since completed more than 30 similar LEED jobs. When forming DFS, he and his partners seized the chance to infuse LEED principles into every aspect of the company. “Sustainability should not be an anomaly or something a client pays for as an upgrade. There are certain things that should simply occur on every site,” Stephens says. Waste-management and indoorair-quality plans form the basis of each DFS project, to which site-specific green features are added.

28

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 28

hIGh-teCh OFFICe utilizing highly efficient lights and hVaC systems, this technologically advanced re/Max conferencing center integrates live conferencing and marketing capabilities with web and remote video production.

Offices and conference rooms open into central-assembly and social areas.

DFS works in the greater Washington, DC, area, specializing in commercial interiors and renovations. As Stephens often works with owners of lease properties, he must ensure the buildings are maintained in a certain way. “A building is an asset to a manager or owner.

They have to maintain a clean and efficient building with certain standards to attract another tenant when the current one leaves.

Our job is to provide a solid, clean, and healthy environment,” he explains.

While many contractors are now familiar with basic LEED requirements and sustainable ideas, DFS looks to push projects beyond the basics by focusing on mechanical and electrical systems in addition to using regional and recycled-content materials. Lighting-integrated modules

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:17:09 AM

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We realize that a good company with a good business model needs to deliver a quality product in a competitive market.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Grant Stephens, Founding Principal that power workstations and lights when an employee swipes an ID card, for example, are attractive energy solutions for building managers because they can provide ongoing cost savings. However, many commercial leasers are finding it necessary to rewrite leases forcing tenants to maintain standards, so the financial rewards of sustainable investments are passed on to the owner and not simply enjoyed by a tenant who pays a lower power bill.

In April, DFS completed construction of a RE/MAX conferencing center in Beaumeade, Virginia. Stephens describes the owner as having a â&#x20AC;&#x153;passionate visionâ&#x20AC;? for the unique office, which was created to function as a casual breakout meeting space with high-tech recording and broadcasting capabilities. DFS started early in the design phase and introduced a high-efficiency HVAC and integrated-lighting modules to help conserve resources. Other sustainable highlights include recycled-content drywall and low-emitting millwork. Open views maximize ambient lighting, refinished concrete limits new flooring, and reused furniture reduces waste. The 11,000-square-foot office was open for tenants in April of this year.

With 10 employees and single contracts approaching $2 million, Stephens is confident he made the right decision to start a new company focused on green principles. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sustainability was our priority when forming this company.

Not every client wants LEED certification, but almost every single owner is looking for some sort of sustainable or best-practices approach,â&#x20AC;? he says. Reception has been good, too. Stephens is discovering that clients and the general public understand sustainable construction and LEED ideas more than ever before. Not only that, when job sites and work sites are clean, safe, and controlled, his employees, tenants, and owners all find themselves with more pride, more control, and a better quality of life. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;by Zach Baliva

:H¡UH SURXG WR SDUWQHU ZLWK ')6 &RQVWUXFWLRQ RYHU WKH SDVW \HDU :H ORRN IRUZDUG WR PDQ\ PRUH VXFFHVVIXO \HDUV ZRUNLQJ WRJHWKHU - :LOODUG 5G &KDQWLOO\ 9$

ZZZ GRKHUW\SOXPELQJ FRP

We do work in the Dallas area and surrounding suburbs

â&#x20AC;˘ Custom Builders specializing in LEED construction â&#x20AC;˘ Green Remodeling â&#x20AC;˘ Real Estate Brokerage

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 29

P 214.673.6365 | F 214.276.7711

www.greenbrookhomesdfw.com OCT 2010

29

5/15/10 2:17:20 AM

launch pad

gReeNBROOK HOMeS Husband-and-wife team apply prior passion and knowledge of sustainable homebuilding to new start-up venture location Sachse, TX founded 2008 employees 4

for angela branan, an interest in green building was a natural extension of an interest in healthful living. “I’m certified as a personal trainer, so I really care about how people treat their bodies; living in a healthy environment is just one aspect of that,” says the co-owner of Greenbrook Homes, a Dallas, Texas-area custom homebuilder and remodeler.

Angela and her husband, Scott, founded Greenbrook Homes in 2008 after working for many years as sales reps for a large-production homebuilder. “Even when we worked for a large-production homebuilder, being green was our passion,” Angela says. “But we wanted to do more custom work, and we wanted to be a true green company, rather than green just for marketing purposes.”

Eventually, says Scott, the clients came. “People who wanted to upgrade and add green elements to their existing home found out we had the knowledge to do that and started calling us,” he explains. “Today, most of our clients are second- to fourth-time homebuyers or people who have been through a bad building or remodeling experience and now want to do something the right way, with a firm that takes care of their needs. Most of them have the education and resources to know about green building and the desire to implement that vision.”

Last year, Greenbrook Homes built its first green home from the ground up: a Dallas residence that the firm considered a “dry run” for future LEED projects. “We didn’t get LEED certification, but we hired a consultant to review and grade the home; they said that had we pursued LEED, we would certainly have achieved certification,” Angela says. “So we know for sure we’ll be hitting that level on our next project.”

That next project is a series of concept homes in the Lakewood infill area of Dallas. Called GreenPrint Homes, it is the result of a partnership between Greenbrook Homes and a local architect, Robert Raymond, who is passionate about pushing the green envelope. “Many LEED homes in Dallas are large and expensive— for example, 14,000 square feet and millions of dollars,” Scott says. “We want to stay in the realm of the normal price point for the infill

area and still provide a LEED home.”

Although there are three concept homes planned, the firm is starting with just one: a 3,247-square-foot, two-story residence that should be completed by summer 2010. The home utilizes many standard green features, such as enhanced natural ventilation, daylighting, rainwater harvesting, and low-VOC materials. In addition, the home is designed to minimize waste. “We know lumber comes in two-foot increments, so we’ve made the rooms 20 or 22 feet wide—that way, you don’t have to cut the lumber down and waste part of it,” Scott says. “The whole idea is to create a home on paper so as little of it as possible goes in the trash pile.” The home will also be pre-wired for solar, so as the cost of photovoltaic panels comes down, the homeowners can easily add them.

30

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 30

AW AN

Ac pl al in pr

“All three of our concept homes are going to be dark, dark green homes,” Angela says.

Funding, however, has been a challenge. “Bank lenders don’t appreciate green building because of the slightly higher cost point that comes with it,” Angela explains. Once again, Greenbrook Homes found opportunity in an obstacle. “We’re privately financed, and that lets us build the way we want to without a bank looking over our shoulders and asking us to justify our choices,” Scott says. “And that’s great, because we want to go as far as we can with green building.” —by Julie Schaeffer

R

½

by

Getting the firm off the ground was a challenge given the tough housing market of 2008 and 2009. “We founded the company at the housing-market low, so getting our name out there and finding people who were willing and able to build was a significant obstacle,” Scott says.

But the slow start gave Greenbrook Homes a unique opportunity. “By starting when the market was slow, we were able to sit down with vendors and tradespeople and say, ‘This is how we’re going to build,’” Scott explains. “In doing so, we were able to assemble a team that fully understands what green is and is willing to do everything possible to meet the standards we set.”

P

L H

an

D A

Th

re di

the GreenPrint homes to be built in the Lakewood area of Dallas, tx.

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:17:25 AM

ACORNVAC

VACUUM PLUMBING SYSTEMS

PEACEFUL PLUMBING A WATER-SAVING SOLUTION BOTH ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS CAN AGREE ON

AcornVac® is an evolution in modern plumbing. It navigates around traditional plumbing woes and works water savings into any building’s design. Finally, a project free from limitations.

REDUCED WATER USE ½ gallon vacuum flush reduces water consumption by as much as 68%

6 Earn Water-Efficiency LEED points 6 Earn CE credits

LOW MAINTENANCE Highly-efficient engineering minimizes maintenance and down time associated with mainline blockages

DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION & ARCHITECTURAL HARMONY The system’s design results in less site or structural

restrictions, and installation time is shorter with less disruption.

(800) 591-9920 (909) 902-1141

www.acornvac.com/gbd gbdmagazine.com

Member of Acorn Engineering’s

6 Free cost estimates 6 Collaborative project planning available at AcornVac’s new showroom Call to schedule an appointment today and learn more firsthand – or AcornVac’s mobile showroom will come to you!

A live demonstration of AcornVac in action available at the

GREENSOURCE CINCINNATI RESOURCE CENTER <--- Visit our web site to complete an AIA-accredited course on Extreme Water Savings OCT 2010 31

FAMILY OF COMPANIES GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 31

5/15/10 2:17:25 AM

launch pad

gReeNSOURCe CiNCiNNAti

MakING a DIFFereNCe Cincinnati city-

Living resource center strives to make a clear distinction between the abstraction of sustainability and the practical uses of green technology

council member Laure quinlivan, Will housh, ez housh, and Larry Falkin of the City of Cincinnati environmental quality Department visit in the 1875 room at Greensource

location

Cincinnati. the city is

Cincinnati, OH

a strong supporter of green building and has

founded

more LeeD-certified

2008

buildings than any city in the region.

employees 50 products on display 50+

what some have called green-information overload—the hypermedia wave covering all things sustainable—has had some positive repercussions. It inspired father-son team Ez and Will Housh to purchase and renovate a building in downtown Cincinnati, for one.

“When the whole sustainability movement welled up, Cincinnati got involved,” Ez says, explaining that the once densely populated city now stands with a huge inventory of buildings in need of renovation. “But, in order for the movement to be successful, I felt Cincinnati needed a resource center—a place for people to come and see technology in action—that would inspire renovations and new structures.”

Monroe Mechanical, Inc., a commercial-HVACservice and design-build company serving as the Houshes’ primary venture, has been applying the most energy-efficient systems in both commercial and residential buildings within the tri-state region of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana for more than 50 years. Yet Ez and Will (CEO and COO, respectively) share an interest in renovations. This interest intertwined with their core mechanical business in 2008 when they founded GreenSource Cincinnati, a permanent showcase of sustainability.

The Houshes chose a site perfectly positioned near downtown’s architectural and building district, just across the street from the

32

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 32

“We educate visitors on the technology, we help them specify the right technology, and then we assist them as they apply those technologies.”

—Ez Housh, CEO

Cincinnati Public Library. They renovated a 10,000-square-foot, three-story building dating back to 1875 to LEED Gold certification standards.

Everything in GreenSource Cincinnati has become part of a thought-provoking, educational open house. It has more than 50 technologies that are on display—each installed and operating within the building. “People can come through the building to see how the different technologies work,” Will explains.

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:17:40 AM

launch pad “Everything is monitored and controlled so they can see how much energy each system is using. It is truly a unique visitor experience.”

Partners that contributed resources and technologies include ClimateMaster, Ferguson, LiveRoof, Rheem, and many others. From flooring and insulation to geothermal and grey-water reclamation, manufacturers and technology partners applied their most viable renewable features to fit the building. The displays include both commercial and residential products. On the third floor is a hospitality suite, which includes radiant heat under a poured concrete floor and a residential-style kitchen featuring bamboo cabinets and recycled-glass tile.

The company hopes the Midwest building community will be inspired to explore and implement the energy-efficient and sustainable technologies showcased in the building.

GreenSource Cincinnati opens its doors to architects, engineers, building owners, area organizations, and technology partners for tours. Ez says, “It is pretty exciting. The visitors don’t want to leave—they gravitate toward one thing or another.”

The living exhibit employs a three-step process when visitors inquire about its various elements—educate, specify, and apply. “We educate visitors on the technology, we help them specify the right technology, and then we assist them as they apply those technologies,” Ez further explains. The third step—application—integrates what is displayed at GreenSource Cincinnati with the Houshes’ business at Monroe Mechanical. “Our goal is to take ‘going green’ beyond a catchphrase and turn it into practical use; everything on display at GreenSource can be incorporated into someone’s home or business,” Will adds.

This distinction is important as the trend threatens to overpower the realities of unsustainable building practices. The City of Cincinnati is aware of its responsibility and is also pushing the green movement. Downtown buildings receive property-tax abatement if they become LEED certified; local school structures also are pursuing LEED Silver certification.

GreenSource Cincinnati offers educational opportunities beyond its building tours. “Lunch and Learns” that offer continuing-education credits and networking opportunities take place on a weekly basis. Meetings for groups such as the Cincinnati chapter of the USGBC, AIA, and Green Energy Ohio are designed to keep the conversations going.

As for the future, the Houshes feel that GreenSource Cincinnati will continue to evolve as a living, breathing resource center that accelerates the country’s sustainability movement and explores application of the energy-efficient products available. —by Jennifer Hogeland

A MESSAGE FROM ACORN ENGINEERING COMPANY The AcornVac Vacuum Plumbing System was the best solution to retrofit the GreenSource building for water savings because of its flexible, aboveground design. Water consumption is reduced by as much as 68 percent with very little disturbance to the building’s historical architecture; at

A MESSAGE FROM IFACTS iFACTS provides customers with automation and

the same time, utility and maintenance costs are

green and renewable energy solutions. iFACTS

also reduced. Murdock’s Classic Design was

is proud to have provided building-automation

also chosen because of its 80 percent post-con-

design and integration services for GreenSource.

sumer recycled content, as well as its lead-free

Should you require multi-vendor automation in-

and low-flow engineering. Murdock’s traditional

tegration or wish to integrate renewable energy

model dates back to 1853, and blends in

sources into your facility, we can help. Call

perfectly with the building’s historical setting. For

740-966-6097 or visit us on the Web at www.

more information, please visit www.acornvac.

ifacts-llc.com.

com and www.murdock-supersecur.com.

“Making Buildings Smarter, Safer, and More Effective”

Providing customers with automation and green and renewable energy solutions. iFACTS is proud to have provided building automation design and integration services for GreenSource.

Should you require multi-vendor automation integration or wish to integrate renewable energy sources into your facility we can help.

740-966-6097

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 33

www.ifacts-llc.com.

OCT 2010

33

5/15/10 2:17:42 AM

inner workings

the rainshine house was awarded LeeD Platinum certification in april 2009. as the first modernist residence to achieve the LeeD Platinum level in the southeastern united states it collects the elements â&#x20AC;&#x153;rain or shine,â&#x20AC;? providing sustainableOCT living for its owners.

2010

34

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 34

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:17:49 AM

inner workings

simply sustainable Architect Robert M. Cain and Pinnacle Custom Builders, Inc. break records in Southeast US with the RainShine House

by Janet Arrowood the rainshine house, in decatur, georgia, was a long time coming but more than worth the wait. Robert M. Cain, the architect, has a long working history with one of the owners, but this was their first residential project. The collaboration didn’t start out as a mission to build a LEED Platinum-certified house, but a series of fortuitous circumstances came together, and the final result was the RainShine House.

The owners, a husband and wife, were always looking for a property with potential—one with great southern exposure at a great price.

Several years ago they found the ideal property, but they weren’t ready to build, so they bought the property and rented out the existing house for a few years. At the same time, they and Cain began to design a home that would have maximum sun exposure—a necessary feature for one of the owners, who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

features easily handled by the contemporary style...and the design has already won a number of design awards. The modern style is simply more accommodating of sustainable goals than any other style. The other designs had to make major adaptations to obtain the LEED Platinum designation.”

the predicted $20–30 per month. Being proponents of sustainability, public transit, and walkable communities, the owners are proud that their new home is two blocks from downtown so that they can walk everywhere or take MARTA, the Atlanta area’s public transit system.

The house received 108 credits out of a possible 130 in the LEED for Homes pilot program, including all nine possible credits for innovation and design. The home is also certified by the Energy Star and EarthCraft home programs.

“The 2,800-square-foot RainShine House was designed to use, on average, twenty dollars in net utility costs,” Cain notes. How accurate was his projection? The house is just shy of its oneyear anniversary, but so far, Cain says, “There’s actually been one ‘negative’ month—the photovoltaic system actually generated more electricity than the house used—and one month where the electricity bill was about $100—and this during the worst winter Georgia has experienced in many years.” The RainShine House is definitely performing better than the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) predicted.

Perhaps one of the home’s most important goals was advocated for by the owners; they wanted to show others that a sustainable lifestyle not only is possible but convenient in an urban environment. As friends, neighbors, and interested individuals and families look to RainShine House as a precedent for this possibility, the way forward will be easier for those who choose to follow.

a sustaINaBLe, urBaN LIFestYLe The RainShine House is filled with natural daylight and is comfortable in both the summer and winter, even with the large amounts of glass. The utility costs generally are averaging

aCCOMMODatION BY MODerN DesIGN The home design became an evolutionary process. While the home was still in the design phase, LEED’s pilot guidelines concerning Platinum criteria for residential construction were released. “When I told the owners about the benefits of LEED Platinum, they decided to go for it,” Cain says. Unlike other LEED Platinum homes in the area, the RainShine House is contemporary in design, deviating from the surrounding French Provincial and Italianate styles. The modern design allowed for the incorporation of overhanging eaves, natural shading, large areas of glass, and a south—Robert M. Cain, Architect ern exposure. As Cain points out, “These are

“the modern style is simply more accommodating of sustainable goals than any other style. the other designs had to make major adaptations to obtain the LeeD Platinum designation.”

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 35

FrOM the VIeW OF the arChIteCt Cain has always incorporated sustainable and passive-solar aspects into his designs. Because the LEED for Homes guidelines came out while the RainShine House was being designed, it provided Cain an ideal opportunity—with interested, supportive clients—to adjust the design to create a LEED Platinum home. The RainShine House was recently featured in a cross-professional show “Less is More—Simplicity Leads to Sustainability” held at the Connexion Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia, where it was chosen as a “Best in Show” for its architectural and sustainable aspects.

Cain’s expertise is built on an expansive career, which began, as all do, with intensive education. He gives some advice to students: “When you’re considering schools...find a school that actually lets you get involved in design projects,” he suggests. “An example is Auburn University.”

And for beginning architects? “I did design/ build projects as a young architect—putting my hands on the materials, figuring out how to use them to my advantage,” he says. “So many young architects don’t get exposed to construction. I suggest getting more involved in actual construction.”

OCT 2010

35

5/15/10 2:17:51 AM

inner workings

The RainShine House 1. View of the home from the entrance, leading through the dining room and towards the kitchen. The interior design includes 100% recycled furnishing, 45% recycledcontent rugs, and a coffee table manufactured from 100% recycled material.

2. RainShine is nearly 100% non toxic by design. All of the interior paints, stains, floor finishes, adhesives and sealants are either low-VOC or zero-VOC. 3. The structure itself consisted of local concrete for the foundation which contains 30% fly ash, the reclaimed heart-pine flooring which is from the old Atlanta stables, were demolished and secured by Legacy Wood Products.

4. Walls of low solar-heatgain coefficient glass create a light-filled home, and the millwork was delicately 1

colored in transparent blues, greens, and yellows to create a â&#x20AC;&#x153;cheeryâ&#x20AC;? atmosphere for its occupants.

2

4

36

3

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 36

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:18:11 AM

W&D

3

11

7 6

1

2

inner workings

12

1 DN

2

2

9

4

FIrst FLOOr PLaN

5

10

1. Entry 2. Foyer

UP

8

3. Dining Room

W&D

3

4. Kitchen

11

7

5. Living Room

13

6

6. Corridor 7. 1/2 Bath

1

2

8. Laundry

12

NORTH

9. Her Master Bath 10. His Master Bath GRAPHIC SCALE

DN

2

2

1

0

5

10

11. Master Bedroom

20

12. Covered Deck

5

13. Screened Porch 1

UP

seCOND FLOOr PLaN 14. Office Loft OPEN TO BATH BELOW

13

15. Bedroom

OPEN TO BATH BELOW

16. Guest Bedroom

16

15

17. Bathroom 17

NORTH

GRAPHIC SCALE

1

0

5

10

20

14

1

DN

2

2 OPEN TO LIVING ROOM BELOW

OPEN TO BATH BELOW

ROOF ABOVE

OPEN TO BATH BELOW

16

15

17

a C D

14

B

F

GRAPHIC SCALE 0

2 OPEN TO LIVING ROOM BELOW

5

2

1

NORTH

DN

e

10

20

ROOF ABOVE

F

PassIVe sOLar DIaGraM (suMMer) a. Summer noon sun

F

F

B. Photovoltaic array facing south for maximum solar exposure

F

C. Rainwater collection from roof, pumped to landscape and toliet use D. High albedo surface keeps solar heat from absorbing into roofing material

C

e. Overhangs and light shelves shadow high summer sun and refract indirect light

G

C

into the interior F. Open floor plan, connecting porch, low operable windows, high ceiling fans, NORTH

and operable clerestory windows create a cross-ventilation and stack effect

GRAPHIC SCALE

G. Geo-thermal heat pump for supplementary cooling

0

5

10

20

C

1

a

B

PassIVe sOLar DIaGraM (WINter)

e

a. Winter noon sun B. Photovoltaic array facing south for maximum solar exposure C. Rainwater collection from roof, pumped for landscape and toliet use D. Solar-heat gain from large southern windows e. High ceiling fans circulate heated air through clerestory space

D D

F. Geothermal heat pump for supplementary heating

C F

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 37

C

OCT 2010

37

5/15/10 2:18:18 AM

inner workings

The RainShine House

the builder behind rainshine Pinnacle Custom Builders, Inc. is no stranger to eco-friendly residential creations

or three new custom homes each year,” Soens says, noting that a little business in this area goes a long way in terms of dollars. “Probably about 50 to 70 percent of our dollar volume comes from this new construction.”

by Laura Judy

Whether it’s remodeling a bathroom or buildwhen robert soens founded pinnacle ing a new home, Pinnacle always focuses on Custom Builders, Inc. in 1996, it wasn’t his sustainable-building methods. “We use green first company. His first, Robert Soens, Inc., principles in every single project,” Soens says. started in 1988, was mainly focused on com“Every major renovation or build that we do is mercial construction. In 2001, the two compaEarthCraft or LEED certified.” Some of the econies merged under the name Pinnacle Custom friendly practices that the company uses are: Builders, Inc., and the company is now dedicat- • recycling and reusing materials following ed to the construction and renovation of homes. demolition and donating items to non-profits “We do mostly residential work, with only about whenever possible; five to ten percent of our work being commer• using non-toxic materials, including interior cial,” Soens says. and exterior finishes, insulation, windows, flashing, and caulking; and Pinnacle works primarily in the metro-Atlanta • the latest green-building technology, includarea, and it has built a strong reputation as a ing geothermal energy, photovoltaic systems, builder of Earth-friendly homes. “We run the and insulated-concrete forms. business as a green business,” Soens says. “We are a certified carbon-neutral company, and we “There’s very little that we’re not experienced make a point in every way we can to minimize with when it comes to the latest technology our carbon footprint.” Pinnacle takes on about and products,” Soens says. His years in the 15 to 20 projects each year, including renovacommercial-construction industry have added tions, additions, and new homes. “Most of our to his superb green-building skills. “Because projects are remodels, but we usually do two I did commercial construction for 10 years, I

rainshine’s most stunning feature is the soaring-butterfly roof designed to facilitate collection of rainwater for the rain-harvest system. to accommodate the long spans of the butterfly roof the home is framed in 100% recycled-content steel.

have wider experience with different types of technology,” Soens says. “We do a lot of modern, contemporary homes, and a commercial past helps with that, as well.”

The Pinnacle team keeps up with the everchanging industry by attending seminars and gatherings, such as the NAHB and USGBC annual green-building conferences. Most of the company’s work comes through repeat clients and the architects it works with. “We pay very close attention to the plans and specifications we get from our architects, and that gives us a good reputation, which in turn leads to more referrals,” Soens notes.

The company has been affected very little by the change in the economy. “Our business has benefited by building a very good reputation in a market where things are happening,” Soens says. Many homeowners are looking for green builds and remodels not only for the environmental benefits but also the monetary ones.

“We always explain that green remodeling pays for itself; homeowners will notice an immediate difference when the bills come in. We’ve actually doubled the size of a house with an addition and still lowered the monthly bills by using energy-efficient materials.”

Homes that are built using sustainable practices also tend to be more durable, more comfortable, and healthier. “For all these reasons,” Soen says, “when people ask how quickly the green practices will pay for themselves, I always tell them, ‘The day you move in.’”

Pinnacle makes a practice of donating money and its building services to local businesses, and Soens has even traveled to Jamaica to visit a primary school to which the company is donating money for its building fund. This dedication to the Earth—its environment and its people—is part of what makes Pinnacle so popular in its community. As the company moves forward, Soens will work to maintain this solid reputation. “We appreciate growth, but we we’re not pushing to be too big,” he says.

“I never want us to be so busy that we don’t have the time to form a personal relationship with each and every client.” gb&d

38

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 38

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:18:25 AM

community evening illumination of exterior façade of Miller’s Court.

Photo: Billy Michels and Brigitte Manekin.

from dilapidation to inspiration Hamel Builders breaks into the green scene with the renovation of a neglected Baltimore neighborhood building michele bruggeman was hired for a specific project: Miller’s Court, an adaptive reuse in an underserved Baltimore neighborhood.

It was the first LEED project Hamel Builders ever worked on, and the firm hired Bruggeman to coordinate the LEED implementation.

The project—completed in 2009—was complex. It involved the restoration of a warehouse building into a mixed-use facility that would include housing for teachers from Baltimore schools and educators from the nearby Johns Hopkins University. “It was one of those buildings that had long been in ruin,” Bruggeman says. “And it’s very visible, the type of structure that every resident in the city would drive past and wonder, ‘When are they ever going to fix that place up?’”

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 39

Hamel Builders took on the challenge. It incorporated a wide swath of dynamic, efficient elements into the project while retaining its historical essence. “The amount of natural light is striking,” Bruggeman says. “Every single apartment has enough light inside during mid-afternoon to negate the need for artificial light, and the corridor walls are separated by partitions that allow light to pass over the walls. And the building’s middle portion was removed, creating a U-shape that allows even more interior light.” By the end, Miller’s Court was equipped with solar shades, watersource heating and cooling systems, low-VOC paints, and was certified LEED Gold.

More and more, it’s looking as though Miller’s Court’s energy efficiency will be par for the course of future Hamel Builders projects. The general-contracting outfit—which has grown from a home office into a 120employee staff, a fleet of 100 vehicles, and 17,000 multi-family units of renovation and new construction totaling more than $1

billion—frequently undertakes affordable housing, elderly housing, historic restoration, transitional housing, and educational projects, most of which require some kind of government funding. These jobs typically require adhering to a green-rating system of some kind.

“The most challenging aspect of implementing green policies is collecting information from our subcontractors,” says Kim Henderson, sustainability coordinator at the firm. “There’s a lot to understand, and many of the tax credits are interrelated.” To make the process easier, Hamel coordinates with its architects and key project team members prior to construction to determine specific roles and responsibilities. To ensure that specific green-buildingprogram goals are on track, certain plans are conceived and carried out: • An erosion- and sediment-control plan is implemented in cooperation with the civil engineer.

OCT 2010

39

5/15/10 2:18:26 AM

community

“the most challenging aspect of implementing green policies is collecting information from our subcontractors. there’s a lot to understand.”

—Kim Henderson, Sustainability Coordinator, Hamel Builders

• A construction-waste-management plan is created to ensure that at least 75 percent of the construction waste generated by the project is diverted from local landfills and recycled or salvaged. (The company also makes a point to hire waste-management companies that use regional processing facilities—where nonseparated waste is processed and sorted for recyclable materials—and that have a proven track record of providing accurate documentation, including monthly recycling audits, destination reports, and weight tickets.)

Minority owned, Licensed & Insured Since 1981 Brown & Sons Construction

• new masonry work • repairs • point tuck • restoration repairs • wash down • graffiti removal • concrete all flat work • waterproofing

(301) 449-9838 www.brownandsons.org At Brown & Sons Construction, we care about your business growth. We understand the challenges you face in today's everchanging, complex and often unpredictable business environment and we offer you the industry expertise, keen insight and vision that are essential in identifying issues and providing optimal solutions specific to your requirements. For information on how we can assist with your next project, please visit our website or give us a call today.

• An indoor-air-quality-management plan is established and posted onsite during construction and prior to occupancy. The plan is distributed to all subcontractors for compliance and helps sustain the well being of the workers and future occupants.

Custom Residential Winery Design Commercial & Institutional Currently, there are eight LEED APs on staff at Hamel Builders, and several more are in the process of studying for the Green Associate exam. Ten green-building projects—six green communities and four LEED Silver—are imminent, as is a net-zero home. And certain green processes have been adapted into the firm’s standard operations.

“We’ve implemented the same level of HVAC and materials protection required by LEED on all projects,” Henderson says. “And we encourage the use of composite wood and agrifiber products on the interior of the building that do not contain any added urea-formaldehyde resins.

These practices enable us to fulfill our responsibility to both building occupants and the communities we serve.” —by David Hudnall

- Celebrating Thirty Years 1980-2010 -

- Pechara Studios Clinica Verde, designed by William E. Bylund, AIA & LEED AP, is a unique and ground-breaking model for health care in developing countries.The design takes advantage of natural day lighting, passive cooling, water conservation, and solar electric energy generation. The floor plan of the building and site plan are laid out with areas that enhance "socially sustainable" functions as well as those inherently required for clinic operational efficiency. An organic garden and demonstration kitchen are also

planned along with

educational programs for local families.

40

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 40

Thomas Faherty William Bylund 1560 Railroad Avenue, St. Helena, CA 94574 707.963.1466 www.valleyarchitects.com

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:18:33 AM

0'FRQ

As a fully integrated design/build firm, M.D. Construction guides you through all phases of the construction process, including purchasing land, obtaining permits, designing a plan, staying within a budget, and helping select materials. Mike is in constant communication and acts as your primary contact. Mike can frequently be found on the job site, working alongside his employees and subcontractors to assure quality and expedience. We also take pride in our sustainable building practices. Through the use of recycled/reclaimed materials and integrating solar energy and geo-thermal heating in both our residential and commercial projects, we have become BIG (Build it Green) certified. From mountain rustic to sleek contemporary to environmentally friendly, M. D. Construction can build your dreams.

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 0'FRQVWUXFWLRQ LQGG 41

OCT 2010

41

5/15/10 30 2:18:34 AM

taking shape

the GreeN CLINIC As the second poorest country in Latin America, Nicaragua also has an incredibly high rate of adolescent fertility and maternal mortality. Clínica Verde seeks to provide some relief—starting from the ground up. The healthcare facility, designed by Andrew Bylund with the input of Nicaraguan architect Alfredo Osorio, will be built sustainably, featuring natural daylighting, passive cooling, water conservation, and solar-electric energy generation; using with local materials it will also help to employ local Boaco-region residents. Focusing on issues of maternity, the 8,000-square-foot clinic will offer training for entry-level workers and classes on family planning, nutrition, and birthing. Food will also play a significant role—a community kitchen is planned for demonstration purposes, as is an organic garden adjacent the building, and a vendors area will provide a small market for food and other locally made goods. Estimated completion of the clinic is set for the end of 2010.

CLíNICA vERDE construction manager Trailmark Construction Management architect Valley Architects location Nicaragua story Julie Schaeffer

42

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 42

when andrew bylund founded trailmark Construction Management in 2005, solar energy was cost-prohibitive. Today, it’s becoming more affordable, and an increasing number of his clients ask for it.

Bylund’s interest in sustainability extends back five years, when he was working as a project manager for a Las Vegas general contractor.

“One of our client’s wanted to use solar power, geothermal, and wood species that were certified by the Forest Stewardship Council,” Bylund explains. “I did a lot of research, pricing, and implementation for that client—and was intrigued.”

Not long after, when Bylund founded his own firm, he maintained that interest in sustainability—albeit from a different perspective.

Trailmark is not a general contractor, but a construction-management firm—in essence, an owner’s representative. “There were a number of clients in town that needed an agent with extensive general-contracting experience, so that’s what I became,” Bylund says.

Today, owners of commercial buildings or custom residences often hire Bylund before construction begins to manage a project from the beginning of permit drawings to move-in—a process that typically takes one to three years.

Most of his clients are residential, because many individual homeowners—especially in the high-end market where Bylund works—are too busy to oversee the design and construction of their homes. “These people need an agent who can monitor and manage the entire process in an unbiased fashion and implement any requests they have,” Bylund says.

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:18:36 AM

OPPOsIte, LeFt: Clínica Verde is envisioned as a prototype for socially responsible design and community empowerment. seen as a starting point for social and physical health, the world’s built environment can also experience healing through a holistic approach.

“We are hoping that by building a hospital that not only uses local building materials and local employees, but is also partially sustained by solar power, we can improve the livelihoods and health of the locals.”

Given Bylund’s interest in sustainability, many of these requests seem to be green. “I don’t market exclusively as a green-construction management firm, but I’ve gravitated toward projects with sustainable elements, and as a result, I’ve increasingly become known within the residential market as someone who understands what sustainable features are available and what they cost,” Bylund says. “When a client tells me he or she wants sustainable materials used in every possible location or wants to know what solar-energy options are available, I’ll work with the design team and general con—Andrew Bylund, President, tactor to come up with ideas, then make recomTrailmark Construction mendations back to my client.”

One of Trailmark’s notable projects with which Bylund is helping in the construction-management process is Clínica Verde, an 8,000-squarefoot non-profit hospital in Nicaragua, designed

by Valley Architects. “We are hoping that by building a hospital that not only uses local building materials and local employees, but is also partially sustained by solar power, we can improve the livelihoods and health of the locals,” Bylund says.

According to Bylund, the major challenge he has faced is the cost of these energy-harnessing systems. “When I first founded the business, my biggest challenge was the cost of solar power for the average user,” he says. “Today my challenge is that people just aren’t building as much as they used to due to economic uncertainty, and those who are building are doing so

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 43

on a much stricter budget. Either way you look at it, many people don’t want to spend money on solar or geothermal.”

The good news, Bylund says, is that the cost of solar power has decreased considerably in the past few years. “Now we just need to reach a point where the average user can stomach the up-front expense, which can be anywhere from $20,000 up for a normal-size house,” he explains. “Because ultimately, a payback will be achieved; it’s just a matter of how many years one is willing to wait to break even and start to see their investment work for them. We need to see this payback break-even point reach the fiveto seven-year mark before any sort of noticeable increase in residential users is realized.”

Another notable project for Trailmark is a 6,000-square-foot California residence, currently under construction and due to be completed by the end of the year, which features extensive use of solar and geothermal-energy systems.

The most unique element is the home’s photovoltaic system, which Bylund says is thought to be the first in the United States to integrate a metal-seam roof and solar panel in the same plane and combine them in a single system.

The design, which originates in Germany, will provide 80 percent of the home’s energy needs.

Moreover, because the homeowners are only planning to live in the house for part of the year, they should be able to push power back to the grid through a net-metering agreement with the local power company. “The photovoltaic solar panel is truly unique in that it is not only functional, but beautiful. It’s not just this massive unsightly panel sitting on a roof; it can be a seamless architectural element.”

The home also has 14 geothermal wells that extend approximately 400 feet into ground to extract heat from the earth. That heat will be used not just to help heat the home, but also to melt nearby snow. “We are going to place one of the geothermal loops in a nearby pond, extract water from it, and run it through the heat pumps to provide a much more effective system for snow melt,” Bylund says. “That will reduce the need for mechanical snow removal and the energy associated with it.” gb&d

OCT 2010

43

5/15/10 2:18:38 AM

net zero the Franklin regional transit Center is an intermodal

challenging modern aesthetic trends

transit facility for bus passengers and train passengers. the facility will also house offices for the transit authority and the Franklin regional Council of Governments, and is an important element in the town of Greenfield’s urban revitalization strategy.

Charles Rose Architects challenges the trend toward a minimal and boxy return to modernism

by Julie Schaeffer most sustainable architects develop an interest in green-building principles; for Charles Rose, principal of Charles Rose Architects, it was the opposite: “I went into architecture out of an interest in solar energy,” he says.

Rose attended Princeton University and originally planned a career in the sciences, but after taking a seminar with Doug Kelbaugh, a leading proponent of solar energy and the designer of the first American Trombe-wall house, he decided to switch gears. He obtained a master’s degree in architecture from Harvard University, and, immediately upon graduation in 1989, he founded his firm.

From the beginning, sustainability was a focus.

The firm’s first project, a school that utilized passive-solar elements and non-toxic materials, was green—today, virtually all of the firm’s projects obtain a LEED Silver rating or better.

That, Rose says, is because the majority of the firm’s clients are institutions, such as universities and governmental bodies. The firm is part of two design-excellence programs: the US General Services Administration Design Excellence Program, and New York City’s Design and Construction Excellence Program. As a result, it is the firm of choice for a number of federal and city projects. “Sustainability is a given for many of these buildings,” Rose says. “They’re now mandated to be LEED Silver or better.”

View from northeast.

View from northwest.

One notable project currently under construction is the 24,000-square-foot Franklin Regional Transit Authority, an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The net-zero building consumes less energy than it generates over the course

44

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 44

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:19:01 AM

net zero

“We try to create sustainable buildings that still have a lot of aesthetic value. We want to get away from the concept of the green building as a machine and move toward the concept of the green building as a sculptural artifact.”

—Charles Rose, Principal, Charles Rose Architects

FraNkLIN reGIONaL traNsIt CeNter Features: • Perforated-copper shading screen on the building’s second-story office windows • Cantilevered second floor provides a shading for the bus-waiting area below • Brick screen walls and perforated metal panels will be used to filter light • Wood soffits at the cantilevers will add visual warmth • Super-insulation and low-transmission glazing supply superior energy efficiency

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 45

OCT 2010

45

5/15/10 2:19:04 AM

net zero

of a year thanks to a geothermal-energy system, a biomass boiler, and 6,000 square feet of photovoltaic panels. “The key design goal was to reduce the amount of energy that the building needed,” Rose says. “Energy efficiency is achieved through super-insulation, low-transmission glazing, and passive-solar technology, such as screen walls, automated sunscreens and overhangs to reduce heat gain. Energy demands will also be decreased through the use of perimeter daylighting, light-colored finishes, clerestory windows, and low-wattage fixtures with occupancy and sunlight sensors.”

Another recently completed project is the campus center at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Although the university will not pursue LEED certification for the building, it is designed to a LEED Silver standard. More importantly, Rose explains. it exemplifies one of Charles Rose Architects’ fundamental beliefs: that green can be beautiful. “We try to create sustainable buildings that still have a lot of aesthetic value,” he says.

“We want to get away from the concept of the green building as a machine and move toward the concept of the green building as a sculptural artifact.”

Charles Rose Architects

“Some features we utilize, such as geothermal, have an 80-year payback; taking a long view makes sense for many of our institutional clients, so we’re trying to get them to think in 50-year periods rather than five-year periods.”

—Charles Rose, Principal, Charles Rose Architects

Another challenge the firm has faced is achieving the level of collaboration between architects and engineers that its projects require— especially when it comes to net-zero buildings.

“The information the architects get from the engineers can change the design, from something as simple as window placement to something much more significant, such as the shape or orientation of the building,” Rose says. “As a result, we have to make sure there is adequate time in the schedule for the teams to really sit down and work together.”

The result, however, is worth the effort. “Coordination can go a long way toward the creation of a building that is not just sustainable and beautiful, but really integrated,” Rose says.

“The result is a design that is formed not just by the architects, but by all the participants.” gb&d

To that end, Rose tries to integrate the building within the site. “The relationship with site and nature is a critical concern for many of our projects, from views to spatial continuity and daylighting,” he says.

Charles Rose Architects is also known for creating buildings that are not, as Rose says, “orthogonal, recto-linear boxes.” As he explains, “everyone is now returning to this strippeddown, boxy modernism, but we’re trying to do something very different, which is quite sculptural.”

One challenge the firm has faced is getting clients to understand that they have to spend a little more money to get a high-performing building. “Being sustainable is slightly more expensive in regard to fees and project costs,” Rose says. “Some features we utilize, such as geothermal, have an 80-year payback; taking a long view makes sense for many of our institutional clients, so we’re trying to get them to think in 50-year periods rather than fiveyear periods.”

. B S U I B T 7J O F Z B S E 46

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 46

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:19:44 AM

$XWKRUL]HG GHDOHUV LQ HYHU\ PDMRU EUDQG RI DSSOLDQFH

CAPITOL C O M P A N Y,

&RPPHUFLDO DQG ,QGXVWULDO ,QVWDOODWLRQV &DSLWRO )LUH 6SULQNOHU WK 3ODFH :RRGVLGH 1<

I N C.

:H DUH D OLFHQVHG Ă&#x20AC;UH VXSSUHVVLRQ FRQWUDFWRU LQ 1HZ <RUN 1HZ -HUVH\ 1DVVDX 6XIIRON DQG YDULRXV ORFDO MXULVGLFWLRQV WKURXJKRXW WKH 0HWURSROLWDQ DUHD

&RPH YLVLW RXU :HVWHFKHVWHU ORFDWLRQ DQG H[SHULHQFH OLYLQJ NLWFKHQV JRXUPHW FRRNLQJ H[KLELWLRQV DQG VT IW RI WKH PRVW PDJQLĂ&#x20AC; FHQW VKRZURRP GLVSOD\V LQ 1HZ <RUN

6(59,&(6

â&#x20AC;˘ New Installation â&#x20AC;˘ RetroďŹ t and Alteration â&#x20AC;˘ Fire Dept. Siamese Test â&#x20AC;˘ Monthly Inspection â&#x20AC;˘ Fire Dept. Violation Correction â&#x20AC;˘ Insurance Company Test â&#x20AC;˘ Sprinkler System Repair

ZZZ FDSLWROĂ&#x20AC;UH FRP

(DVW 3RVW 5RDG :KLWH 3ODLQV 1< 3

)

ZZZ OHLEHUWV FRP

+%

+BSPGG %FTJHO .ofJ T P O $ P O D F Q U T has over 29 years Jaroff Design &

Mison Concepts, Inc. expertise in designing, fabricating and installing high-end architectural

s Specializing exclusively in custom architectural metal & glass, two of the most recyclable materials in the industry s Offering NABCEP-certified design consulting for developing building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) options for curtainwalls & roofs s Helping clients using metal & glass to achieve LEED rating for projects, from insulation and light management to recycled content credits and more s Always staying at the cutting-edge of new technologies and material advancements that expand the green potential of our chosen materials

metal & glass. This experience makes us a preferred partner of Silverlining Interior, allowing us to tackle their most challenging custom metal & glass jobs for their most exacting clientele.

Visit us at www.jaroff.com or contact us at 516-933-8000 or info@jaroff.com for your next project!

Blackened stainless steel frames with 3 1/2â&#x20AC;? IGU R-19 /STC 52 performance- rated glass, ideal for exterior insulation application. Photo Š Dean Powell, 2008

GBD Jaroff Design and Mison Concepts 1-2 Pageâ&#x20AC;Ť â&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;Ź.indd 2

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 47

4/16/10 3:56:37 PM

5/15/10 2:19:50 AM

features 48 Silverlining interiorS 56 Span 60 rebuilding nola

rolls-royce mentality New York City-based Silverlining Interiors is bringing 1920s apartments into the sustainable 21st century

by Sarah Lozanova

48

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 48

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:19:55 AM

features

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 49

OCT 2010

49

5/15/10 2:19:59 AM

“We take apartments built in the 1920s and turn them into 21st century apartments, with all the bells and whistles of living in a brand new house.”

—Josh Wiener, CEO

50

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 50

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:20:16 AM

feature designer

PREVIOUS: Silverlining’s work on a 5th Avenue Manhattan apartment. Photo: Michael Moran.

LEFT: A Silverlining Interiors renovation in the Riverhouse Building of the Upper East Side.

The wood paneling is a quartered, non-figured Anegre finish available FSC certified, and the ceiling and walls are built with wire mesh and plaster.

BELOW: Solid oak flooring and walls finished with stucco veneziano and marble dust. The fireplace incorporates antique decorations, in contrast to the large, bright windows that keep the room in the present.

Photo: Bruce Buck.

N

o market demands fastidious attention to detail and high-quality standards more than the luxury Manhattan market that makes up a lion’s share of the clientele at Silverlining Interiors. These high net-worth clients are investment bankers, CEOs, and movie stars who wish to renovate their pre-war apartments located along Park Avenue, 5th Avenue, or Central Park West.

“We take apartments built in the 1920s and turn them into 21st century apartments, with all the bells and whistles of living in a brand new house,” explains Josh Wiener, CEO of Silverlining Interiors. “That involves taking it down to the concrete and steel and building it back up.”

Quality is extremely important to the clients. “These apartments are for themselves and their families, so they really have to be built as a long-term investment, and they want them to be built really solidly,” Wiener says.

Silverlining is the perfect fit, which Wiener describes as being uncompromising on quality. “Everything we build has to be amazing, and we are relentless until we get there.

We have very high demands for our subcontractors and ourselves personally. Because we control a lot of the trades with our own manpower, it is a company-wide philosophy.”

The company has 40 painters and plasterers, 40 carpenters, and an in-house cabinet shop in the South Bronx with 20 craftsmen. Most jobs range between $500,000 and the multimillions. Every job has a full-time site supervisor and a project manager, who is assigned no more than two projects at a time. Most of them were grown in house— when Silverlining sees workers with high standards, they are promoted.

When the company started nearly 23 years ago, Wiener was directly involved in every job. Now, effective project management helps ensure consistent quality on all jobs. “Every step of the way when we’ve grown, I’ve made sure there was management in place to handle that growth,” Wiener says.

“I firmly believe if the company is overly dependent on me, then I haven’t developed it properly. Either I haven’t hired the right people, or I haven’t empowered them to have the strength to make decisions.”

Thesre are company values that are prevalent, from the cabinet shop to the job sites. “From the top down, we really try to enjoy our work, but we take the work very seriously,”

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Finalx.indd 51

OCT 2010

51

5/17/10 12:25:35 PM

feature designer

Silverlining Interiors

“I have a client that asked for FSC-certified wood, and he is absolutely delighted to pay for it on all his cabinetry. That’s an area where he is willing to spend the extra money, and I’m delighted.”

Silverlining had a client who wanted teak cabinets, but it is very difficult to find tropical woods that are certified as sustainably harvested. The client agreed to donate money to an organization in Brazil to plant twice as many trees as were used in the project. The renovation also included single-light source, fiber-optic lighting, low- UV glass, and acrylic-based finishes.

—Josh Wiener, CEO Another Silverlining client cares deeply about where the wood is sourced. “I have a client that asked for FSC-certified wood, and he is absolutely delighted to pay for it on all his cabinetry,” Wiener explains. “That’s an area where he is willing to spend the extra money, and I’m delighted.”

Wiener says. “We understand the seriousness of what we do, but we try to do it with a sense of levity and enjoyment.”

Although Silverlining provides numerous green options to their its clients, Wiener describes the demand for green as “pretty light” in the high-end Manhattan market. The company provides a green evaluation, if requested, that highlights eco-friendly opportunities. The analysis includes the additional cost for various green products, with no additional fees charged by Silverlining to encourage these green improvements.

IN-HOUSE SERVICES Silverlining Interior’s own mill shop in the Bronx—Premium Grade Millwork—is a state-of-the-art facility features hydronic heated floors, filtration

“People want what they want in this market, and it’s a little bit of the Rolls-Royce mentality,” explains Wiener. “If they love a piece of stone and it comes from God knows where, that’s what they want.” In some cases, however, a win-win situation is possible.

52

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Finalx.indd 52

Although the clients might not drive it, Silverlining uses low-VOC finishes to protect the health of its workers and to minimize fumes for other building occupants. Many buildings in Manhattan regulate the products that can be used because certain products disturb occupants on other floors.

Silverlining never uses lacquer on job sites for example, because, in Wiener’s words, “it stinks to high heaven.”

and sawdust-recycling systems, and a high airflow spray booth that filters in clean outside air from a top exhaust.

Whenever possible, Wiener likes to use regionally sourced materials, and he is skeptical about the green claims on certain products. “Everyone always says, ‘Bamboo is really green.’ In my research, it is coming from Asia, where young kids might make it. I don’t consider that green. I would rather get [FSC]-certified oak that came from Vermont or Canada because it travels much less distance. I’m really nervous about greenwashing.”

gbdmagazine.com

5/17/10 12:25:42 PM

FLOOR SOUNDPROOFING MADE SIMPLE feature architect

THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR LUXURY RENOVATION PROJECTS

Any Finished Floor Double Plywood Floated Subfloor PRIVACY ULTIMATE UNDERLAY™ Original Subfloor Insulation Wood Joists or Concrete Slab

PRIVACY ULTIMATE UNDERLAY™ FLOATED FLOORS Luxury Rated Floor System 93% Recycled Rubber (Leed Qualified) Eliminates Deconstruction of Ceiling Below One Simple Step Works with any Finished Floor Build Partition Walls on a Completely Floated Subfloor This simple soundproofing floor system has been used with incredible success in 1000’s of new and renovation projects with great success.

In the New York City metropolitan area we have partnered with Primo Remodeling to act as an authorized contractor for Sound Isolation Company. For more information visit www.soundisolationcompany.com/floatedfloor

60 Whitney Road Unit #6 Mahwah, NJ 07430

Soundproofing Made Simple Servicing the Entire New York Metropolitan Area Authorized Contractor for Sound Isolation Company

(888) 666-5090

info@soundisolationcompany.com

gbdmagazine.com

OCT 2010

53

PRIVACY ULTIMATE UNDERLAY™ is a trademark of Sound Isolation Company

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 53

5/15/10 2:20:33 AM

feature designer RIGHT: This project entailed the installation of a new central-air and humidification systems, halogen lights, and all-new aluminum double-thermopane windows, replacing the existing single-pane windows of this prewar apartment.

BELOW: This staircase features a stainlesssteel balustrade and oak handrail and treads. The flooring of the entryway is limestone and Silverlining refinished the original oak floors in the dining room. Photo: Christopher Wesnofske.

Wiener believes that comprehensive product labels, with information on working conditions and the carbon footprint of shipping the product, would help consumers make more conscious choices. “If you didn’t know how unhealthy ice cream is, you might eat it all day long,” Wiener says. “You get it, because it says the amount of fat and sugar right on the box. It is a question of having more information available, instead of saying ‘I want what I want and I don’t know what the repercussions are.’”

When building Silverlining’s cabinet shop in the South Bronx, the company values came through loud and clear— worker health and comfort and energy efficiency were top priorities. The shop includes a dust-collection system on all machinery, air filters, skylights for daylighting, a spray booth with ample fresh-air intake, and hydronic heating.

Although Wiener might expect a lot from his employees, it is also very important to him that they are treated well, under safe working conditions. To him, being a green company includes providing a healthful work environment. gb&d

a mESSagE frOm lEIbErT’S rOyal grEEN leiberts royal green appliance Center wants to congratulate Josh Wiener on this well-deserved honor. Josh’s commitment to excellence is only surpassed by the integrity and honesty he demonstrates on a daily basis. We are privileged to consider Josh a business partner and look forward to many more years of working with him and his staff.

54

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Finalx.indd 54

gbdmagazine.com

5/17/10 12:25:54 PM

Integrate Comfort Systems, Inc. We are a full service HVAC company, performing design, installation and service for high-end residential and commercial projects.

We specialize in complicated controls and control systems; which includes home automation and energy monitoring systems.

COMFORT IS OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL

IN BUSINESS SINCE 1990

267 Cor tlandt Street B elleville, NJ 07109 T.866.749.6331 F.973.844.1951 mail@icshvac.com w w w.icshvac.com

SFA interiors goes GREEN

and helps plants trees in the rainforest of Brazil.

SFA Interiors specializes in high-end, custom architectural woodworking and fine furniture.

WE ARE A FULL SERVICE COMPANY OFFERING:

Estimates, shop drawings, superior craftsmanship, coordination with general contractor, field dimensions, custom finishing, delivery, and installation.

www.SFAinteriors .com gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 55

115 Sutton Street Brooklyn, NY 11222

T.718.383.4042 F.718.383.4033

OCT 2010

55

5/15/10 2:20:47 AM

feature architect

adjacent to the increasingly famous High line linear park, the Matta condominium building utilizes a green-roof terrace to reduce water run-off and a standing-column geothermal system.

56

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 56

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:20:50 AM

material world Indoor forests that naturally filter New York pollution—just one of SPaN’s many luminous ideas

by Peter Fretty in the famously progressive world of architectural design, going beyond basic sustainability practices can serve as a key differentiator from the masses. With a defined specialization in design-intensive residential and commercial projects that range from new buildings to interior renovation and custom furniture, New York Citybased SPaN takes pride in creating architecture with a high quality of craftsmanship and attention to detail.

By combining this specialization with a comprehensive understanding of a project’s scope, the firm’s partners Peter Pelsinski, Jean-Gabriel Neukomm, and Karen Stonely are able to meet green goals while maintaining a sensibility to the design aesthetic. “This enables us to achieve an appealing aesthetic experience by focusing on the design components that you experience on a daily basis,” Pelsinski says. “We view green principles as integral into the overall design of a project, melding with our aesthetic approach.

Green targets therefore become integral with the design and are not considered as a side component. This results in highly refined architecture with a sustainable backbone.

The sustainable components of a design support the spaces by influencing design decisions early on.”

Whether a client inspires an ultra modern or undeniably vernacular end product, there is consistency in SPaN’s work.

“Addressing environmental concerns—either passively or actively—is important to our design philosophy,” Pelsinski says. “We know through experience that understanding how individual components interact can ultimately yield innovative solutions.”

Addressing environmental concerns challenges the team to simultaneously explore the efficiency, affordability, and aesthetic considerations. “By looking at each component of the design and how they interact with one another, we are able to reach simple solutions that meet the design goals and green targets,” he notes. “When sustainable principles are integrated appropriately they can only contribute to the success of a project.”

In addition to the role of providing green strategies, Pelsinski explains that it is important to explain the lifecycle of a product or system and weigh its cost benefits.

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 57

OCT 2010

57

5/15/10 2:20:54 AM

feature architect

SPaN

Superior inK pentHouSe proJeCt loCation: NEW YORk CITY key design components include: • embracing locally sourced, animal-product-free, and US-manufactured interior finishes, appliances, and plumbing fixtures; • utilizing extensive daylighting provided by the 360-degree views to reduce energy use; • capitalizing on the benefits of a programmable lighting system with dimmers and smart-sun shading to alleviate excessive energy consumption; • building a green-roof terrace consisting fully of natural grass to reduce water run-off from a portion of the building’s roof area.

above: view of the Superior ink apartment entry, showing daylighting strategies. all of the wood

“Accumulating and conveying this knowledge to the client is most critical when the economy challenges the integrity of a project,” he says. “By understanding the benefits of a product that might have a higher upfront cost, clients will likely understand the symbiotic relationship of cost and environmental goals.”

in the project, from flooring to millwork, is reclaimed. rigHt: reception is defined by an interior “forest,” which pulls guests from the busy street into a quiet garden that naturally filters indoor pollutants from the air. a digital canopy juxtaposes images of naturally oc-

SPaN’s projects establish elegant, inspiring spaces that concurrently reduce construction’s environmental impact.

“Through our depth of knowledge and experience,” Pelsinski says, “we approach design in a thoughtful, intentional way and seek out innovative solutions that explore the unique potential in each project.” From a contemporary design perspective, the Superior Ink penthouse project in New York City shines through, its design taking full advantage of a sweeping 360-degree view over the Hudson River. “By using all of this natural light along with low or no-VOC finishes, we are able to achieve a high-quality interior environment in regards to light and air,” he adds.

curring geometries with urban forms creating a visual interrogation.

58

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 58

On the other end of the spectrum, a project currently under construction in Bar Harbor, Maine, is a prime example of

SPaN’s ability to produce vernacular environments. The 1,800-square-foot guesthouse and garage is discreetly placed within the forest and takes advantage of natural sunlight and prevailing winds in addition to the remarkable view. Tree conservation, local zoning constraints, and the natural topography all influenced the placement of the new structure. “All of the materials used are eco-friendly in that they are locally-sourced and made from sustainable sources,” Pelsinski says. “For example, the entire structure and cladding system is made out of certified wood, and all of the materials have a natural finish—no paint throughout.”

A ground-up 55-story hotel in Times Square for the Extell Development Corporation is another project on SPaN’s plate. With a 3,500-square-foot ground-floor restaurant, a 3,000-square-foot spa and gym facility, and a similarly sized sky lounge and terrace, SPaN inherited the shell, requiring the team to coordinate with the base mechanical and structural systems in place to fulfill the vision. SPaN was tasked with incorporating nature as a literal and conceptual imperative throughout the design to create a serene respite in the heart of the city’s dense urban fabric. “Architectural components embody nature in re-imagined forms and extract its intrinsic, productive beauty,” Pelsinski explains.

“Strategies emerge that contribute to unique spatial experiences and a superior indoor-environmental quality. By exploring the juxtaposition with the surrounding urban context, a new adaptation of nature lying between the natural and artificial reveals the dynamic qualities of site and imbues natural forms with new meaning.”

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:21:01 AM

feature architect

“architectural components embody nature in re-imagined forms and extract its intrinsic, productive beauty.”

—Peter Pelsinski, Principal & Cofounder

leFt to rigHt: peter pelsinski, Karen Stonely, and Jean- gabriel neukomm—partners at Span.

JuSt tHe FaCtS

Creating an oasis-like experience was pivotal. SPaN utilized a vast skylight in the lobby layered with a screen of wood baguettes that integrate building systems while allowing natural light to filter deep into the space. “The recessed entry further strengthens the street connection—overlapping zones of restaurant, bar, lounge, and lobby encourage public interaction inside, and reception is defined by an interior forest, which pulls guests from the busy street into a quiet garden that naturally filters indoor pollutants from the air,” Pelsinski says.

peter pelsinski, ra, leed ap

In each project, SPaN’s overriding goal is to create structures with value and new potential. “While we have a unifying contemporary aesthetic,” Pelsinski notes, “we attempt to invest each of our projects with a unique aesthetic voice.”

What inspires you most about architecture?

gb&d

The principals of SPaN

It is such a lateral discipline that touches and overlaps so many other fields Who is your favorite artist?

Robert motherwell, 1915-1991 What was your first job?

Paperboy What would be your alternative career?

An architect

Karen Stonely, aia, leed ap What inspires you most about architecture?

In creation it can be truly artistically collaborative; in its experience it can be timeless Who is your favorite artist?

Wassily Kandinsky, 1866-1944 What was your first job?

Contractor’s babysitter What would be your alternative career?

Explorer

Jean-gabriel neukomm What inspires you most about architecture?

Unique design challenges posed by clients Donald Judd, 1928-1994 What was your first job?

Tre e ( Wh i te Oa k )

To k u k o ( J a p a nese Floor boar d)

Upholsterer What would be your alternative career?

Travel photographer

relativespace gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 59

New York City 2 Bond St. | Toronto 365 Dupont St. fuseflooring.com | relativespace.com

FU SE OCT 2010

BY FLOORWORKS

Who is your favorite artist?

59

5/15/10 2:21:03 AM

rebuilding nola the Make it right organization is turning the 2005 Hurricane Katrina tragedy into an ongoing triumph—one home at a time

by Jamie Ludwig

P

opulated by figures famous and infamous— jazz legend Fats Domino, NFL great Marshall Faulk, hip-hop star Lil Wayne—it is a neighborhood with a rich and diverse history. Throughout the decades, a vibrant community of long-time residents and working families gave it its particular character, though media coverage often drew more attention to the area’s bouts with crime and its income levels than to anything positive.

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in the summer of 2005, it was one of the most devastated of all the affected regions—more than 4,000 homes were destroyed, many of them literally dragged off their foundations by the waters.

60

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 60

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:21:26 AM

A 21st Century ArK as part of the efforts to stabilize new orleans’ lower 9th Ward, Morphosis architects conceived the Float House, a home whose polystyrene-foam and glass-infused-concrete construction allows it to float on top of 12foot floodwaters. left: interior of the modular Float House. photos: iwan baan.

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 61

Fast forward to 2010: it has now been ranked by the USGBC as having the largest, greenest community of LEED Platinum-certified single-family homes in America. This incredible transformation can be attributed to the ongoing efforts and extraordinary dedication of the Make It Right Foundation, which has relentlessly pursued the physical re-creation of New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward.

weren’t getting a lot of help,” explains Make It Right’s executive director Tom Darden. Pitt was moved to action and recruited Darden as the organization’s first volunteer. Darden had years of experience with sustainable design, having worked as a development consultant on sustainable building projects in Washington, DC, and Raleigh, North Carolina.

“in tHe baSeMent oF a gutted-out HouSe”

Involving the former residents of the Lower 9th Ward was a priority from the very beginning. “On an early evening of March 2007,” Darden begins the story, “Brad Pitt convened a group of community leaders from the Lower 9th Ward to brainstorm ideas for tapping resources to help the neighborhood rebuild sustainably. The meeting was hosted by a

Make It Right was founded by actor Brad Pitt, after he visited New Orleans in 2007 and saw that much of the Lower 9th Ward remained uninhabited more than two years after the storm. “The former residents of the neighborhood were ready, willing, and waiting to come home, but they

OCT 2010

61

5/15/10 2:21:33 AM

photo: M.Styborski

rebuilding NOlA

8/05

4/07

1,577 People, 4,000 Homes In late August 2005, Hurricane katrina took the lives of many residents in New Orleans; half of the casualties were located in the lower 9th Ward.

150 Homes, One Dream Two years after the storm, actor brad Pitt toured the lower 9th Ward community to find it still in dismay and in need of proper homes. His vision was to build 150 affordable, sustainable, and high-design homes for families in the area.

12/07 the Pink Project Collaboration between art, architecture, and media formed the Pink Project. kicking off the founding of make It Right, the pink geometric shapes, scattered 14 blocks, represented where homes would later be.

Lucky 13 Only a short time after Pitt announced his plan for NOlA, 13 architects became involved in designing the homes for make It Right.

community organization in the basement of a gutted-out house powered by generators near the breach in the Industrial Canal levee, with representatives from nine community non-profits in attendance.”

“For Make it right, green building is our baseline, not our ideal. through product evaluation and testing and aggressive sustainability strategies, we aim to transform the building industry and act as a catalyst for building energy-efficient homes that are healthy for humans and safe for the environment.”

—Tom Darden, Executive Director, make It Right foundation

62

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 62

That June, the nine non-profits formally partnered with Make It Right to form the Lower 9th Ward Stakeholders Coalition, united around the common goal of working together for the sustainable redevelopment of the neighborhood. “To date, Make It Right is the only outside entity that has formally partnered with all community-based nonprofits represented in the Lower 9th Ward,” Darden says.

The group set a target for construction: 150 single-family homes and duplexes throughout the area.

With the community involved, Make It Right assembled a group of architects. “Architecture firm GRAFT helped assemble a group of world-renowned architects who were willing to volunteer for Make It Right’s project,” Darden says. “In June of 2007, the architects came to New Orleans to meet with Brad Pitt and Lower 9th Ward residents.

The purpose of the meeting was to establish a mutual understanding of project goals. From that meeting, Make It

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:21:40 AM

photo: ta Smith

photo: Make it right

photo: Make it right

rebuilding NOlA

5/08 road to a new start On march 19, 2008, Pitt, former President Bill Clinton, and 600 students from the Clinton global Initiative University broke ground on the first home site.

12/08 Path to success In December 2008, the first 6 homes were completed. All soonto-be homeowners are given the opportunity to pick their home’s color and design.

Right determined to join the history and spirit of the preKatrina neighborhood with creative new architectural solutions, while remaining mindful of environmental and personal safety concerns. Make It Right wanted the designs to encourage the evolution of aesthetic distinctiveness and an awareness of natural surroundings.”

“green building WaS our baSeline” The heart of the design process adopted by Make It Right is based on the Cradle to Cradle philosophy, first articulated by Bill McDonough in his book with colleague Michael Braungart, Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things (North Point Press, 2002). The concept is that any contributions humans make to the world can have a positive impact on the environment, the economy, and society as a whole.

“The Make It Right team is using Cradle to Cradle thinking to guide design and the selection of materials for new homes in the Lower 9th Ward,” Darden says. “Make It Right uses a protocol designed by McDonough and his team to assess materials and products used in construction by analyzing their material chemistry, recyclability, manufacturing process, and the social and environmental profile of the product company.”

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 63

7/09 the Largest and the Greenest USGBC honors Make It Right for designing the “largest, greenest neighborhood” of lEED Platinum homes in America.

1/10 Federal Assistance In January 2010, the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority received $30 million in federal stimulus money for neighborhood recovery; make It Right is one of its development partners.

In the process of conducting its project with Cradle to Cradle ideals in mind, Make It Right inadvertently helped to revolutionize the way many in the architecture and construction industries have approached green design. “Developers, builders, affordable-housing advocates, and others often say they would love to build green, but they can’t figure out how to make it work. For Make It Right, green building was our baseline, not our ideal,” Darden explains. “Through product evaluation and testing and aggressive sustainability strategies, we aim to transform the building industry and act as a catalyst for building energy-efficient homes that are healthy for humans and safe for the environment.”

Through its efforts, the foundation has found a variety of strategies to ensure the energy efficiency of its homes. “A home achieves energy efficiency by integrating and aggregating a variety of construction components, and Make It Right homes are no exception. The roof, walls, and floors of every Make It Right home are built so that the home is 5–10 times as ‘tight’ as a typical home. That means the heating and cooling systems are not forced to exhaust as much energy as in a typical home, because the air that has been heated or cooled stays that way longer. Make It Right homes

OCT 2010

63

5/15/10 2:21:45 AM

rebuilding NOlA

More tHan an eleMent the twisting, grid-like element on this home— designed by trahan architects—represents the way new orleans homes often settle and shift in the soft soil. but its practical application—as a simple shade that is also equipped with photovoltaic panels and rainwater-collection tubes—far outweigh the insight of the design element. photos: trahan architects.

tHerMal Water Heating SySteM

insulated water tank water supply

pvc tubes NORTH ELEVATION

SoutH elevation

0

5'

10'

20'

rainWater ColleCtion SySteM

graywater cistern supply lines collection point

64

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 64

SOUTH ELEVATION

nortH elevation

0

5'

10'

20'

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:21:58 AM

rebuilding NOlA

“Make it right architects were charged with maintaining the connections between neighbors through their designs. the resulting designs were submitted to the lower 9th Ward community for feedback, and revisions were made before the designs were finalized.”

—Tom Darden, Executive Director, make It Right foundation 1

also employ low-emission windows, meaning the glass allows light through, but prevents solar heat gain and UV rays from penetrating into the home,” Darden says.

Each home is also outfitted with Energy Star appliances, efficient light fixtures, and metal roofs in order to reduce energy usage. Just as the many details of any project comprise the final product, each feature makes a tremendous difference to the home’s efficiency. “For example,” Darden says, “the metal roof used on Make It Right homes is more reflective, absorbs less heat, and reduces the need to cool a home by 20–70 percent. Make It Right is also acting as a catalyst for clean, renewable energy by installing residential solar PV systems that work in tandem with the homes’ energy-efficient features to conserve energy, reducing energy bills by as much as 75 percent.”

Although the homes are designed with modern green technologies such as solar panels, architects labored to incorporate traditional features of New Orleans-style homes, such as high ceilings and large windows, as well as one feature regarded as especially important to the community in the Lower 9th Ward. “The face of the house, particularly the porch as the conduit to the street, was the main point of neighborhood connectivity in the life of the Lower 9th Ward pre-Katrina,” Darden notes. “Make It Right architects were charged with maintaining the connections between neighbors through their designs. The resulting designs were submitted to the Lower 9th Ward community for feedback, and revisions were made before the designs were finalized.”

“tHe WOrK is FAr FrOm DOne” In December 2007, Make It Right put its first physical stamp on the Lower 9th Ward with an installation of pink three-dimensional geometric shapes scattered throughout the 14-square-block site, each shape denoting where a real house would be built. Dubbed the “Pink Project,” the effort raised $12 million and gained awareness for the cause.

Additionally, in November 2007, Pitt donated $5 million of his own money to the foundation.

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 65

2

3

unity in varied viSionS The new homes in the lower 9th Ward are as diverse as the neighborhood’s history but linked with a singular, sustainable vision.

1. A rendering of a make It Right prototype by Eskew+Dumez+Ripple.

2. The completed design by gRAfT. This design is a modern take on the shotgun house, a traditional New Orleans housing typology.

3. The lagniappe House by Concordia was designed with a flexible and functional floor plan, weaving together indoor and outdoor spaces.

OCT 2010

65

5/15/10 2:22:04 AM

rebuilding NOlA

Though the figures may seem large, Make It Right is still in need of donations from the public as well as contributions from future residents to see its project to completion. A typical Make It Right home costs $150,000, with residents contributing an average of $75,000 through personal savings, financing, and grants.

1

2

3

5

4

eleMental deSign Materials & techniques tailored to the new orleans’ Climate After the devastation caused by katrina, it is hard to imagine the residents of the lower 9th Ward going through another natural disaster as horrendous as the one

Stipulations are in place to ensure that former residents reap the rewards—to qualify for a Make It Right home, residents must have lived in the Lower 9th Ward (or have an immediate relative that did) when Hurricane Katrina hit— but the foundation isn’t giving away homes. Candidates must prove they are able to care for the future taxes and upkeep of the property. Those who don’t initially qualify may be eligible for financial counseling from the Make It Right staff. Once a candidate is selected, a lot is selected, the design is finalized, and construction begins, a phase that typically lasts four to six months.

As of spring 2010, 55 homes have been completed or are under construction, a little more than one third of its goal of 150. As progress is made, it has long been obvious that Make It Right’s dedication to the Lower 9th Ward extends beyond just the construction of sustainable housing. Homes are not the only thing a community needs.

in 2005. Outlined below are some of the common features found in the homes designed and built for make It Right.

1. Flood prevention

4. Solar SolutionS

Pervious concrete is used in the side-

Each home is equipped with rooftop

walks and driveways helping to com-

solar panels, reducing the homeown-

bat localized flooding. This porous

ers’ energy bills and, according to the

concrete allows storm water to fil-

USGBC, making the neighborhood

ter through the pavement, where it is

one of the greenest in America.

stored in the gravel substrate below.

5. luMber treatMent 2. elevation After katrina, federal officials raised

ting, and wood-eating insects, blu-

the base-flood-elevation (BfE) require-

Wood, a patented no-VOC, two-part

ments for the Lower 9th Ward to 3 feet

Infusion film and DOT Wood Preser-

above grade. All new homes by make

vation factory-applied coating technol-

It Right are raised either 5 or 8 feet (2

ogy is used on the wood-framing com-

or 5 feet above the bfE), depending

ponents of the homes.

on the homeowner’s preference.

3. WeatHer barrier greenguard’s RainDrop building Wrap’s innovative drainage channels keep water out of the home’s walls.

This breathing system allows for moisture vapor to escape and can be used as a secondary weather barrier for fiber cement, vinyl, foam-backed vinyl, and wood sidings.

66

To safeguard homes from molding, rot-

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 66

“Today there are more homes in the Lower 9th Ward, but the community is still advocating for schools, grocery stores, and other basic services,” Darden says. “One of Make It Right’s goals is to be a catalyst for development in the neighborhood, and we are seeing more homes built and contractors outside of our program using green materials.

[But] while progress has been made, the work is far from done in the Lower 9th Ward, and we hope people will remember that New Orleans still needs help to revive this vibrant community.”

“it sHOuLDn’t tAKe A HurriCAne” Some sustainable elements have been designed so that they can be easily replicated in areas outside the Lower 9th Ward. “The Make It Right Sustainability Program also uses native landscaping in an affordable template that easily can be replicated throughout the city, even on individually owned, non-contiguous lots,” Darden says of the foundations efforts to promote city- and nationwide methods. “Landscape-design strategies reduce irrigation needs, require minimal weekly maintenance, handle droughts or temporary inundation, provide habitat for birds and beneficial wildlife, and provide edible and medicinal gardens. Make It Right uses native plants, rain gardens, green roofs, and other landscape strategies in all of our building efforts.

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:22:18 AM

rebuilding NOlA Flood prooF using the classic shotgun house design as inspirtation, Mvrdv, a rotterham, netherlands-based architect, has transformed this design into a waterfree house. With four of the five designs by Mvrdv shown here, each home is designed with varied lifted escapes. the spaces created under the elevations provide shade in the hot and humid environment found in new orleans. each home is designed to be located on the extreme south side of the lots, allowing for garden space to wrap around three sides. photos: Mvrdv.

Darden also mentions that the organization is working with city officials to better manage storm water, a program which he says could potentially revolutionize the way not only New Orleans deals with this issue, but other cities in low-lying lands. “Make It Right is working with the City of New Orleans’ public works department to implement a pilot streets program using pervious concrete,” Darden explains. “This program could potentially be adopted citywide, reducing the need for public infrastructure investment in storm-water management.”

Along with the benefits reaped by the environment and the greater community of New Orleans, residents of Make It Right homes are seeing a positive difference in their wallets. “Our homeowners’ energy bills average about $35 a month. A non-green home with the same square footage in New Orleans can see energy bills of $150 to over $300 in the coldest and hottest months,” Darden says. “When Make It Right first began discussions with the Lower 9th Ward community, the homeowners talked about rising energy costs as a strain on low-income households. Our energy-efficient, solar-powered homes allow homeowners to keep their expenses low and predictable.”

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 67

This is evidence that despite the stereotype that green technology is for the financially privileged, it can be a reality for everyone. “Make It Right believes that it shouldn’t take a hurricane to bring green homes to working families. In the past, green design has been unaffordable for most homeowners. We are working hard to develop new methods and materials that will help the building industry make green homes more available and affordable.”

To that end, Make It Right serves as a unique laboratory for testing and implementing new construction concepts, technologies, and materials, a necessary process for actually guaranteeing that sustainable homes become more available to groups across the socioeconomic spectrum.

“We learn through trial and error,” Darden says, “constantly trying to reduce costs and improve efficiency through innovation. While our methods will not work for every project, we hope the lessons learned from the Lower 9th Ward will add significant value to others seeking to provide affordable housing while addressing the complex ecological challenges of our time.” gb&d

OCT 2010

67

5/15/10 2:22:22 AM

s

68

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 68

p

a

c

e

s

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:22:29 AM

resIDeNtIaL 70 73 76 78 80 81 83 86 88 90

93 96 99 102

eDuCatIONaL

Resolution: 4 Architecture BluPath Design Inc. First Dakota Enterprises Harriss Architects Jeffrey W. Lewis, Inc. Mindful Designs River City Mechanical Prajna Design & Construction Sims Corporation SSH Homes

104 107 108 110 112 114 117 119 121

COMMerCIaL & reCreatION

124

Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects CBSA Architects Inc. Innovative Modular Solutions Harper Corporation LOCI Architecture Yost Grube Hall Architecture Samsel Architects UrbanWorks map-lab, inc.

urBaN Opticos Design, Inc.

Amato Architecture Kunzik & Sara Construction MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS Harry Braswell, Inc.

the hybrid delivery model of this mountain retreat, designed by resolution: 4 architecture, features modular living areas and panelized entry, vertical circulation, gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Finalx.indd 69

and support zones.

OCT 2010

69

5/15/10 3:31:40 AM

/residential exterior and interior (right) of the winning design for the dwell Home competition.

with its enduring focus on high-end residential projects, Resolution: 4 Architecture (RES4) has helped introduce modern design to pre-fabricated homes.

The firm has created a series of seven home layouts that are based on modular units, which offer an unlimited number of combinations. “We developed a buildingblock design methodology,” RES4 principal Joseph Tanney says. “They’re like big Legos.” The modules are created for the purpose of either communal or private space and are constructed by the manufacturers in RES4’s strategic alliance. Those manufacturers have been instrumental in providing input regarding appropriate materials and processes for the homes.

a new dwelling place Residential design strides forward with Resolution: 4 Architecture’s ultra-modular approach, which has caused a media frenzy and garnered the firm tremendous support for its technology

by Kelli McElhinny

70

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 70

RES4’s idea of modular homes made a splash when the firm won a home-design contest sponsored by Dwell magazine. The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal covered the contest and the firm’s design on the same day, and interest from potential clients spiked. “To us, it was another indicator that this theory of ours had traction,” Tanney recalls. The publicity helped RES4 identify partners in modular construction and helped to dispel the general stigma surrounding pre-fabricated homes.

“We’ve had an overwhelming response relative to the positive aspects of modular technology,” he comments.

RES4 has designed structures based on its model in areas ranging from Maine to Hawaii. More recently the firm has developed an interest, or “preoccupation” as Tanney refers to it, in homes that generate more energy than they consume. They achieve this goal through the use of either photovoltaic or geothermal systems or a combination of the two. With RES4’s flat roofs, the homes are particularly suited for solar panels. Most of these structures sell their excess energy back to the grid. However, one of the RES4

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:22:48 AM

spaces/residential

homes, located in Vermont, is off the grid entirely, storing its excess energy in batteries for later use. Tanney recognizes the potential of this technology. “What if each and every domestic space in America became an energy producer? We have the technology to do it,” he says. “We could completely transform the domestic landscape.”

The RES4 modular homes are sustainable in other ways as well, including high-performance windows, bamboo floors, cedar siding, and low-VOC paints, along with other features.

“All of our homes are designed to LEED standards,” Tanney says. This latest trend demonstrates how RES4, which also does work with commercial interiors, has evolved over the past two decades. When RES4 began in 1990, it took on small-scale residential projects, like kitchen and bath renovations and commercial-office interiors. Much of its work was focused in New York, and as the firm grew and its projects became larger in scale, its architects encountered significant space constraints—Manhattan’s real estate is notoriously small. “We had to become very efficient at planning strategy,” Tanney explains. RES4’s architects would often look for ways to overlap uses of space. A kitchen island, or

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 71

“What if each and every domestic space in america became an energy producer?

We could completely transform the domestic landscape.”

—Joseph Tanney, Principal

above: exterior view of the first solar-powered, off-the-grid reS4 prefab home. located in vermont this 1,646square-foot home features three bedrooms and two baths. rigHt: reS4 partners, robert luntz (left) and Joseph tanney (right).

OCT 2010

71

5/15/10 2:22:54 AM

spaces/residential

a “life table,” as Tanney calls it, could serve as a location for cooking prep, eating, homework, and bill-paying, for example.

Because RES4’s earlier work was concentrated in New York, many of its projects were put on hold following the September 11 attacks in 2001. The firm pared down and started to look to new opportunities. Tanney and his partner, Robert Luntz, researched pre-fabrication methods, including modules and panels. They settled on the modules, which cost less than the panels. They also discovered that the size constraints for the modules, determined by shipping regulations, were nearly identical to the Manhattan lofts in which they were accustomed to working. “It was a natural extension of being efficient with the space and our practice of thinking inside the box,” Tanney says.

Still, RES4 put its own spin on the idea of modular construction. The firm had always focused on work specifically tailored to clients’ space, budgets, and tastes in design.

“As architects, we could develop a system that’s not about mass production, but about mass customization,” Tanney says. That customization has extended itself to landscapes as diverse as rural mountainscapes and tiny urban footprints. Tanney notes that RES4 can design its modular homes to fit plots as small as 20 by 90 feet.

Modern

Architectural

Modular

by Simplex

The leader in high quality modular design and construction is also the leader in Green modern building.

Call today for our new brochure detailing Planet Friendly, leading edge Modern Homes.

With a newfound direction and growing success, RES4 garnered international recognition for its efforts even though working with a remarkably small staff. The firm has only six employees, including Tanney and Luntz, yet it still manages to crank out around 10 projects each year, a success to which Tanney credits the firm’s personnel. “We have an enthusiastic, dedicated, and incredibly talented staff of architects,” he says. Those architects have positioned RES4 to maintain its visionary role in the field and to continue to advocate for design that is simultaneously groundbreaking and practical. gb&d

A MESSAGE fROM SIMPLEx INDUSTRIES Simplex Industries and our subsidiary, modern Architectural Modular, are proud of our association with Resolution: 4 Architecture. The visionary modern designs by RES4 have changed the field of modern modular architecture. To bring these visions to life, we at Simplex worked to develop manufacturing techniques that have also changed the field of modern modular architecture. Congratulations to our valued customer, Resolution: 4 Architecture, for the recognition of your groundbreaking, inspirational, and outstanding work.

Photo courtesy of Resolution: 4 Architecture

72

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 72

www.ModernArchitecturalModular.com (800) 233-4233 gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:23:15 AM

spaces/residential

city of brotherly design Philly’s bluPath Design Inc.’s owners use their row house and offices as a test run, prove their chops with a historic renovation, and now have their sights set on affordable housing

by Zach Baliva beloW: a custom fiber-optic chandelier illuminates the natural palette of the kitchen and dining area’s walnut cabinets, blue granite counters, and slate and cherry radiant floors.

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 73

it was a leed silver project at mga partners that introduced Paul Thompson and Laura Blau to the world of sustainable design. There, the husband-and-wife team worked on the West Chester University Swope School of Music, a project that synthesized their growing interests in green principles. Now, the duo owns and operates BluPath Design Inc., a Philadelphia-based firm focused on sustainable design for affordable-housing, higher-education, and non-profit clients.

BluPath’s first order of business was to renovate Thompson and Blau’s own row house in South Philly. The update included eco-friendly touches—solar hot water, rainwater catchment, radiant flooring, and a rubber roof with white coating—that reduced energy use by 19 percent. “When we formed our own company and decided to pursue sustainable design, we started with our own house so we could experiment and learn practical aspects,” Thompson says. Because BluPath works heavily on residential projects, it was important for the two to find ways to incorporate green elements and good designs in a residential setting. Their urban row house, Thompson says, was the perfect guinea pig.

A few years later, the team turned its attention to a newly purchased building that later would become BluPath’s office. The two-story space was renovated and repurposed to hold offices on the lower level and first floor with an apartment above. Spray-foam insulation, a high-performance boiler, and energy-efficient windows are a few of the space’s sustainable aspects. Blau laments their inability to include solar hot water—an adjacent building shades the roof— but the efficient boiler is sized for the entire building. The

OCT 2010

73

5/15/10 2:23:19 AM

spaces/residential

bluPath Design Inc.

leFt: large corner windows, sliding glass doors, and a skylight bring natural light to the master bath and adjacent office. Wood shower pallets, flush with the radiant slate floor, are comfortable for bare feet in winter. beloW: blupath design partners, laura blau and paul thompson.

“We believe that beauty is also a sustainable quality, so we integrate the environmental and engineering aspects of green design with good architectural design.”

—laura blau, Principal

design, Blau continues, provides a savings in utility costs for apartment residents, who don’t have to pay for heating.

BluPath is proud of the building, which showcases the designers’ ability to blend aesthetic and green qualities. “We believe that beauty is also a sustainable quality,” Blau explains, “so we integrate the environmental and engineering aspects of green design with good architectural design.”

As the mainstream continues to accept sustainable ideas, BluPath’s principals are committed to growing in both skill and knowledge. “We have to retrain ourselves as professionals and as laypeople because we sometimes lack knowledge of our homes and of building science. People know more about what’s under the hood of their car than what’s in their own home,” Blau says.

Thompson concurs: “The construction industry doesn’t focus on energy savings and quality construction because energy has been so cheap for so long, but those

74

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 74

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:23:23 AM

spaces/residential days are changing.â&#x20AC;? Or perhaps gone for good. Now, builders are realizing they have to analyze maintenance and building costs.

rigHt: the foundersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; renovated South philly row home includes a white roof with solar

Green Steps, a sustainable consulting company, is an extension of BluPath. With it, the team works to educate individuals and businesses on the merits of green design.

In both companies, the colleagues promote passive-house ideals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Americans get excited about equipment like solar PV, but that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter if your building isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sealed.

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just throwing away solar energy instead of coal energy,â&#x20AC;? Blau explains.

hot water collectors, a rainwater catch system, and removable wood pallets over permeable gravel in the small garden.

BluPath recently completed the renovation of a historic property in Philadelphiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Society Hill neighborhood.

The house, built in 1787, is a registered historic building, and thus, BluPath worked closely with the Philadelphia Historic Commission. After multiple submissions, the building became the first historic home to be approved for photovoltaic panels on the roof. Thompson and Blau relied on 3D-modeling programs to help them determine the most inconspicuous location. Now, the panels are only visible from part of an adjacent walkway.

With one success under their belts and with the support of an enthusiastic owner, Thompson and Blau went back to the commission seeking approval to replace large custom and arched windows with double-insulated glass. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Buildings need to evolve and change with the times. If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t improve energy use and bring an historic place up to a modern standard, the buildings will lose their value and disappear because nobody will be able to afford to live in them,â&#x20AC;? Thompson says.

The owners of BluPath are often finding new ways to enhance their green interests. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to alter our lifestyles to match the energy properties of our own house,â&#x20AC;? Thompson says. As a result of their personal efforts, the coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy and water use both have dropped and public transportation and car sharing has eliminated the need to own a car.

As homes and cars are the biggest contributors to oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s carbon footprint, Thompson and Blau hope more people will modify their behavior. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we make better choices about our resources, we all benefit,â&#x20AC;? Blau says. For her and Thompson, the process has lasted almost a decade. The journey has shown that there exist many opportunities for change. The two have altered their business, their purchasing, their consumption, their food, and even their finances.

As others look for ways to make similar choices, their advice is to start small. Most people, Blau says, begin with a few small changes and get excited about learning more, which ultimately leads to complete transformation. gb&d

% 8 , / ' , 1 * 5 ( 1 2 9 $7 , 2 1 6

$'',7,216

.,7&+(16

%$7+6

,17(5,256

WKH FDOID\DQ JXDUDQWHH &DOID\DQ DOZD\V H[FHHGV LQGXVWU\ VWDQGDUGV DQG ZH GRQÂśW VWRS XSRQ FRPSOHWLRQ 2XU ZRUNPDQVKLS JXDUDQWHH VXUSDVVHV WKH RQH \HDU LQGXVWU\ VWDQGDUG DQG RIIHUV D XQLTXH WKUHH \HDU ZRUNPDQVKLS JXDUDQWHH RQ DOO ZRUN SURYLGHG E\ WKH &DOID\DQ WHDP $ WKUHH \HDU ZRUNPDQVKLS JXDUDQWHH DQG D OLIHWLPH RI FRPIRUW DQG YDOXH

&$/)$<$1 &20 KLVWRULFDO _ FRPPHUFLDO _ UHVLGHQWLDO _ KDQG\PDQ VHUYLFHV gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 75

+,&3$ 3$

OCT 2010

75

5/15/10 2:23:27 AM

spaces/residential making use of reservoir water that runs along the property.

First Dakota Enterprises plans to use the stormwater runoff to irrigate the sprinkler system rather than tapping into the city’s water supply. In terms of construction, the complex will feature light-colored roof shingles to reflect heat and a series of vinyl windows with an R-value of 4.5 versus the typical 3.3. The apartment building will include motion-sensor lighting in the hallways and units, and the bathrooms will use low-flow toilets and low-flow faucets.

Although First Dakota Enterprises is increasingly researching and implementing more sustainable fixtures and features, seeking LEED certification hasn’t been the company’s primary goal. Part of this is due to the difficulty receiving LEED points given the company’s location in the Midwest. “Probably the hardest thing to achieve is manufacturing within 500 miles of the job site,” Baumann explains. “That’s a difficult one in the Midwest because we don’t have the infrastructure around here.” It’s especially true with wood projects, given that there’s no mill located within 500 miles of the company’s headquarters.

progressive midwest South Dakota may not have spawned the green movement, but first Dakota Enterprises is closing the gap with a 180-unit apartment complex that features the latest green-design technology

by Lauren McKay fort pierre, south dakota-based general contractor and design firm First Dakota Enterprises won’t try to make any claims about being early to the green building game. In fact, First Dakota Enterprises’ vice president Jedrey Baumann admits that, five years ago, he thought green construction would be a passing fad. “You hear a lot of hype, and we didn’t embrace it at the time,” Baumann professes. “Sometimes fads come and go, but we reevaluated our thinking and said, ‘This is the real deal and people are embracing it.’” It’s clear now that green building isn’t going anywhere—neither is First Dakota Enterprises. The 24-yearold company has firm footing in the Midwestern construction market and is viewing green building and design as its next venture.

“We are rethinking how we are handling projects and looking at what to do to save energy costs, save construction costs, and save the entire lifecycle of the products that we use,” Baumann says. First Dakota Enterprises is currently heading a 180-unit apartment complex project in Box Elder, South Dakota. The apartment construction will include numerous green-infrastructure elements and finishing touches. According to Baumann, a major design project includes

76

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 76

above: providing outdoor exposure for every unit in the remington village apartments in gillette, Wy, was one of the many highlights of this project.

At First Dakota Enterprises’ start, it focused on water irrigation and water-line projects. With its company growth peaking in the early 2000s, Baumann says the company now does in excess of $25 million in gross revenues. First Dakota Enterprises started with three employees and now has reached its highest peak at 237. After two decades in business, the firm has completed more than 300 separate projects.

Typically, First Dakota Enterprises outsources 35 percent of its labor for projects—namely for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing. In addition to water-line products, the firm has branched off into residential housing, developments, commercial, and steel buildings. Now with federal stimulus money taking effect in the construction industry and with the orientation toward green building, First Dakota Enterprises is shifting its business model toward LEED building and looking to LEED-accredited staff members.

Its clients are located throughout South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Montana, and Wyoming.

Baumann explains that First Dakota Enterprises doesn’t do a whole lot to market itself. The company’s longstanding reputation and low public bidding leads to the majority of its contracts. First Dakota Enterprises is family owned and operated and run by Baumann and his sister, company president Larissa Freeman. The brother and sister’s exposure to the construction business dates back to summer jobs when they were both still in school. “Our experience says a lot for itself,” Baumann says, pointing to the company’s approaching 25th anniversary. “Key employees and management people have been here since we started in ’86—that says a lot right there.” gb&d

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:23:29 AM

Rosebud has been manufacturing kitchen cabinetry for 44 years and institutional casework and hospitality room furniture for 25 years.

IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 34 YEARS

Rosebud ships its cabinets to 13 states in this region and sends the hospitality furniture around the country.

We focus on residential poured walls and ďŹ&#x201A;atwork in Michigan as well as commercial jobs across the country.

Rosebud is committed to quality and our cabinets are KCMA tested and certiďŹ ed.

285 12th St. Plainwell, MI 49080 T.269.685.9470 F.269.685.9466 www.cvconcrete.com

Madison, SD | P 605.256.4561

www.rosebudmfg.com

&RPPLWWHG WR &OLHQWV )LUVW

&RPPLWHG WR 6HUYLFH ([FHOOHQFH ,QWHJULW\ $ )DPLO\ 2ZQHG *HQHUDO &RQWUDFWRU 'HVLJQ %XLOG %XVLQHVV IRU \HDUV

The Nature Conservancyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ordway Prairie Preserve headquarters building in Leola, South Dakota.

Project Seeking USGBC LEEDÂŽ Platinum Certification

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We harness natural energy with architecture!â&#x20AC;?

GreenWave Energy Architecture

&DOO XV 7ROO )UHH DW Â&#x;3ALEÂ&#x;"ARNÂ&#x;2OADÂ&#x;\Â&#x;&ORTÂ&#x;0IERRE Â&#x;3OUTHÂ&#x;$AKOTA Â&#x;

www.greenwave.mn 409 Cedar Ave South, Mpls., MN 55454 jwidder@greenwave.mn 612.817.6996 [voice]

ZZZ ILUVWGDNRWDHQWHUSULVHV FRP

GBD Green Wave 1-4 Pageâ&#x20AC;Ťâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;Ź.indd 7 GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 77

4/21/10 1:42:20 PM 5/15/10 2:23:43 AM

spaces/residential

elder appeal With its largest project to date, the lEED-targeting Arbor lakes Senior living, Harriss Architects tackles what it sees as the most difficult niche of sustainable design

by Jennifer Samuels since its launch in 1993, harriss architects has always focused on relationships with its clients. Providing architecture, planning, and interior-design services, the firm listens to each customer’s needs and finds ways to incorporate sustainability into each project. In fact, it was a desire to pursue design freedom that initially prompted founding principal John Harriss to start-up the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based company. “I had a loyal customer base from my previous company, and I decided to follow my own path,” Harriss says. “Our mission is to establish trust with our clients and derive positive outcomes from each project.”

Currently working on their largest project to date—Arbor Lakes Senior Living—the firm concentrates on four niches: retail, education, multi-family housing, and senior living and healthcare. “Senior housing is the most challenging niche,” Harriss explains. “Each senior-care provider has different viewpoints regarding sustainable design and the amount of common space to incorporate into the design.”

Projects that present fewer challenges, such as retail, are an ideal opportunity for younger staff members at Harriss Architects to take charge.

beloW: a rendering of arbor lakes Senior

One of the most effective methods that Harriss Architects is implementing to influence the local community to embrace green building and design is its office location in a renovated funeral home. The company purchased a 7,500square-foot funeral home that was slated for demolition.

They decided to reuse the building as their corporate office and rent excess space to artists and the local community newspaper, Northeaster. “Our plan is to reach out to the community through education and the arts to provide people with the means and methods to make their own impact on society through sustainable design,” Harriss says. The architectural firm bases their office renovations on materials reuse and energy efficiency. After careful demolition, walls were deconstructed and reused with additional insulation.

No finishes with VOC components were used, energy-efficient windows were installed, and the parking lot was repaved with recycled-pervious pavement. “We plan to divert all rainwater into a collection system that focuses on rain barrels, drip irrigation, and sustainable urban agriculture,” Harriss explains. The new space will be rebranded as Columbia Green, a community-based resource center for sustainable design. “This is a project that is very near and dear to me, and we appreciate the rich irony: from a house of death to a renewed way of living,” he says.

living in Maple grove, Mn. the 157-unit

wellness center, salon,

The founding principal of Harriss Architects advises young architects and potential clients to focus on doing the right thing. “Your clients or tenants will be happier and healthier if you put into operation sensible, sustainable elements for site planning and energy efficiency,” he says. “We are all part of this web of life, and we need to act responsibly.”

and dining areas.

gb&d

project is located on a seven-acre site and includes a pub, sun room,

With an annual revenue of approximately $2 million, Harriss Architects has completed projects in Ohio, Arizona, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Massachusetts, New York, and South Dakota. The architectural firm is the recipient of two Minnesota Masonry Awards, and is an active member of the American Institute of Architects, the American Solar Energy Society, and the USGBC.

because it’s the right thing to do. He also observes that, while some municipalities and city engineers are beginning to consider sustainable designs for new developments, such proposals lack the sophistication for optimal results.

main parlor, theatre,

As sustainable design evolves, Harriss Architects’ eight staff members, including three LEED-accredited professionals, are committed to green construction. “We incorporate sustainable design aspects into our base specifications, such as waste disposal, recycled-content material, and VOC content,” Harriss says. “We don’t use VOC paints or adhesives, and we utilize fly ash as an admixture in concrete. We also use doors and millwork with no formaldehyde, and we use carpet and ceiling tile with [a high amount of ] recycled content,” he explains. Of course, not all clients recognize the value of sustainable design. Harriss notes that he often must persuade clients to incorporate green design concepts

78

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 78

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:23:46 AM

Celebrating 30 Years of Continued Excellence!

Jeffrey W. Lewis, Inc. Construction-Consulting-Inspection-Management

4158 Rochester Street Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410 www.jwlcim.com gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 79

(p) 561.691.1801 ( f ) 561.691.1876 OCT 2010

79

5/15/10 2:23:59 AM

spaces/residential best team of professionals and execute projects to successful completion,” Lewis says. “The deliberate and effective application of this philosophy of services has resulted in the ability to consistently deliver economically successful projects that are well designed, technically executed, and completed within budget and on schedule.”

As noted above, being green has always come naturally to Lewis. “I’ve always been sensitive to waste, even before being green became popular in the past few years, so I try to budget right,” he says. “My guys joke that when we’re cutting lumber that they have to save the sawdust.”

the third ‘r’ Recycling every bit of construction debris, contractor Jeffrey W. lewis, Inc. makes massive headway in waste management

by Julie Schaeffer

Recycling is also a big part of Lewis’s sustainable approach.

“Our trades recycle copper pipe and wiring as well as aluminum from windows and doors. I own all my own trucks, and we take all debris to one of two vendors for recycling. They spread out the debris on a concrete slab and pick through it.

So we haven’t been to an actual landfill in years.”

for jeffrey w. lewis, being green has always been business as usual. “We have virtually no waste and haven’t for years, because it wastes money and resources to throw things away,” says the owner of the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, general contracting company Jeffrey W. Lewis, Inc. (JWL).

Other sustainable building practices the firm uses include designing for high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, installing occupancy sensors, and utilizing daylight-harvesting techniques. Lewis encourages local material purchases and even promotes carpooling from staff and vendors. “As a believer in the green concept, we constantly strive for environmental balance,” he says.

Lewis founded his company in 1980 after realizing his electrical-trade-school education wouldn’t take him very far. “When I finished, they said I could make two dollars an hour,” says Lewis. “My whole family is in construction, so I gravitated toward that field, eventually obtaining my state general contractor’s license.”

Although some companies’ workers aren’t immediately onboard with green efforts, Lewis says his team is different.

“I think it’s because I’ve set clear guidelines,” he explains.

“I’ve created a program I know works...and I’ve communicated to employees that’s how we’ll be working. And everyone follows suit.”

Today, the five-person company’s primary work is in highend residential construction, but Lewis says that the company recently completed 4,000-square-foot and 15,000-squarefoot residences, a 6,000-square-foot doctor’s office, and a 10,000-square-foot restaurant. “We’ll do anything from hanging a door to building a 300,000-square-foot warehouse,” he explains, noting that the company will also do work just about anywhere. “We’ve pretty much covered the country, reaching more than 45 cities in the United States, and even done some work in four foreign countries, including Marbella, Spain; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Sudan, Africa; and Uberlandia, Brazil. Clients call us, and we go.”

JWL’s business philosophy emphasizes performance in achievement of client goals. “Our strength is our ability to analyze the needs of our clients, effectively organize the

80

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 80

One good example of the company’s commitment to sustainability is an 8,000-square-foot renovation and rebuild in Boca Raton, Florida. Lewis is using concrete from the demolition of the site’s existing home to raise elevations on other areas of the property. “We needed backfill to raise a number of elevations, including the bottom of the swimming pool, so we used the crumbled concrete from the demolished areas,” says Lewis. “That also lets us salvage the reinforcing steel from concrete.”

above: a private residence in Manalapan, Fl.

The result of these efforts is that Lewis has no need to advertise his services; clients come to him. “From beginning to end, we offer a comprehensive, ‘no-excuses’ approach that builds trust and delivers results Whether we’re helping a high-profile public attraction make good on its promised opening date or finishing an academic building for the first day of school, we always set precise, realistic schedules— and we meet them” he says. “As a result, 99 percent of our work is referral-based.” gb&d

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:24:19 AM

spaces/residential

montana standards Two new projects showcase mindful Designs’ commitment to a green standard, a non-negotiable aspect that is informed and supported by montana’s natural beauty and environmental mindset

by Matt Petrusek

above: this newly constructed home is environmentally sensitive in all aspects of design, from site planning to core finishes. it

jason pohlman, president of mindful designs, can quickly identify why he moved from his native upstate New York to rugged northwest Montana after college. “It’s the quality of life here—nearby ski resort and Glacier National Park,” he says. Outdoor fun wasn’t the only motive, however. As a business major interested in home construction, he also believed Montana’s scenic beauty would provide the perfect backdrop for a successful business. “It’s so pristine here that there are a lot of people who appreciate the outdoors and want to help the environment,” Pohlman says. “It seemed like a great place to capitalize on that.”

includes solar panels, geothermal heating, and adherence to naHb green Home building guidelines.

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 81

Pohlman admits that sustainability did not explicitly define his company when he and his partner, Dave Radatti, founded Mindful Designs in 2004. They were busy establishing a reputation for quality custom-home construction,

when a third partner with sustainable-building expertise came on board and convinced them to slightly reorient their focus, starting with a new mission statement: “building a better future.” The transition, notes Pohlman, was seamless. “High-end construction is what our company is founded on, and the cross over to green construction involves much of the same attention to detail—but just with a lot more science,” he says.

Indeed, this science—understood, in part, as producing concrete, verifiable results for clients—now plays an essential role in the three primary services the company provides: designing, budgeting, and construction. “You can’t just say something is green,” says Pohlman. “You have to have something to show for it.”

Pohlman and his partners, all certified green professionals through the NAHB, have thus established relationships with USGBC Montana and Energy Star Northwest in an effort to quantify and certify the greenness of their projects.

Given their remote location, verification remains expensive and challenging to execute. But the company remains committed to educating its clients, within the parameters of each project’s needs and budget, about the importance of meeting guidelines for green construction—not just assuming a structure will be eco-friendly. “We try to educate

OCT 2010

81

5/15/10 2:24:32 AM

spaces/residential

mindful Designs

“High-end construction is what our company is founded on, and the cross over to green construction involves much of the same attention to detail—but just with a lot more science.”

—Jason Pohlman, President

people here as much as we can about the importance of the steps we take throughout the construction process and how verification supports them,” says Pohlman.

He quickly adds, however, that clients with generous budgets and ambitious, eco-minded goals always remain welcome. For example, Mindful Designs has also built an ultrahigh-efficient home that incorporates both ground-heat pumps and solar panels; the solar feature, in particular, produces enough energy to sell excess power back to one of the two regional electric companies. It’s projects like these, Pohlman believes, that both advance green design and construction and make it more accessible and affordable over time. “Clients with solid budgets are the ones who have the ability to push the envelope for new technologies and techniques,” Pohlman says. “As they become more available the price becomes more affordable to other consumers.”

In the end, then, Pohlman and his partners have not only capitalized on Montana’s unique environment, as they originally set out to do—but also become key players in protecting it. gb&d

Beyond verification, Mindful Designs has come to understand sustainability as almost synonymous with quality construction itself. Pohlman and his team seek to meet rigorous building standards regardless of how interested or knowledgeable each client is about green construction. “We don’t pose projects [to clients] in terms of ‘house’ versus ‘green house,’” he says. “We have a standard we’re going to build to no matter what, and clients know they’re always going to get a quality product.”

Two homes currently under construction illustrate these principles in action. Located on adjoining lots in a natural landscape, Mindful Designs has implemented a whole-systems approach to the projects’ design and construction, including focus on the end product from site design through finish-material selection. One of the homes, moreover, has cutting-edge green features like structurally insulated panels and geothermal heating and cooling; the other, while not as technologically advanced, also achieves remarkable efficiency using advanced framing techniques, a combination of foam and fiberglass insulation, a radiant-heat floor, and an efficient electric boiler that can be fitted to use wood as well—a renewable resource that abounds in Montana’s sylvan environment. Overall, the two homes demonstrate how Mindful Designs can tailor its design and construction to clients with different needs and different budgets in order to achieve similar eco-friendly results. “The houses take two approaches to the same goal,” Pohlman says.

Indeed, Mindful Designs takes pride in taking on a range of clients in a range of settings. While they build most of their homes in open landscapes, the company has also taken on lower-budget jobs within Whitefish city limits. “We want to serve the end of the market where we focus on cost and efficiency,” Pohlman says.

82

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 82

affordable heating inc.

Aaron Delventhal, President 120 Megan Lane Columbia Falls, MT 59912 406.261.9824 www.renewableenergynorthwest.com gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:24:34 AM

spaces/residential

evolution in the furniture city River City mechanical helps to shape grand Rapids’ art community with work on a new living and art space

by Thalia Aurinko-Mostow

beloW: the gallery

when thinking of grand rapids, michigan, one might tend to think of the city’s role in the automotive industry or its nickname, “The Furniture City,” which came from its 100-plus years serving as one of the country’s leading furniture-manufacturing hubs.

will house Michigan’s urban institute for Contemporary arts as well as studio and residential space.

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 83

But Grand Rapids is evolving, and with new green construction popping up across the city and a growing emphasis on local art, the industrial stereotypes are being replaced by a lighter, more creative identity. Art has always

been important to the city; Alexander Calder’s La Grande Vitesse, which was dedicated to the city of Grand Rapids, was the National Endowment for the Arts’ first funded installation.

With this prestigious pedigree and art’s increasing accessibility, Jeffery Jones, LEED AP, a design engineer at River City Mechanical, hopes that the firm’s newest project, The Gallery, will help spread the word that Grand Rapids has the art and community (and art community) to compete with neighboring iconic cities like Chicago or Milwaukee.

“Where art and life intersect,” reads The Gallery’s website.

And it is exactly that—six floors of apartments and six floors of art space. The Gallery is the new home for the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA), Michigan’s largest contemporary arts center. UICA at The Gallery will have a 200-seat theater, art studios including ceramics and photography, a performing-arts theater, and multiple galleries and event spaces, as well as an outdoor terrace.

On the bottom, the building houses 2,700 square feet of retail space where the artists who work out of The Gallery can sell their work.

OCT 2010

83

5/15/10 2:24:44 AM

spaces/residential

River City mechanical

more than 20 years it has built its reputation as a full-service mechanical contractor, providing preconstruction and construction services as well as maintenance programs.

With 250 public parking spaces and 56 brand new apartments—ranging from studios to 3-bedrooms—even though the apartments won’t be fully completed until midfall 2010, leases are already being signed.

Creative living CoMMunity the gallery on Fulton, a $38 million project, is slated for occupancy

River City Mechanical joined The Gallery team in 2008.

“River City Mechanical was approached nearly two years ago to look at a design-build project by Triangle Associates located here in Grand Rapids,” Jones says. “The Gallery project is different than most because of a partnership for a private, for-profit investment group...a nonprofit organization, [and] the City of Grand Rapids. The partnership consists of three very different business goals.”

The complexity of it did not keep the project from coming to fruition. “This project,” Jones says, “has gone from the original conceptual designs to construction completion in... four years.”

in fall of 2010. With 209,000-square-feet of space the project’s construction team was able to divert more than 75 percent of the construction waste from landfills. the gallery features:

84

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 84

Jones’ pride in his company is made possible by the fact that River City Mechanical’s employees all agree on a few things: 1) if the project can be done in a sustainable fashion, it should be, and 2) they are lucky to be working in Grand Rapids, where opportunities for green building are only growing. The city is currently one of the largest green-building-based construction areas in the country.

• Low-e, argon-filled insulated glass; • low-VOC paints and finishes;

To date, Jones has worked on approximately 12 LEED-certified projects with River City Mechanical, where he’s been employed as a design engineer for eight years. The mechanical company specializes in commercial plumbing, industrial and medical gas services, and HVAC systems, and for

“We try to focus on innovation, green design, and sustainability,” Jones adds. “We put our best efforts into high quality and energy efficiency. Projects with geothermal [systems], energy recovery, and water conservation are some of our most successful. We have very talented individuals on staff who work well with our construction team members, owners, and general contractors. This applies to our vendors as well who bring quality products, equipment, and services to the table.”

• extra foliage on the building’s exterior to control heat gain; and • large windows to provide natural light.

“Being a part of the growing trend and demand for green technology is exciting, especially knowing that green technology is paving a way for a better future for our children, neighbors, and community,” Jones says. As for River City Mechanical’s future, more green projects are definitely on the agenda, starting with a sustainably designed field house for Aquinas College, a project that perfectly combines the firm’s two loves: Grand Rapids and green building. gb&d

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:24:51 AM

'EOTHERMAL (EATING #OOLING 7ATER (EATING 3PECIALISTS

â&#x20AC;˘Â&#x;%NERGYÂ&#x;3AVINGÂ&#x; UPÂ&#x;TOÂ&#x; Â&#x;g(YBRIDsÂ&#x;#OMFORTÂ&#x;3YSTEMSÂ&#x;

Access Control - Engineering and Graphics Services Building Management - Commercial/Industrial Controls Controls Service - Electrical Contracting - Energy Audits Energy Management - Pneumatic Controls Remote Monitoring - Utility Bill Analysis

Contact:

â&#x20AC;˘ (IGHÂ&#x;%FĂ&#x161;Â&#x;CIENCYÂ&#x;!IRÂ&#x;#ONDITIONERS â&#x20AC;˘ !IRÂ&#x;#LEANERS Â&#x;0URIĂ&#x161;Â&#x;ERS Â&#x;Â&#x;$EODORIZERSÂ&#x; Â&#x;(UMIDIĂ&#x161;Â&#x;ERS â&#x20AC;˘ !DVANCEDÂ&#x;&URNACES Â&#x;(EATÂ&#x;0UMPS Â&#x; Â&#x;7ATERÂ&#x;(EATERSÂ&#x; â&#x20AC;˘ &RESHÂ&#x;!IRÂ&#x;%NERGYÂ&#x; Â&#x;(EATÂ&#x;2ECOVERYÂ&#x;6ENTILATION â&#x20AC;˘ 7ATERÂ&#x;ANDÂ&#x;3TEAMÂ&#x;2ADIANTÂ&#x;(EATING

Ryan E. Kauffman

616.247.9422

â&#x20AC;˘ 3OLARÂ&#x;(EATÂ&#x;0UMPÂ&#x;ANDÂ&#x;7ATERÂ&#x;(EATERÂ&#x;!PPLICATIONS â&#x20AC;˘ !IRÂ&#x;3YSTEMÂ&#x;:ONINGÂ&#x;FORÂ&#x;3ELECTIVEÂ&#x;!REAÂ&#x;#OMFORT

rkauffman@csi-hvac.com

www.csi-hvac.com 3523 Lousma Dr. | Southeast, Suite D Grand Rapids, MI 49548

/VER 9EARS OF #OMBINED %XPERIENCE &AST &RIENDLY 0ERSONAL )NSTALLATION 3ERVICE #ONSULTATION 2AY "ROWN )NC IS PROUD TO HAVE BEEN THE CONTRACTOR SELECTED TO DESIGN AND INSTALL THE (6Ă&#x2DC;# SYSTEM FOR THE Ă&#x17E; RST ,%%$ 3ILVER #ERTIĂ&#x17E; ED RESIDENTIAL HOME IN +ENTUCKY

Benefits for Your Bottom Line HVAC Solutions for Green Buildings t Reduced operating costs t Improved energy efficiency t Sustainable designs t Knowledgeable experts

3523 Lousma Drive Grand Rapids, MI 49548 (616) 534-0032

WWW 2AY"ROWN)NC COM

Email: sales@airtechequipment.com Website: www.airtechequipment.com

www.mcquay.com gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 85

2AYÂ&#x;"ROWNÂ&#x; Â&#x;!SSOC Â&#x;)NC Â&#x;\Â&#x;(EATINGÂ&#x;#OOLINGÂ&#x;0LUMBINGÂ&#x; Â&#x;.ATIONALÂ&#x;!VENUE Â&#x;,EXINGTON Â&#x;+9Â&#x; &AX Â&#x; Â&#x; License # M00333

OCT 2010

85

5/15/10 2:24:57 AM

spaces/residential Sassafras siding, poplar clapboard, copper panels, and concrete piers blend together as the exterior elements of this Kentucky home.

cradle-to-cradle construction Honored to be tapped to help actualize a concept

by William mcDonough, some of Prajna Design & Construction’s most formidable projects are one-of-akind homes with lasting appeal

by Russ Klettke

86

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 86

it is no insult to say clients of prajna design & Construction aren’t thinking about resale value. Who, after all, would build a home that a realtor says has too many built-in bookshelves? How can someone recoup the added expenses associated with geothermal heating and cooling systems, or such things as water harvesting systems or reclaimed barn wood, if they were to sell in five or even ten years?

Selling the home is not a priority. “Our clients are selfconfident people,” says Garry Murphy, who partnered with David Wittmer to form the company in Lexington, Kentucky in 1985. “They come to us because they appreciate art and aesthetics. This is the kind of home they want to build.”

Murphy describes Wittmer and their four staff members as artist-builders, all graduates of the College of Architecture at the University of Kentucky who share a strong appreciation for craftsmanship.

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:25:03 AM

spaces/residential

Well-reSpeCted ConCeptS and idealS Clients come to Prajna, garry murphy believes, because they want one-of-a-kind homes (the firm also builds outbuildings such as barns and modest commercial projects). The typical 3,500-square-foot home ranges in cost from $350,000 to $500,000. The firm satisfies clients who envision many years of waking up in these homes, and its success is articulated in two other areas as well: a narrow niche. Prajna’s aesthetic and philosophy appeal to a narrow segment of the market who appreciate “truth and honesty and believe that beauty will come with both…each with its own set of possibilities, limitations, and explorations,” murphy says. appreciation for craftsmanship and joinery. Working with “the soul of the woods and materials we use,” murphy notes, “we build as honestly as we can and make it last as long as we can.” The firm employs Japanese joinery techniques in most of its structures. They are also recognized for their teahouse construction, which have been exhibited at the Julius friedman gallery in louisville and the Wustum museum of fine Arts in Racine, Wisconsin.

“our clients are self-confident people. they come to us because they appreciate art and aesthetics. this is the kind of home they want to build.”

—garry murphy, founding Partner

McDonough called on the right team where it comes to recycled and locally-harvested woods. Prajna used 16 different types in one residence, and Murphy avows an affinity for a number of local varieties like sassafras, Kentucky coffee tree, butternut, and locust. “Sassafras is resistant to water, so we use it for exterior siding, trim, and in bathrooms,” he notes.

“You can’t separate design from building,” he says, explaining how they sometimes are called upon to construct from the blueprints of other architects, but almost never do the opposite—design a structure but not build it. “The beauty is in the way it is built.”

One such architect whose design they constructed is William McDonough, author of Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. McDonough was the concept architect, assisted by local architect Lee Bagley and Gray Construction Company, who then collaborated with Prajna to build the LEED Platinum-certified Visitor Center at the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont, Kentucky.

Prajna used milled, dried, and laminated, recycled, picklevat woods (cypress and Douglas fir), along with 13 native species of woods to construct the interior and exterior skin of the facility. The project won the 2009 Lifecycle Building Challenge Award from the EPA.

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 87

above: antique poplar and oak were used for the structural cross ties, beams, columns,

In fact, the builder-artists at Prajna use more than Kentucky-grown woods. On several projects, stone dug up during excavations was reused for foundations and retaining walls. For one house, wood was reclaimed from a barn structure built on the property in 1840.

and trim. a demolished house on site was reclaimed and used in the stone and lumber of the fireplace hearth and mantel.

The times are changing for the better, obviously. Murphy is pleased that new technologies and tax incentives are increasing interest in his style and methods of building. All of which suggests that Prajna homes will have solid resale value after all—assuming their owners ever move. gb&d

OCT 2010

87

5/15/10 2:25:07 AM

spaces/residential

st. petersburg saints

Swanson explains that the Tampa house is particularly notable because he believes it will obtain the most LEED points ever obtained for a United States residence.

Sims Corporation’s goals are as admirable as they are lofty: earn the most lEED points ever awarded to a residence on a new Tampa home and launch a green affordable-housing development

The home begins as one might guess, with panel systems—specifically SIPs, which are wall panels made from a thick layer of foam (polystyrene or polyurethane) sandwiched between two layers of oriented strand board (OSB), plywood, or fiber cement.

“Typically, here in Florida, everything is built from block construction, which is not as energy efficient,” Swanson says. “So we always start with the building envelope.”

Swanson says the Tampa house uses SIPs manufactured by SIPS Team USA. “Not only do you end up with the insulation in the walls right from beginning, which results in quick installation, you also get the benefits of a material that is manufactured in a factory. We have very little waste because the panels are made to specific sizes from the drawings; therefore, we are not putting material into landfills,” he explains.

by Julie Schaeffer five years ago, phil swanson’s interest in sustainable building was limited to panelized walls. However, “it snowballed from there,” he explains—today, Sims Corporation, where Swanson is vice president, is hoping to receive the most LEED points ever on a home it is building in Tampa.

Wilson W. Sims, Swanson’s brother, founded Sims Corporation in 2003 after spending 10 years working for Turner Construction Company, a large general contractor based in New York with offices throughout the world. “His goal was to form a company that could provide customized, flexible, detail-oriented services addressing even the smallest need while possessing the capacity to execute large and complex projects,” Swanson says.

beloW: the trump Hollywood in Hollywood, Fl, one of Sims’

Swanson joined the company in 2005, and, almost from the start, was intrigued by the possibilities of making the business about more than just traditional building. “It was a natural extension of wanting to do things differently than they way they’re conventionally done,” Swanson says.

“I like to think out of the box and look for different ways of doing things.

large-scale projects.

The Tampa house will have many other green features as well. “We are in the process of figuring out how we can use all of our resources better than we would in a traditional house,” Swanson says. “We get a lot of rain in Florida, so we’ll collect rainwater from the roof and store it in 4,000gallon tanks beneath the house for drinking and irrigation.” He also notes that the home will have a greywaterrecovery system that uses shower water to flush toilets; in addition, the home will use solar panels to produce electricity and heat all of its hot water. With these green innovations, the home will be a net-zero residence.

That led to a focus on sustainable building. “I was looking at different wall systems and realized that a panel system could help us build more energy-efficient housing by creating a better building envelope,” Swanson explains. “That interested me in looking at other things, such as solar and geothermal energy. And that got me interested in looking at yet other things, such as energy-efficient windows.”

The company just finished its first LEED project, a St. Petersburg home for which it is currently seeking LEED Platinum certification. The company is now working on its second LEED project, a Tampa home for which it is also seeking LEED Platinum certification.

88

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 88

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:25:10 AM

“typically, here in Florida, everything is built from block construction, which is not as energy efficient. So we always start with the building envelope.”

“Building solutions together to make your vision a reality”

—Phillip C. Swanson, Vice President

The only thing holding Sims Corporation back from its goal of building even more LEED-certified homes is the challenging process of educating the industry about the benefits of green building versus traditional construction methods.

The firm also wants to find a way to build affordable green housing. Prior to the market downturn, Sims Corporation had proposed helping the city of St. Petersburg develop such a project. While the city liked the idea, the recession left it without the money to proceed. As the economy begins to turn around, Swanson says that the city is looking at the idea again—he believes that is what being green is all about: “If people of limited means aren’t paying as much for electricity because they live in an energy-efficient house, well, that just makes perfect sense,” he concludes.

“Green should be for everyone.” gb&d

Design Build New Construction Green Construction General Contracting Construction Management

Miami Fl

305-670-2340

St.Petersburg

727-544-8347

info@sims-corp.com w w w. s i m s - c o r p . c o m

7HDP 86$

Structural Insulated Panels for Residential and Commercial Buildings

$GYDQWDJHV WR EXLOGLQJ ZLWK 6,36 • Green product • Superior insulation envelope with low air infiltration - No Drafts!

• More energy efficient - 30% to 50% over Stick Built • Quick Construction to get Dryed-In Fast • Wire chases already built in to panels • Panels are Strong, Light, and Easy to Assemble • Versatile! Can be used for Roof, Walls, and Floors • Panels are Fabricated to Your Design Needs • Meets both commercial and residential requirements • Code Compliant/3rd Party Inspection • Jumbo Panels available up to 8’ x 24’ • Cost Effective/Great Value

6,36 DUH WKH *UHHQ (QHUJ\ (IÀ FLHQW :D\ WR %XLOG

SIPS Team US A | P.O. Box 7085, Bainbridge, GA 39818 | Phone: 229-246-8880 | Fax: 229-246-8870 | www.sipsteamusa.com

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 89

OCT 2010

89

5/15/10 2:25:14 AM

spaces/residential

the language of leed Jason Hawthorne’s industrial experience lends itself to expediting the lEED learning curve as SSH Homes takes on a new custom Houston home for energy-savvy owners

by David Hudnall because he works in the energy industry, george Li has long been aware of the merits of energy-efficiency; he has firsthand experience with the challenges of finding sufficient energy resources, and he and his wife, Lily, are ardent conservationists. So when they decided to design and build a new home on their existing lot in Houston, they knew they wanted it to be a LEED project. “We think a home reflects its owners,” Li says. The question then became how to go about accomplishing it. They hired a rater to go through their home and determine what might need to be done, then held meetings with a few firms in the area, presenting what they were looking for.

In 2009, Jason Hawthorne, who heads up Houston-based SSH Homes, and John Sullivan, of Sullivan, Stevens, Henry, Oggero and Associates—the design firm SSH partners with on design-build projects—met with the Lis. The two parties gelled, and SSH was awarded the contract to build the home.

“I knew that LEED was a requirement for the job, and I didn’t possess all that much knowledge on the subject, so I took some courses in the NAHB curriculum that were offered locally by the Greater Houston Builder’s Association, and brushed up,” Hawthorne says. “They provided important insight about the feasibilities of LEED features,” Li mentions.

“It was a critical part of convincing us that a LEED home was actually within our budget.”

Hawthorne—who utilizes Sullivan, Stevens, Henry, Oggero and Associates for all design-build projects and continues to build custom residential homes throughout the Houston area—says he’ll be incorporating a number of LEED standards into all future projects. “We won’t necessarily go for LEED on every new project, but the plan is to have clients approaching us who see us as a builder who is willing to help them achieve a LEED-certified or NAHB Green Homecertified house,” he says.

beloW: (From left) John l. Sullivan, Jr.,

As it turned out, Hawthorne’s previous experience—he graduated from Texas A&M in 1996 with a degree in industrial distribution and had spent 10 years in project management with an electrical-manufacturing firm—was valuable for learning the LEED language. “What I’d done in the industrial world, in terms of meeting guidelines and preparing documentation, is similar to what you have to do with LEED,” he says. “Plus, some of our building standard practices already met some of the [LEED] sustainability and energy-efficient criteria.”

very simple ways to conserve,” Hawthorne says. Though no solar panels are currently planned, the house was oriented to allow for them in the future, and a large space of the roof has been cleared to that end. SSH is also installing radiant-barrier roof decking, tankless water heaters, lowflow plumbing, and a Honeywell energy-recovery-ventilator system. The air conditioning is zoned—there are only two units in the entire 6,384-square-foot house—and thermostats are programmable. West-facing windows are Low-E 366, the insulation system is a combination of batt and blown cellulose, and all hardwood floors will be reclaimed material; the floors on the first level will be retained from the original structure that was torn down. Li notes that achieving enough points for LEED certification was in many ways about simple common sense. “We didn’t have to break the bank, and we’re particularly proud of being able to earn enough LEED points without having to go way beyond current design/construction practices,” Li says. “It’s about selecting the right combination of methods and products, which requires early planning.”

Jason Hawthorne, and george li.

The Li home should be an effective way to advertise. “I think people will be surprised to find out our house will be LEED, because of how well it fits into the neighborhood, appearance-wise,” Li says. For Hawthorne, the Li residence will represent the rewards of adapting in the industry. “Some builders just don’t want to deal with all the little nuances involved with a project like this,” he says. “But we didn’t resent it at all—we embraced it. We know it’s the way of the future.

Adjusting to that gives you a competitive advantage.” gb&d

Construction on the Li home involved first tearing down a previous structure (SSH recycled all concrete). The lumber supplier turnkey-framed the house—meaning they returned any unused lumber back to its facility. “We’re being very conscious of what we waste, and we’re finding that there are

90

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 90

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:25:16 AM

home

To build an environmentally sustainable ͕ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƐƚĞƉ is . Sullivan Stevens Henry Oggero and Associates, Inc.

design

have over 40 years of design

experience.

LEED Registered Project

8584 Katy Freeway, Suite 101 | Houston, TX 77024 | P: 713-464-0740

www.sshodesign.com

H S

Building Material

H&S Building Material is one of the premier companies in Houston with the capability to provide construction materials with turnkey services for framing,

SERVICES

• • • • •

Framing Siding Windows Doors Decking

PRODUCTS

cornice, flashing and roof decking for residential and construction.

• • •

Lumber Siding Decking

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 91

For more information on how we can take care of your specific construction needs and streamline your current production process, please contact us at 832-300-3771 or visi t us at www.hsbuildingmaterial.com

OCT 2010

91

5/15/10 2:25:29 AM

The Power of Constructing Great Business...

Kunzik&Sara

CONSTRUCTION,INC.

www. kunzik a nds a ra .c o m

Kunzik & Sara Construction, Inc.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience includes the diverse capabilities of general retail, multi-family, and commercial construction .

Qualified personnel handle the following construction services on a regular basis Feasibility Studies // Planning // Site Assessment // Site Plan Evaluation Conceptual Estimating // Project Management // Construction Bidding Construction Management // Design-Build

Kunzik & Sara Construction, Inc. // 1699 La Costa Meadows Drive, Suite 102 // San Marcos, CA 92078 // P 1.760.591.3109

92

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 92

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:25:45 AM

/commercial & recreation

L.A.’s team green Amato Architecture’s goal of lEED Platinum for the Los Angeles firemen’s Credit Union’s new branch draws together a green-minded super-group that plays off its members’ strengths

by Peter Fretty

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 93

San Francisco’s Serpentine restaurant and bar. photo: Sean dagen photography.

in 2001, when rebecca ivans amato founded her Oakland, California-based, eponymous design firm, her intent was to design green-inspired, budget-friendly, commercial and residential interiors. And because she has since made a name for herself with creative use and reuse of unique materials and the continuous integration of intriguing color combinations and clean lines, one would have to say she has been successful.

Amato Architecture recently completed work on the mainbranch relocation of the Los Angeles Firemen’s Credit Union (LAFCU)—a prime example of its design excellence. To start, Amato placed all offices within the center of the facility with the intent of maximizing the usage of the building’s

OCT 2010

93

5/15/10 2:25:54 AM

spaces/commercial & recreation

Amato Architecture

“Sometimes it just takes demonstrating how the long-term benefits—being able to enjoy better air quality, lower energy usage, waste reductions—outweigh the costs of initial outlay.”

—Rebecca Ivans Amato, founder

above: Custom 120° workstation pods provided by goldfish

internal core. “As a result, we have achieved the highest level of innovative design credits for maximizing the exterior views for over 90 percent of the employees,” says the Build It Green- and LEED-certified designer.

Studio at the laFCu are arranged along the perimeter windows with private offices located at the building’s core. this configuration achieved the maximum exemplary design credits for leed.

94

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 94

Amato’s inventive spirit also led to a relentless commitment to daylight harvesting. Through the utilization of sophisticated controls for dimming the lights, and continuously measuring the light levels for the entire space, she achieved a level of sustainability only possible with the melding of naturally occurring elements and state-of-the-art technology. “[The system] is all tied into an automated windowshade-control system for the perimeter of the building with

roof-installed solar sensors to control the entire system,” she proudly notes. “It’s a perfect example of utilizing cutting-edge technology to maximize the energy efficiency of a commercial facility.”

Innovation requires successful implementation, so the electrical design-build team of Blue Fields Electric played a vital role. It became instrumental in assisting with the system design while Amato sought out the most energy-efficient lighting fixtures available. With her mission, Amato was again successful; according to Blue Fields principal James Field, the LAFCU project was the first job he had worked on in which the architect “took the bull by the horns” and found “fantastic-looking lighting...that is cutting-edge LEED without leaning on the lighting designer.”

The team effort was rounded out by the building owner, who embraced various additional green products, including: • locally designed and sourced furniture made from up to 99 percent recycled materials; • low-VOC surface finishes; • low-flow plumbing fixtures (resulting in a 45-percent

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:26:25 AM

decrease in water usage); â&#x20AC;˘ IceStone countertops with recycled glass; and â&#x20AC;˘ cutting-edge, LED decorative pendant lights.

The credit union and administrative offices opened for business in December 2009, and Amato is currently going through LEEDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s submission process. The hope for the 16,000-square-foot facility: LEED Platinum.

AMATO ARCHITECTURE

6 8 8 FA I R M O U N T AV E N U E , 4 OAKLAND, C ALIFORNI A

94611

14 1 09 0 .9 4.. 4 12 90 9 .8 0.0 2 7 2 0 0 5 0 1 8 . 4 9 9 . 2 0 8 0 T E L 5 1 0 5. 5

The building is owned by the LAFCU, and, according to Amato, the ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s representative and facilities manager William Lowery has been very aggressive in incorporating green-building strategies into the first-floor improvements.

Lowery also plans to obtain LEED-EBOM certification for the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remaining floors.

Though such like-mindedness among the architect, owner, and electrical team is a unique experience that avoids major problems, the project was not without its challenges. The biggest of them was for everyone involved (Amato, the contractor, and the building owner) to adhere to a tight construction timeframe while simultaneously working on their first LEED project.

M O B

5 1 0 . 4 9 9 . 2 0 8 0

A M ATO A R C H I T E C T U R E . CO M

Amato Architecture was founded in 2001 by Rebecca Ivans Amato, AIA and built upon over 20 years of practicing in the architecture and design industry. With vast experience in commercial interior design, hospitality and hotel design, residential and retail projects both throughout the Bay Area as well as in Colorado, Thailand, Hong Kong and China, Amato Architecture creatively solves problems in all areas of the design and construction process.

Certified in LEED and as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Build It Greenâ&#x20AC;? professional, Amato Architecture is conscious of the overall improvement of a buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efficiency. Our goal is: zero impact on the environment, integration of good design practices and achieving the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desired aesthetic and functional needs.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;There was definitely a learning curve, but we exhibited a committed effort to make it all happen,â&#x20AC;? Amato says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The result is that we delivered a beautiful, green structure, and we will each benefit from the educational experience to apply to projects moving forward.â&#x20AC;?

Although building owners often have concerns about higher initial costs with green products, Amato notes that most, like Lowery, are on-board from the beginning. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sometimes it just takes demonstrating how the long-term benefitsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; being able to enjoy better air quality, lower energy usage, waste reductionsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;outweigh the costs of initial outlay,â&#x20AC;? she explains. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even though some people are not interested in going to extremes, there are green practices that are easy to incorporate, including low-VOC paints or fi xtures designed for low water consumption. Ideally, I would like to see more of the green principles incorporated as key components of building codes and industry standards.â&#x20AC;?

Having worked on various green-focused projects throughout the past two decades, Amato has learned that the design of a space and the materials used are secondary to energy usage and system controls. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a huge opportunity for bringing more of the systems together with a dashboard system that would simplify use,â&#x20AC;? she says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It would be nice to have something that the owner could log into and truly see how much energy they are saving. The more we can bring everything together as a complete system, the better.â&#x20AC;? gb&d

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 95

Serpentine Bar, San Francisco / Sean Dagen Photography

Let us show you how important you are to us.

GBD Amato Architecture 1-4 Pageâ&#x20AC;Ťâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;Ź.indd 2

4/20/10 4:09:10 PM

This is the lobby of the Los Angeles Firemanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Credit Union.

"LUEÂ&#x;&IELDSÂ&#x;ISÂ&#x;PROUDÂ&#x;TOÂ&#x;HAVEÂ&#x;INSTALLEDÂ&#x;SOMEÂ&#x;OFÂ&#x;THEÂ&#x;NEWESTÂ&#x;CUTTINGÂ&#x;EDGE Â&#x;5,Â&#x;LISTED Â&#x; ,%$Â&#x;Ă&#x161;Â&#x;XTURESÂ&#x;Â&#x;INÂ&#x;,OSÂ&#x;!NGELES Â&#x;Â&#x;g7EÂ&#x;LEARNEDÂ&#x;HOWÂ&#x;TOÂ&#x;PUSHÂ&#x;THEÂ&#x;CURVEÂ&#x;OFÂ&#x;,%%$Â&#x;EFĂ&#x161;Â&#x;CIENCYÂ&#x; REQUIREMENTSÂ&#x;THATÂ&#x;DIDÂ&#x;NOTÂ&#x;SACRIĂ&#x161;Â&#x;CEÂ&#x;THEÂ&#x;QUALITYÂ&#x;ANDÂ&#x;QUANTITYÂ&#x;OFÂ&#x;LIGHTÂ&#x;ORÂ&#x;ITSÂ&#x;ARTISTICÂ&#x;Â&#x;APPEAL Â&#x; SAIDÂ&#x;*AMESÂ&#x;&IELDS Â&#x;0RESIDENTÂ&#x;OFÂ&#x;"LUEÂ&#x;&IELDS Â&#x;gÂ&#x;7EÂ&#x;OWEÂ&#x;THISÂ&#x;TOÂ&#x;THEÂ&#x;SUPERBÂ&#x;LIGHTINGÂ&#x; SPECIĂ&#x161;Â&#x;CATIONSÂ&#x;ANDÂ&#x;DESIGNÂ&#x;OFÂ&#x;2EBECCAÂ&#x;!MATO Â&#x;OFÂ&#x;!MATOÂ&#x;!RCHITECTURE Â&#x;Â&#x;)Â&#x;EXPECTÂ&#x;TOÂ&#x;SEEÂ&#x; MOREÂ&#x;OFÂ&#x;THISÂ&#x;BLENDÂ&#x;OFÂ&#x;EFĂ&#x161;Â&#x;CIENCY Â&#x;FUNCTIONALITYÂ&#x;ANDÂ&#x;ARTISTICÂ&#x;DESIGNÂ&#x;INÂ&#x;FUTUREÂ&#x;PROJECTS

Our Services Include: â&#x20AC;˘ tenant improvements â&#x20AC;˘ industrial work â&#x20AC;˘ generators/ups â&#x20AC;˘ high voltage â&#x20AC;˘ server room design â&#x20AC;˘ green building systems â&#x20AC;˘ custom homes â&#x20AC;˘ lighting design â&#x20AC;˘ switchgear build-outs â&#x20AC;˘ 24 hour emergency service â&#x20AC;˘ energy saving audits â&#x20AC;˘ design / build

â&#x20AC;˘ project management services â&#x20AC;˘ power quality testing â&#x20AC;˘ data and ďŹ ber optics â&#x20AC;˘ electrical maintenance

&RANCE Ă&#x2DC;VE 4UJUNGA #Ă&#x2DC; \ \Â&#x;WWW BFE LA OCT 2010

95

5/15/10 2:26:39 AM

luxury & LeeD An intense focus on sustainability adds a dynamic new look to the lexus and bmW dealerships that kunzik & Sara Construction is building and puts a luxurious spin on lEED certification

by Thalia Aurinko-Mostow

the whitfield associates architect who designed the Lexus Escondido facility was amazed by the quality of work with which Kunzik & Sara Construction, Inc. had completed his project. The new, high-end, green dealership includes a cafĂŠ, a library, a golf simulator, and plans for a five-star restaurant; lush landscaping and fountains; a custom-built glass elevator and elaborate, high-end cabinetry.

The LEED-certified project is the most sophisticated design Kunzik & Sara has ever built. The firm recycled the concrete from the previous site and buildings, and included features like recycled water for the car wash and spider-glass window systems.

Licensed in both Nevada and California, Kunzik & Sara was opened in 2004 by partners Pete Sara and Mike Kunzik, who have known each other for more than 25 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We decided to take our combined 60-plus years of construction experience and put together a company that could deliver the final

96

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 96

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:26:45 AM

spaces/commercial & recreation

that 85 percent of all construction waste was diverted from the landfill. The project features extensive design in wastewater management, and water- and power-saving measures.

“We decided to take our combined 60-plus years of construction experience and put together a company that could deliver the final product that will meet or exceed both the owner’s and architect’s expectations.”

—Pete Sara, Executive Vice President

product that will meet or exceed both the owner’s and architect’s expectations,” says Pete Sara, executive vice president.

The mid-sized company consists of eight project and management staff that works out of their San Marcos, California, office and between 20 and 80 members of field staff, depending on the size of the project. Both Sara and Kunzik are deeply involved in every project from the design to the construction phase, and they have made sustainable building a focus since their company’s inception.

oppoSite page: Spider glass window systems allow natural

“General contractors—along with the architects and engineers—are stewards of our environment,” Sara explains.

“When a building is designed and we build it, we are creating a legacy of our generation that future generations will either applaud our efforts or suffer from our inability to preserve our natural resources.” For Lexus Escondido, Kunzik & Sara constructed the building on previously developed land, ensuring that the habitat was as undisturbed as possible, and

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 97

light to reach 90% of the lexus escondido showroom and offices. above: rendering of the beverly Hills bMW’s sales building, to be completed in 2010.

All of the exterior lighting at Lexus Escondido has been controlled and minimized, helping to manage light pollution and energy usage; therefore reducing energy costs. Glass was also used whenever possible to introduce natural lighting into the service areas, eliminating much of the use of interior lighting during daytime hours. Caring about the small things is part of what makes Kunzik & Sara stand apart; with Lexus Escondido, the firm looked at how it could improve every last detail—even the paint. “The Whitfield Architects incorporated into their specifications the use of recycled content in their flooring, VOC-free paint, and energy efficiency throughout their projects. Only the interior office and sales areas are air conditioned, and the shops use natural ventilation,” Sara says.

Lexus Escondido isn’t the only dealership getting a green makeover; Kunzik & Sara is also hard at work on a BMW dealership in Beverly Hills. AHT Architects and Kunzik & Sara will be incorporating all the sustainable systems they put into effect at Lexus Escondido, such as clarifying all the exterior water before it is discharged and clarifying site runoff prior to the discharge by using a variety of methods: filters, pavers, sediment chambers, and bio-filtering. The BMW project is also being built on a previous construction site, and the location will have the latest equipment, assuring that no containments will be released. Beverly Hills BMW will consist of a six-story, 240,000-square-foot service center with a subterranean bottom level and a separate 94,000-square-foot, three-story steel-framed sales center.

Drought-tolerant landscaping will be used as well as lighting-control systems—all ensuring a greener experience and, for Kunzik & Sara, a brighter future. gb&d

OCT 2010

97

5/15/10 2:26:49 AM

R.M.

MECHANICAL

1248 North Avenue Escondido, CA 92026 (760) 294-9183

VISION QUEST GLASS, INC. COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL DESIGN/BUILD • PLAN & SPEC • HVAC 22927 OXNARD STREET WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91367

LIC. #819942

98

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 98

Since 1991, R.M. Mechanical has proudly served the Southern California area with Design/Build and Plan & Spec HVAC Services for both Commercial and Industrial buildings. To find out how we can assist you with your next project, please contact us today.

Lic. # 609656 | Fax: (760) 294-9184 | rmmechanical@cox.net

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:27:02 AM

taking home the gold A Colorado community shares a gold Hard Hat award with builders mW gOlDEN CONSTRUCTORS for its new library, a symbol of tremendous social and environmental capital

by Sarah Lozanova mw golden constructors (mwgc) recently faced a big challenge—to construct the 8,000-square-foot Paonia Public Library in Paonia, Colorado, with a budget of $1.6 million, instead of the $2.2 million budget for which the job had been designed and priced. The project was designed to achieve LEED certification and utilize geothermal energy for heating and cooling.

beloW: With the exterior shell complete, the paonia public library awaits landscaping and pervious-concrete pavement.

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 99

“The owners had a really tight budget and we repriced it a number of different ways to get it done within their available budget,” says Rob Keane, project superintendent for the Paonia Library project. Accomplishing such a project under budget was largely the result of the approach taken by MWGC. “During the estimating process, we provided the owner and design team multiple options for interior materials, structure construction components, landscaping, parking, exterior concrete work, and roofing material,” says Adam Alexander, project estimator for MWGC. Some of those options included light-fixture packages, structural insulated panels instead of conventional framing, and pervious-concrete pavement.

Community support also helped the library project stay within budget. “There were local volunteers from the Lions and Rotary Clubs that came down to volunteer,” Keane says.

“That helped the budget quite a bit and worked out well.

[Paonia] is a tight-knit community. It is a small town where everyone knows each other, and they work together.”

The generosity and ingenuity of numerous contractors made the Paonia Library a success. “Shawn Labounty Plumbing and Heating donated over $25,000 to the project, helping the team reach the $1.6 million budget,” says Jason Golden, vice president of MWGC. “Wired Right, based out of Paonia offered numerous value-engineering suggestions for the communications portion of the project, reducing cost without sacrificing value. Slaughters Heating and Cooling offered numerous value-engineering ideas to the design team to help reduce costs to the geothermal system.”

The result is a library that has been well received by the community and contains numerous green features that reduce its operating and maintenance costs. The raisedaccess flooring system allows building services, such as electric lines, environmental controls, and fire detection equipment, to be housed in an inexpensive manner where it can be easily accessed. The raised flooring is covered with recycled-tile carpeting, which allows small sections to be replaced as needed, instead of the whole carpet. The geothermal system was designed to cover the load of the building, but contains an emergency back-up heat source.

“The success of this project was made possible by a community outpour of donations, and a team collaborating for the

OCT 2010

99

5/15/10 2:27:06 AM

spaces/commercial & recreation

MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS

“the success of [the paonia public library] was made possible by a community outpour of donations, and a team collaborating for the common goal of building a sustainable learning facility for the good of a community.”

—Jason golden, Vice President

Increased concern about operating costs and carbon emissions, combined with generous incentives, is encouraging the use of geothermal energy in Colorado. “Most of the small electrical co-ops around the state are offering considerable rebates for the installation of geothermal systems,” Keane adds.

Alexander has witnessed steady growth in the green-building sector in his region and sees more architects designing green buildings. Although the Paonia Public Library was the first LEED-intended project for MWGC, the company gained valuable experience and recognition.

CoMMunity planning Construction of the

common goal of building a sustainable learning facility for the good of a community,” Golden says.

paonia library began in May 2008 and was completed in January 2009. Mike golden (top) gives opening

Because of so much community involvement, the facility will be truly valued. “The community loves [the new library],” Alexander says. “They had a ceremony for the grand opening of the library, and the whole town showed up.”

remarks after the $1.6 million project’s completion. at 8,000 square feet the public library was designed by Humphries poli architects, while MWgC served as the project’s general contractor.

100

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 100

The Paonia Public Library project was a learning experience for MWGC, who recently started offering LEED consulting services. The successful geothermal system at the library helped MWGC to effectively advise The Community Support Center in Doulgas County, Colorado, to design and install a geothermal system on its project, which wasn’t in the original drawings. This cost analysis was done through evaluating the costs associated with bringing the gas line to the property and the life cycle costs of a conventional forced air system compared to a geothermal system.

The Paonia Public Library won the McGraw-Hill Gold Hard Hat Award for an outstanding green building project last year in addition to numerous awards over the years. In 2004, MWGC was one of only four general contractors to be inducted into the American Subcontractors Association Colorado Hall of Fame, and it won the Gold Hard Hat Award in 2007 in the design-build category for New World Millworks, a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility located in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Although MWGC is a relatively small company, it has worked on numerous projects over the last 25 years: commercial, institutional, medical, industrial, and civil projects that include numerous schools, fire stations, maintenance facilities, churches, and casino projects. The typical project ranges from $5–10 million.

Alexander sees MWGC’S small size as a company strength that provides additional value to clients. “Our work with [project] owners and customer bases is more direct, allowing us to assist them better than bigger companies.” The owner of MWGC, Mike Golden, helps oversee every project to ensure the highest level of excellence.

Honesty, integrity, quality, and performance are strong company values that continue to thrive at MWGC. gb&d

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:27:14 AM

KDUU\EUD

When choosing a contractor to come into your home or business, you want someone who is trustworthy and experienced, someone who will listen to your ideas and concerns, and who will provide you with excellent customer service from start to finish. We are that company.

+DUU\ %UDVZHOO ,QF KDV EHHQ VHUYLQJ WKH '& PHWUR DUHD VLQFH $V D ZHOO HVWDEOLVKHG DQG UHVSHFWHG FRQWUDFWRU ORFDWHG LQ $OH[DQGULD 9$ ZH DUH IDPLOLDU ZLWK WKH UHTXLUHPHQWV DQG H[SHFWDWLRQV DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK EXLOGLQJ SURMHFWV LQ WKLV SURPLQHQW ORFDOH :H GHOLYHU WKH SDUDPRXQW TXDOLW\ \RX H[SHFW IRU \RXU SURMHFW QR PDWWHU WKH VL]H RU FRPSOH[LW\ '5+&'06+#. 41,'%65 0%.7&'U â&#x20AC;¢ +LVWRULF KRPHV â&#x20AC;¢ +RPH DGGLWLRQV ODUJH DQG VPDOO â&#x20AC;¢ .LWFKHQ EDWKURRP DQG EDVHPHQW UHPRGHOV â&#x20AC;¢ ([WHULRU UHPRGHOLQJ 1//'4%+#. 41,'%65 0%.7&'U â&#x20AC;¢ +LVWRULF EXLOGLQJV â&#x20AC;¢ 2IILFH LQWHULRUV â&#x20AC;¢ 6FKRRO DQG FKXUFK UHQRYDWLRQV â&#x20AC;¢ /((' *UHHQ EXLOGLQJ SURMHFWV 2XU H[SHULHQFHG SURDFWLYH WHDP SULGHV WKHPVHOYHV RQ WKHLU DELOLW\ WR SURYLGH XQVXUSDVVHG VHUYLFH DQG FXVWRPHU FDUH 7R ILQG RXW PRUH RQ KRZ ZH FDQ DVVLVW \RX ZLWK \RXU QH[W SURMHFW SOHDVH YLVLW RXU ZHEVLWH RU JLYH XV D FDOO WRGD\

HARRY BRASWELL, INC. GENERAL CONTRACTOR C OMMERCIAL

RESIDENTIAL

REMODELING

Phone: 703-836-1776 â&#x20AC;¢ Fax: 703-836-1226 â&#x20AC;¢ www.HarryBraswell.com â&#x20AC;¢ info@harrybraswell.com

KDUU\EUDVZHOOB LQGG GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 101

30 5/15/10 2:28:53 AM

spaces/commercial & recreation

re-adapted reuse Harry Braswell, Inc.’s use of old material that will blend with the Temple Hall Farm Park’s historic mansion and outbuildings is an innovative reuse of old, local material

by Susan Johnston while many contractors travel hundreds of miles to build a shopping center or renovate a school, the Northern Virginia-based general contractor, Harry Braswell, Inc., has succeeded by offering a full range of services to a relatively small geographic area. Over the 25 years since Harry Braswell was founded, Alexandria, Virginia, has grown into a bustling suburb of Washington, DC, and the company has worked on a steady stream of projects including residential and commercial buildings. They’ve also completed historic renovations, projects for the local schools and park authorities, and other public agencies.

“We’ve tried to make a presence here so our area knows us by reputation and knows we can service a lot of different needs,” says Harry Braswell, president, founder, and LEED AP. “It’s given us an advantage because we have a familiarity with the area. We know the codes and what the different jurisdictions require.”

Braswell describes Alexandria as “a great area to work in because there are a lot of intelligent, progressive people who care about issues like the environment.” He points to the fact that the City of Alexandria recently began requiring all new buildings under construction (with the exception of residential additions by the homeowner) to conform to LEED-certification standards.

Of course, meeting those standards can be a challenge, particularly when historic buildings or local ordinances are involved, sometimes creating contradictory agendas. “One thing we’ve noticed is the lack of coordination with LEED and historic restoration,” Braswell says. “We will get one of set of requirements to restore a property, and we have another set of requirements from LEED. I did hear that LEED is starting to develop a LEED for historic buildings. Right now, you have to take it on a case-by-case basis. You look at the criteria and you try to make sense out of the two.”

The company also separates and recycles all its own waste from construction projects. “It makes sense monetarily to do these things,” Braswell explains. “A lot of contractors just throw everything in one dumpster, but we separate and recycle all our own waste. It saves us money. Some of the loads we can get paid for, like metals. As recycling becomes more commonplace, it also becomes less expensive than today’s present alternatives.”

The company has also reduced its environmental impact by helping employees get fuel-efficient vehicles for commuting to and from Alexandria and keeping the company’s twenty or so trucks stocked with materials. “Most construction companies let their guys drive their trucks home loaded with tools they don’t use at home,” Braswell says. “Parking trucks at the office at the end of the day saves gas money for our workers as well as reducing the environmental impact.

It’s a logical way to work.”

Recent projects include the completion of two two-bedroom houses for the Virginia Theological Seminary. The structures will house seminary faculty and are among the first homes in Alexandria to meet LEED certification since the program started last year. Later in 2010, the company will begin work on a visitor center at Temple Hall Farm Park for the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. The 286-acre farm includes a historic mansion and outbuildings.

“One of the exciting parts of the Temple Hall Farm Park project is that we’ve taken down local structures to reuse materials that would otherwise have been put in a landfill,” Braswell says. “The majority of the new structure is going to be built out of material from old barns so that it will blend with the existing structures. We’ll also have a geothermal-heating and -cooling system, and a windmill will redistribute stormwater.” He says that the firm is striving for LEED Silver, possibly LEED Gold, on the project.

Even if LEED doesn’t become the norm everywhere, Braswell sees LEED influencing state and federal requirements for builders. “Over time, these green-building principles are slowly being implemented,” he explains. “A lot of the things have become standard in the International Building Code, and some practices are being mandated by the local governments. These guidelines that make sense for the environment will slowly become common practice for everybody.” gb&d

However, Braswell also points out that renovating a building has inherent benefits for the environment because it keeps the old building materials out of landfills and reduces the need for all new materials. As he says, “with renovating, by nature, you’re doing a lot of good right from the start because you’re saving the existing structure.”

102

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 102

“With renovating…you’re doing a lot of good right from the start because you’re saving the existing structure.”

—Harry Braswell, President & Founder

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:29:03 AM

/educational

Brandeis University The Carl and Ruth Shapiro Campus Center at Brandeis University is demonstrative of a number of things: that community space can and should be central to collegiate life, that the spatial relationship between building and site can be fostered through innovative design, and most importantly, that sustainability and beauty are symbiotic partners.

Charles Rose Architects holds this last truth to be immutable.

“We try to create sustainable buildings that still have a lot of aesthetic value,” principal Charles Rose says, whose work at Brandeis is evidence of his success. Located in Waltham, Massachusetts, the structure features two distinct wings joined by a three-story atrium and houses classrooms that enjoy ample natural light.

The building’s unique architecture is classic Rose, devoid of any hint of the “orthogonal, recto-linear boxes” being favored by some of today’s designers. Instead, Rose pursues each project with a “sculptural” lens, seeking to create movement and life through captivating design. The campus center opened in 2002. (For more info on Charles Rose Architects, see p.44) gb&d

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 103

OCT 2010

103

5/15/10 2:29:27 AM

“It’s possible to do a sustainable project just by making smart, basic design decisions at the outset.”

—Michael Del Gatto, Principal

architecture for academia Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects has completed designs for the University of Phoenix in 41 states, and the University of Nevada–Las Vegas represents a current client as well as a pool of future talent

by David Hudnall

globalization offers increased opportunities to import a variety of products and services to job sites, but weighing the environmental footprint versus the luxury of a project is a task an increasing number of builders and architects are considering. “It’s just so energy consumptive to import all those things to a site,” says Steve Carpenter, a principal at Las Vegas-based Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects (CSD Architects). “We make it a point to research materials within our region for our projects. It’s easy to do, and you save so much energy. You don’t need to use tropical hardwoods.”

For CSD Architects, the distinctions between design and sustainable design are negligible. “Good design takes into account the concepts that sustainability has come to stand for these past few years—location of windows, shading, landscaping,” Carpenter says. “We’ve been engaging in LEED-like processes since the day we opened for business,” principal Michael Del Gatto adds.

104

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 104

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:29:40 AM

spaces/educational a steel frame for the building with a high recycled content, specified minimally packaged materials to reduce waste disposal, took advantage of geothermal heating, and selected finishes like cork flooring, which is durable and renewable.

“Things like [the cork flooring] gave the facility a nice, warm, welcoming feel,” Carpenter says. “We also included many recycled products in the carpeting and wall finishes, plus LED lighting—things that have a slightly larger upfront cost but that will provide huge annual savings for the city.”

Carpenter, in part, credits a responsive and flexible parksand-recreation department in Henderson with getting the project to LEED Gold. “They approached it so thoughtfully, and were just so on board with making decisions that would be most beneficial in the long term, which is of course what you need with green projects,” he says.

The firm currently is at work on ten projects that are either LEED or targeting LEED. One, for CORE Construction Services, in Las Vegas, is tracking Gold, as is the corporate headquarters for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, in Tucson, Arizona. One of CSD Architects’ better-known clients is the University of Phoenix, for whom it designs campus buildings in 41 states, one of which, in Boise, Idaho, recently was certified LEED Gold. The firm also is working on hotel-administration buildings for the University of Nevada–Las Vegas (UNLV). “We’ve built great relations with the state and universities over the years,” Carpenter says.

“We’ve done about five million square feet of higher education work alone so far.”

ABOVE: Copper, sandstone, and glass highlight the south-facing 10-story University of Phoenix Riverpoint Center. Horizontal

That day was in 1986, when Carpenter and Rick Seller, who had worked together at a different firm, realized a dream of many young architects: opening their own firm. They got a break from a local masonry contractor they knew, who allowed them to use his spare office as a base. The pair started off small: garage additions, kitchen and bathroom remodels. Over time, they made the decision to focus the practice on high-quality services and design—for a variety of industries. “We made a conscious decision not to specialize, and we think it’s benefitting us today,” Del Gatto says. “We don’t want to be pigeonholed: banks, healthcare, hospitality, parks and recreation, state, federal, transportation—we’ve built the firm on all these things.”

metal shade fins and deep roof overhangs at the dining commons were utilized to control the harsh southern sunlight.

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 105

A recent project, a senior center for the city of Henderson, Nevada, highlights CSD Architects’ burgeoning green-design capabilities. Originally mandated as a LEED Silver project, the 29,000-square-foot structure was certified LEED Gold, scoring within two points of Platinum. The firm used

CSD Architects’ employee base—25 in all—is of a healthy mix. They actively recruit new talent from UNLV and have many employees on staff with more than 35 years of experience. Seven are LEED APs. “First and foremost, our approach is about understanding the project site,” Del Gatto says. “That’s always the first thing we look at: building orientation, windows, climates. It’s possible to do a sustainable project just by making smart, basic design decisions at the outset. Or you can make all the wrong decisions and have a situation where the building systems have to make up for the lack of initial smart design. We try not to put the burden on building systems. It just makes things easier all around.” gb&d

A MeSSAGe FROM jBA CONSULTING eNGINeeRS jBA Consulting engineers has been a leading consulting engineering firm since 1966. jBA is one of few consulting engineering firms worldwide that can combine MeP engineering with telecommunications, acoustical, fire-protection engineering, and sustainability consulting services into one integrated package. This combined strength is unique in the engineering community.

OCT 2010

105

5/15/10 2:29:44 AM

SH Nevada is proud to be affiliated with Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects. We have been a full service Electrical Engineering firm since 1997. Projects include UNLV Advanced Clinical & Training Research Center, several Bureau of Land Management Projects and Custom Homes. Our services include complete Electrical and Low Voltage Engineering and Design.

SH Nevada supports Green Building Design.

jbace.com

Mechanical Electrical Plumbing Fire Protection & Life Safety Technology Ser vices 4175 S. Riley Street, Suite 203 Las Vegas, Nevada 89147 Tel: 702.873.0670 Fax: 702.873.1098

David O. Brantley, P.E., Principal email: dbrantley@shnevada.com

Website: www.shnevada.com Information: info@shnevada.com

Abu Dhabi Dubai Las Vegas Macau New Orleans Orange County

GB+D September/October 2010 Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects - SH Nevada 1/4.indd 13/22/10 10:11 PM

CBSA Architects is a medium size architectural firm which has served western NC for over 75 years. Their clients include universities, state, county and municipal governments and a host of private companies and churches organizations.

From traditional to modern architecture, our firm has designed and overseen projects for new facilities, renovations and additions for civic, educational, governmental, corporate, religious, healthcare and hospitality uses. We pride ourselves in being flexible and cost-efficient, providing clients with lower costs per square foot while consistently completing projects on time and on budget.

106

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 106

226 Second Street NW POBox 1239 Hickory, NC 28601 Phone 828-322-3403 Fax 828-322-1802

CBSA’s team of LEED accredited professionals make use of the most energy efficient and sustainable building practices. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings can deliver substantial savings in energy use – 25-30% better than the national average – which saves you money.

CBSA is also a member of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The USGBC is dedicated to expanding green building practices and education.

CBSA has composed a core of consultants including plumbing, mechanical and electrical engineers, civil and landscape architects, and various other consultants to facilitate the design process, create a facility built for form and function.

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:29:46 AM

NW 239 601 403 802

spaces/educational

green from the get go Only minor alterations were needed to bring CBSA Architects Inc.’s Snow Creek elementary design to the level of LeeD Silver, proving the firm’s long-held commitment to sustainability

by Suchi Rudra Vasquez

BELOW: Snow Creek Elementary School

“Most good architects have been green for years,” Sills says, “and a good example is our Snow Creek project. We were really pleased [with the LEED distinction]. To me, it means we must have been doing something right to begin with.”

When Sills considers marketing, he believes that CBSA is in the same boat as other design firms. “Our major focus is on repeat clients and keeping them satisfied,” he says. “We respond to RFPs, both formal and informal, like most firms.

Also, like I suspect of many other firms, the past couple of years didn’t require a lot of marketing. Everyone was busy.

We are now back at it and making personal calls.”

CBSA’s architects, at the behest of its president, work together as a team, rather than as individual architects.

“Buildings today are too complex and complicated for one person to ‘know it all,’” Sills explains. “It has to be a team effort between the architect, owner, and consultants to achieve a successful project.”

cbsa architects inc. has witnessed and withstood the changes of the past 75 years. Since 1934, the architecture firm has served Hickory, North Carolina, and the surrounding community, albeit under various names. As it underwent transition in title, it retained its focus—from the beginning, the firm has specialized in government and education projects.

Buildings for secondary and higher education played a “predominant role in the growth of the firm,” CBSA’s president, Ernest Sills, explains. In fact, more than 60 percent of CBSA’s work comes from the education sector, due to the firm’s innovative prototype design. Most recently, CBSA completed Snow Creek Elementary, a project that required only minor modifications to the firm’s prototype plan to conform to LEED Silver standards.

changed both the way everyone works and the technology requirements of our buildings. Now, more than ever, our building must be flexible, readily adaptable to change.”

But Sills says that CBSA’s success comes down to good oldfashioned hard work, just as it did for its founding architects, who began the practice amid the turmoil of the 1930s.

Three years ago, Caldwell County put the firm in charge of creating new quarters for its social-services and health departments with less than 16 months for both design and construction. The firm finished the construction documents and bidding for the 124,000-square-foot, three-story building in the allotted four months, and the contractor, Matthews Construction, completed construction in a year— ahead of schedule.

is slated for a Silver LEED for Schools certification.

Sills says that great teamwork by his staff, the consultants, and the owner’s representatives made it possible. gb&d

Sills emphasizes the importance of “the big picture” when beginning a green-design project and gives a couple pieces of advice: “Don’t get too hung up on minutiae when you are starting. You also need to remember that there is a difference between being ‘green’ and doing ‘LEED.’” One of the firm’s most challenging and interesting projects was the conversion of a 1960s high-school science building into a planetarium and aquarium for the local science center. Sills recalls that the firm had never designed a planetarium and had not worked on an aquarium in more than 20 years. “It really required all of us to learn about the particulars of both types of projects and to work with some really interesting consultants. The project turned out to be great fun and has been a huge success,” he says.

Times have definitely changed for CBSA, but client demands have changed as well. “We all expect faster, quicker service and answers,” Sills explains. “The computer and e-mail has

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 107

OCT 2010

107

5/15/10 2:29:50 AM

spaces/educational

the modern school house Innovative Modular Solutions’ works to integrate a modern school addition to Old Redford Academy High School’s existing building

by Anita R. Paul of all the things a modular building is known for, being green usually is not one of them. In the past, modular buildings developed a reputation for being cheap, flimsy, and unappealing. Innovative Modular Solutions (IMS), based in Bolingbrook, Illinois, is changing that perception.

“Modular has the stigma of being a trailer,” Carmody says, noting that his company aims to change that perception so that both building-industry professionals and potential customers see the benefits of this niche method. Modular buildings have, over traditional buildings, the advantage of speed; while the building is being constructed in a factory, the site can be prepared, resulting in a process that lasts a fraction of the time usually needed. This leads to less site disturbance and fewer traffic and environmental issues for the surrounding community. “In fact,” Carmody says, “modular building compresses the construction by 30 to 40 percent—sometimes even more.”

In addition to saving time, modular building has the advantage of adding a higher level of quality control. Constructing the building inside a factory’s controlled environment allows for a better layout pattern and promotes more efficient use of building materials. This minimizes waste and maximizes recycling.

“The process [of modular building] is inherently green,” says Patrick Carmody, president of the company giving modular its makeover. “It is a resource-efficient process with minimal waste, less site disturbance, and more control of the building environment.”

For 11 years, IMS has supplied temporary and permanent modular structures to the medical, education, childcare, and private business sectors. The IMS team serves as a dealer, creating or responding to end-user demand. Once the need is identified, IMS takes the project to a manufacturing facility for design and improvements, utilities, water, sewer, electrical, gas, foundation, and finish work. “We are willing to take on the entire scope of work,” Carmody says.

IMS also seems willing to take on the job of changing the way modular building is viewed.

BELOW: An art studio in a charter school in Gary, IN. The exposed roof structure offers

When considering locations where severe weather is an issue, modular makes even more sense. The building is constructed indoors, with the advantage of protecting lumber and other materials from moisture and damage.

increased ceiling heights and gives the room a creative, open atmosphere.

Modular building is slowly becoming a more accepted form of construction. Helping move the process along is the Modular Building Institute (MBI), a non-profit trade association serving the commercial factory-built-buildings industry.

The organization works with its members to gain a broader acceptance of modular building, in part through events like its annual convention where it awards honors for excellence in the building method.

Among this year’s winners was Innovative Modular Solutions. Its entry of a 20,000-square-foot addition to the existing Old Redford Academy High School won first place in the permanent-modular category for education buildings, as well as the judge’s choice award for highest overall score.

With nine large classrooms, two expanded classrooms for science or computers, administrative space, a cafeteria, a warming kitchen, storage space, two restroom modules, and 10-foot wide corridors, as well as a covered walkway to provide students with access to the existing building, the non-combustible building was complemented by a brick façade that allowed it to blend in with the existing 50-yearold school.

In the face of age-old stigmas, Carmody is committed to increasing the level of acceptance of modular buildings, whether temporary or permanent. “There are places in the

108

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 108

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:29:52 AM

spaces/educational

â&#x20AC;&#x153;What IMS is doing to change the perception is building projects, such as schools, that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be happy to have our children attend.â&#x20AC;?

!!!Â&#x;%,%#42)#!, 3%26)#% %LECTRICAL #ONTRACTORS #ELEBRATING 9EARS OF 3ERVICE

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Patrick Carmody, President

world where modular is more accepted, such as Europe, because these areas are more densely populated and raw materials are more difficult to find,â&#x20AC;? he says. What he would like to see in the United States is continuing acceptance of this type of construction as a viable alternative to conventional construction. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What IMS is doing to change the perception is building projects, such as schools, that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be happy to have our children attend,â&#x20AC;? Carmody says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing it one project at a time.â&#x20AC;? gb&d

A MeSSAGe FROM MAe CONSTRUCTION, INC. Congratulations to the IMS team for their highly developed sales and marketing skills. Under the outstanding leadership

residential commercial educational corporate heathcare industrial

â&#x20AC;&#x153;if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electrical we can do it!â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ .EWÂ&#x;3ERVICE Â&#x;2EPAIRS Â&#x; Â&#x;5PGRADES â&#x20AC;˘ 7IRINGÂ&#x; Â&#x;2EWIRING â&#x20AC;˘ 4ROUBLESHOOTING â&#x20AC;˘ -ETERÂ&#x; Â&#x;PANELÂ&#x;5PGRADES â&#x20AC;˘ 'ENERATORÂ&#x; Â&#x;503Â&#x;3YSTEMS â&#x20AC;˘ (IGHÂ&#x;6OLTAGE â&#x20AC;˘ 0REVENTATIVEÂ&#x;-AINTENANCEÂ&#x; Â&#x;-ORE

,OCALLY /WNED /PERATED p &ULLY ,ICENSED )NSURED 3ERVING 'REATER 3OUTHEAST -ICHIGAN

of Pat Carmody, IMS has grown to be a first-rate company in commercial modular business. We have all benefited from your had the opportunity to work with IMS over the past six years.

WWW AAAELECTRICMI COMÂ&#x;

We send you our sincere wishes for continued success!

Â&#x;/ROÂ&#x;$RIVE Â&#x;3HELBYÂ&#x;4OWNSHIP Â&#x;-ICHIGANÂ&#x; Â&#x;\Â&#x;0 Â&#x;

expertise and creativity. Mae Construction is pleased to have

MAE Construction, INC. -Specializing in Modular Installation-

)NNOVATIVEÂ&#x;-ODULARÂ&#x;3OLUTIONSÂ&#x;ISÂ&#x;DEDICATEDÂ&#x;TOÂ&#x;BUILDINGÂ&#x;HIGHÂ&#x; QUALITYÂ&#x;LEARNINGÂ&#x;ANDÂ&#x;WORKINGÂ&#x;ENVIRONMENTS Â&#x;)-3 Â&#x;FOCUSÂ&#x;ONÂ&#x; PROVIDINGÂ&#x;THEIRÂ&#x;CUSTOMERSÂ&#x;WITHÂ&#x;CONSISTENTÂ&#x;ANDÂ&#x;PROFESSIONALÂ&#x; SERVICE Â&#x;HASÂ&#x;LEDÂ&#x;THEMÂ&#x;TOÂ&#x;BECOMEÂ&#x;AÂ&#x;LEADINGÂ&#x;PROVIDERÂ&#x;OFÂ&#x; MODULARÂ&#x;BUILDINGSÂ&#x;FORÂ&#x;TEMPORARYÂ&#x;ORÂ&#x;PERMANENTÂ&#x;SPACE Â&#x;

02'8/$5 %8,/',1* ,167,787(

585 Mae Construction Road | Tyrone, PA 16686 butch@winbeam.com | mae1@winbeam.com

Office: 814-684-9461 | Fax: 814-684-9463

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 109

Â&#x;% Â&#x;3OUTHÂ&#x;&RONTAGEÂ&#x;2D Â&#x;5NITÂ&#x;" Â&#x;"OLINGBROOK Â&#x;),Â&#x; 4EL Â&#x; Â&#x;Â&#x;&AX Â&#x;

WWW INNOVATIVEMODULAR COM OCT 2010

109

5/15/10 2:29:59 AM

spaces/educational

an established company develops deep ties in its community. Greenville, South Carolina, has been served by one full-service general contracting and construction management firm for more than half a century. This year, Harper Corporation celebrates 60 years in business and continues to serve clients in and around the region.

Doug Harper, the company’s president, says giving back to the community is a priority at Harper Corporation. An avid cyclist, he is part of a 100-member cycling team (Team Harper) that raises money for charities like Meals on Wheels. The team includes employees, clients, and residents. “Our cycling team benefits the greater community and also serves to promote health and wellness,” Harper explains.

Cycling is a small but powerful act, and its community-oriented and environmentally friendly nature provides a metaphor for Harper Corporation’s other efforts. The company is contributing to the overall health of the Southeast United States through its green-building objectives. The hope is that area businesses and residents will be healthier and more sustainable.

The Collaboration 3 research-and-design facility on Clemson University’s International Center of Automotive Research campus.

the surviving sector A new research-and-design facility for Clemson University, built in part by Harper Corporation, is symbolic of education clients’ dedicated pursuit of LeeD even in tough economic times

by Zach Baliva

110

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 110

The push started five years ago when Harper started to learn more about USGBC’s LEED program and adopted many of its core principles. “I started looking at operational and long-term lifecycle costs and realized that green building should be an objective for all building owners because it saves money and resources while allowing the buildings to last longer,” he says. Harper’s clients seem to be on the same page—the company is noticing an increasing market demand for green building that not only adds but creates value.

Historically, Harper has served many market niches including the commercial, retail, office, institutional, and healthcare sectors. Currently, the firm has noticed that corporate and education clients tend to request LEED standards more than some others, and with 12 LEED APs on staff, Harper Corporation is poised to serve those customers well. In fact, the firm completed many of the first LEED projects in South Carolina, starting with the LEED Silver headquarters of QS/1 in Spartanburg. The 5-story, 120,000square-foot facility paved the way for the $160 million in LEED-certified projects that came on its heels.

Chris Fay, director of business development, says Harper Corporation’s institutional clients are especially—and increasingly—interested in LEED construction.

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:30:03 AM

spaces/educational

“I started looking at operational and long-term lifecycle costs and realized that green building should be an objective for all building owners because it saves money and resources while allowing the buildings to last longer.”

—Doug Harper, President

The Furman Company hired Harper Corporation as its construction partner for Collaboration 3, an 118,000-squarefoot, LEED Gold, research-and-design facility on Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research campus. The building reduced energy consumption by 10–15 percent per year and was designed, permitted, built, and occupied in less than 12 months. Low-e glass and sunshades combine to reduce demand on interior-lighting systems and wall positioning maximizes the use of ambient light. An under-floor air system on the second-floor is more comfortable and efficient than an overhead system. Other sustainable elements include recycled content and a high-efficiency HVAC system.

Most recently, Harper Corporation was brought to a 64-acre campus to install infrastructure, hardscape, landscape, and 225,000-square-feet of office space for The South Financial Group. The project is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification and sits atop a former fiber plant. Although once a toxic site replete with chemicals and other pollutants, the remediated campus now serves as a beacon of corporate sustainability.

“We are proud to be part of a project that shows the lifecycle potential of these sites,” Fay says. “We teamed with the architect, client, and developer to build a fresh campus without disturbing raw land using an existing site that once had contamination problems. That’s what this is all about.”

Harper Corporation brought pervious paving, regional materials, and an elaborate, “smart” irrigation system to the project as well as other sustainable elements.

Harper’s sustainable efforts aren’t limited to its job sites— the company also is implementing several internal policies to address fleet efficiency, waste reduction, material selection, and energy consumption. These steps toward a sustainable future will help make sure the established company can continue to serve its region for another 60 years. gb&d

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 111

Design Installation Maintenance Bruce W. McCrary President

bruce@totalfireprotection.net

[p] 864-421-9293

[f] 864-421-9295

͘͜ Ǥ

͙͙͡͞Ǥ Ƥ ǡ ǡ ǡ Ǥ ơ Ǥ

ǡ ǡ ǡ ƥ ǡ Ǥ

Ǥ

Ǥ Ǥ ͙​͙​͙ ǡ ͚͚͜͡͞ ǣ ͜͠͞Ǧ͠͝͡Ǧ͜͟͡͞ ǣ ͜͠͞Ǧ͠͝​͝Ǧ͙͘͡͝ OCT 2010

111

5/15/10 2:30:04 AM

spaces/educational

living and learning LOCI Architecture saw a need at Brooklyn’s dilapidated PS 58 school; now, a donated media center and a planned lab/living classroom have rejuvenated the students and the community

by Thalia Aurinko-Mostow “it is our duty to teach children to be responsible citizens and to play an active role in the future of their neighborhoods, communities, and the world at large. By providing children with an active role in green living, we can instill in them a set of values they will carry into the future,” says David Briggs AIA, LEED AP, and principal and founder of LOCI Architecture. Briggs himself has two sons and lives with his wife in Brooklyn, also home to LOCI’s PS 58 project.

Briggs opened LOCI Architecture in 1993, after having spent four years with William McDonough in New York City—where he got his first taste of green building. They began small with residential and commercial projects, unable to immediately apply Briggs’ goals of green building. “My personal mission was to take what I learned about sustainable design at McDonough’s office and apply it to our projects, but, for the first few years, we had to concentrate on growing the business as a viable enterprise. We were successful in completing some green projects and educated ourselves on the rapid design and technological changes taking place in sustainable design,” Briggs explains. All of their employees, nine in total including eight architects and one bookkeeper, are well versed in sustainable design—half of them are LEED-accredited professionals. Although the majority of the company’s projects range from $100,000 to $5 million, it regularly provides pro-bono work for projects that enrich communities and strive for a more sustainable environment. These projects include community organizations, schools, and individuals who typically don’t have the budget for LOCI’s architectural services.

CARROLL SCHOOL LIBRARY The library was only the beginning of the work LOCI would do for PS 58. They are currently in the fundraising stage for a green roof, which will serve as a combination laboratory, living classroom, and self-contained space that will also allow for extended instruction. The space will be a 32,000-square-foot working garden that will provide cleaner water and air and help to improve the local environment while making a positive impact on education. If built, the following will be included: • two greenhouses • a weather station • a covered outdoor classroom and lab with areas for research • photovoltaic panels and an energy station • a composting and worm farm • new bathrooms • a washing station • wildlife gardens designed to attract native fauna • edible gardens

project pro-bono, finding it more than fit their criteria for enriching the community.

ABOVE, RIGHT: The Carroll School library is equipped with custom work stations

One such project was PS 58, the Carroll School, a Brooklyn public school in Carroll Gardens. Briggs’ sons both attended PS 58, and, after passing an ad hoc science lab with yellowing walls and cracked tiles one too many times during parent-teacher conferences, Briggs decided to take action. “A group of parents recognized the need for a real media center in the school that would provide a centralized location for books that was completely set apart from the institutional classrooms,” he explains. LOCI did the entire

112

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 112

and natural linoleum flooring. Rolling bookshelves allow for larger school gatherings, and an abstract solar system design is incorporated into the flooring, creating a playful juxtaposition.

Two working artists, who are also parents at the school, Derek Stenborg and Stephen Gaffney, created murals for the library depicting the history, fables, and myths of literature. “We started with a vibrant palette reflecting the spirit and warmth of a learning environment. Our design choices revolved around the idea that libraries, their books, and their stories are at the center of all learning,” Briggs explains. In addition, the renovation of the library includes a natural linoleum floor with an abstract pattern of the solar system; rolling bookshelves that accommodate larger school gatherings, author visits, and dance classes; custom furniture; and a sanded-acrylic wall painted to resemble books side-by-side on a shelf.

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:30:07 AM

spaces/educational

“By providing children with an active role in green living, we can instill in them a set of values they will carry into the future.”

—David Briggs, Founder & Principal

LOCI has not yet had a LEED-certified project but puts it at the top of their list of ambitions for the next couple of years. They make a point of using some aspect of green building in every project they work on whether it is residential, commercial, or academic. Jane McGarry of LOCI sees more green roofs in the company’s future and hopes that by 2020 they will be a premier sustainable-design firm.

“We intend to eventually branch out from academic project types to community building, public buildings, and landscapes in order to fulfill our ongoing commitment to New York City, its communities, and the environment at large,” she adds. With finished projects in New Jersey, New Orleans, and Long Island, LOCI might not have to wait until 2020 to reach its goal. gb&d

general contracting construction & cabinetry painting & wallpapering decorative painting & murals leafing & staining tinted plaster & stucco veneziano

S ILVER LINING I n t e r i o r s

2091 Broadway New York, New York 10023 212.496.7800 212.496.1012 FAX SILVERLININGINTERIORS.COM gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 113

OCT 2010

113

5/15/10 2:30:09 AM

spaces/educational

studying abroad

arid Middle East remain pertinent, indeed invaluable, when designing for the lush, rain-saturated Northwest. Even if green design is more a matter of principle than necessity at home, the overriding goal remains the same: create an attractive, eco-friendly, and functional building at the lowest possible cost. “We approach [every project] with the same intensity in making it as cost effective and sustainable as possible,” Hall says.

With a commitment to educational, socially conscious, and international projects that can, in part, be traced back to one partner’s work on a school in Sudan, Yost Grube Hall Architecture looks to the future

by Matt Petrusek portland, oregon, and kartoum, sudan, stand continents—if not worlds—apart, but they share at least one commonality: Joachim Grube. In the early 1960s, Grube was serving as UNESCO’s lead architect for the Regional School Planning Center for Africa in Sudan, when he received an unexpected but enticing offer to found a Portland-based firm with two architects regionally renowned for their rigorous, analytical approach to design.

Grube decided to accept the offer on one condition: the firm must commit to taking on Third World projects. The partners agreed, Grube packed his bags, and the rest is architectural—and international—history.

diagram of the Humboldt State University Behavioral and Social Sciences Building.

Rendering: YGH.

In each case, YGH drew on its green expertise, including lessons garnered from working in remote international locations: conserve resources, protect the surrounding environment, and achieve LEED Gold-level efficiency.

SU M M

FAN ASSISTED STACK EFFECT

ER S U N

Nearly 50 years later, that foundational promise has grown into a legacy of international success that has accounted for more than a third of Yost Grube Hall Architecture’s (YGH) workload. YGH’s commitment to providing underdeveloped regions with functional, innovative, and attractive design has also indelibly shaped its culture and character, especially its view of sustainable design. “The firm’s work overseas is the basis of our approach to sustainability,” says Nels Hall, a principal and partner at the firm since 1980. “Working in countries like Kazakhstan and Angola, you have to focus on daylighting, cross ventilation, using local materials, and available technology.”

BELOW: Natural ventilation and systems

This potent mixture of principle and experience has produced extraordinary results. In the past decade, for example, YGH has designed a number of LEED Gold buildings in the US, including: • North Mall Office Building for the State of Oregon; • Oregon State University Kelley Engineering Center; • Humboldt State University Behavioral and Social Sciences Building; • San Luis Port of Entry; and • the Dow Chemical Houston regional offices.

WI

NT

ER

OPERABLE LOUVER SU N

Conservation and efficiency thus have been, since YGH’s inception, deeply intertwined with designing itself. “It’s part of the DNA of this firm,” says Miles Woofter, a senior associate. Over the years, the firm has drawn on this nowingrained expertise to design eco-friendly facilities across the globe, ranging from academic buildings in Botswana, to corporate headquarters in Kazakhstan, to US embassies in South America, Africa, and the Middle East.

Given this stunning international repertoire—all the more remarkable considering the firm’s location and relatively small size—it’s easy to overlook that YGH also serves higher-education and public- and private-sector clients throughout the western US. The firm, however, does not neatly partition its design strategies into “international” and “domestic” categories; the lessons it has learned working in the

114

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 114

WARM AIR COOL AIR

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:30:11 AM

spaces/educational

The Behavioral and Social Sciences Building at Humboldt State University was honored with the best overall sustainable design award by the entire UC/CSU system

“[Diversity] adds a unique dimension to the firm by tying everyone to the world in terms of seeing sustainability as a global endeavor.”

—Nels Hall, Principal & Partner gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 115

in 2005 and became the first LEED Gold-certified academic building for the CSU system. Photo: Pete Eckert, Eckert & Eckert Photography.

OCT 2010

115

5/15/10 2:30:15 AM

spaces/educational

Yost Grube Hall Architecture

â&#x20AC;&#x153;[Our] firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work overseas is the basis of our approach to sustainability. Working in countries like Kazakhstan and Angola, you have to focus on daylighting, cross ventilation, using local materials, and available technology. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of the DNA of this firm.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Nels Hall, Principal & Partner

These examples also point to another, perhaps less tangibleâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but equally influentialâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;way the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global experience has defined its character. If sustainability is a uniform goal that YGH pursues in all its projects, diversity of individuals and ideas, the firm has learned, comprise an indispensable resource to attaining it. It is a lesson instantiated in the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workforceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;which currently includes individuals from Chile, Russia, and Franceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and its commitment to partnering with local businesses and communities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[Diversity] adds a unique dimension to the firm,â&#x20AC;? Hall says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;by tying everyone to the world in terms of seeing sustainability as a global endeavor.â&#x20AC;?

This â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;tying togetherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; serves as an apt metaphorical synthesis for YGHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self-defined role in the world of design. The concept represents not only the means with which the firm achieves its remarkable successâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;leveraging the talents of diverse individuals and communities across the globeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but also, in a sense, the end the firm ultimately hopes to attain with its work. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment and experience is ultimately a team process on the broadest scale,â&#x20AC;? Hall notes, calling its work a â&#x20AC;&#x153;synergistic global practice.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Teamwork between YGH professionals and partner firms around the globe breaks down barriers and contributes to improving the caliber of sustainable design internationally.â&#x20AC;? gb&d

A MeSSAGe FROM GLUMAC Glumac and Yost Grube Hall Architecture have had a relationship dating back to 1985. YGHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion for design excellence matches ours for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thinkingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Inside the Building.â&#x20AC;? Great engineering is transparent and complements great architecture.

With YGH we see sustainable design, as well as implementation of integrated design, as aligning our firms even more. We congratulate our colleagues on their past achievements and eagerly look forward to more great collaboration in the future.

)HDWXUHG 3URMHFW 2UHJRQ 6WDWH .HOOH\ (QJLQHHULQJ &HQWHU &RUYDOOLV 2UHJRQ )LUVW /((' *ROG $FDGHPLF %XLOGLQJ LQ WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV

Yost Grube Hall Architects

5

&ROODERUDWLQJ VLQFH 116

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 116

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:30:17 AM

spaces/educational

ECODORM AT WARREN WILSON COLLEGE

classroom dorm Samsel Architects’ ecoDorm broke records for the firm as well as Warren Wilson College, but its true innovation is its constant educational application to the students living within it

As Samsel Architects’ first LeeD project, the LeeD Platinumcertified student building: • was installed with a 10,000-gallon rainwater cistern • uses 74% less portable water when compared to general building codes • requires 63% less electricity than a typical dorm • uses 73% less fossil fuels • reduces 66% of total energy cost • prevents 69 tons of carbon emissions from being released into the air

by Julie Schaeffer, when jim samsel began his career in architecture, conservation was hot—but by the time he founded his own firm 10 years later, federal policy had shifted. That didn’t deter Samsel, however. “Our interest in historical preservation and energy conversation projects was still there, and we were able to cultivate some early clients with similar interests,” he says.

From the beginning, Samsel Architects has seen the merging of architectural tradition with modern interpretation as a natural design evolution. “Western North Carolina’s historic influences produced a wealth of early 20th century design, which we continue to find inspiring—but we’re careful to avoid mimicking history,” Samsel says. “Our designs become a new language of aesthetic, form, and detail.”

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 117

Part of this new language is the firm’s commitment to sustainability—a concept that is once again popular. “Today, we’re at a point in the evolution of the green-building movement where energy efficiency is something we incorporate in every project; its not something we have to convince our clients to do, largely because, economically, it makes sense,” says Duncan McPherson, the firm’s sustainability coordinator. “Beyond that, we’re able to layer in different types of green-building techniques, such as passive and active solar design, high-performance envelopes, rain-water collection, green roofs, and daylighting.”

The firm’s first LEED project was the EcoDorm at Warren Wilson College, completed in 2005; it was the first LEED Platinum building in the region. “Warren Wilson College

OCT 2010

117

5/15/10 2:30:19 AM

spaces/educational

Samsel Architects them front and center; showing students how the building works from a conservation standpoint helps them see how their daily lifestyle affects the building’s performance.”

LEFT: The EcoDorm at Warren Wilson College (far center) is

Samsel is now hoping to implement the lessons learned from the EcoDorm in other projects. To that end, it has two LEED-accredited professionals on staff, and it has adopted the 2030 Challenge: an initiative by architect/activist Edward Mazria and environmental-advocacy group Architecture 2030 asking the global architecture and construction community to adopt a series of greenhouse-gas reduction targets for new and renovated buildings.

the fourth in the series of Ballfield Dorms. The

courtesy of Samsel

Samsel also hopes to see LEED evolve. “The one frustration we’ve had with LEED as a process is that a lot of clients don’t have the stamina for it,” he says. “We think it’s a good program, and we try to use the LEED checklist to educate clients about sustainability principles and what they could include in their projects. But we also think we need to move forward with a lot of things that have been proven by LEED and get them into the energy codes and utility policies.”

Architects

gb&d

EcoDorm is certified LEED-EB Platinum, the first such designation for a dormitory in the United States. All photos: John Warner,

“We think we need to move forward with a lot of things that have been proven by LEED and get them into the energy codes and utility policies.”

—jim Samsel, Owner was a great client because they were interested in making this project a demonstration facility that highlighted as many green building techniques as possible,” McPherson says. “So we got to incorporate technologies we’ve known about for years and also try out some new things.”

The dorm also provided Samsel Architects with the opportunity to monitor the performance of the green-building techniques it used—important given that one of the firm’s goals is to keep up on current green-building research and technology. The end result: “The building’s actual performance was ultimately more efficient from a water and energy conservation standpoint than we had anticipated,” McPherson says.

www.samselarchitects.com 60 Biltmore Avenue Asheville, North Carolina 28801 P 828.253.1124 F 828.254.7316

Perhaps most importantly, however, the EcoDorm presented an opportunity to educate. “Beyond its amazing performance, the most powerful aspect of the EcoDorm is the education it is providing to the college as a whole, particular the students living in it,” McPherson says. “A lot of green building techniques are hidden inside buildings, but we put architecture

planning

Asheville, North Carolina

interiors

green building

preservation

25 years of environmentally responsive design

www. s a m sel a r c hi tec ts.co m 118

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 118

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:30:23 AM

spaces/educational

south side reuse Chicago’s UrbanWorks, whose projects are mostly public entities, turns a 1920s South Side bakery into a new UNO charter school slated for LEED Gold certification

aBOVe: Dramatically glazed building volumes provide sunlit communal spaces that breathe new life into an existing brick-and-concrete industrial structure. the uNO project was also a 2010 nationwide finalist for the uLI awards.

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Finalx.indd 119

by Joyce Finn urbanworks, a chicago architecture firm, was catapulted into the limelight after winning the 2010 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design. “This is the most prominent community-architecture award in Chicago, and we are very proud to receive it,” principal Meggan Lux says. “What’s great is that now people are checking out our website and our work. They’re telling us what really great design work we’re doing.” The firm’s prize-winning project, United

Neighborhood Organization (UNO) Veteran’s Memorial Campus at Archer Heights, also is a 2010 nationwide finalist for the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Awards.

Founded in 1993, UrbanWorks, with a staff of 12, is a federally SBA-certified, woman-owned firm and a member of the USGBC. Its 11 architects are affiliated with the American Institute of Architects, and Lux has been elected to the 2010 Executive Committee of the AIA National Board of Directors. “We’re a very collaborative and dynamic firm with a strong team approach to projects and a flat management style,” Lux says. With 100 percent of business from repeat clients or referrals, the firm rarely advertises.

More than 50 percent of UrbanWorks’ projects are for the local not-for-profit sector. According to Robert Natke, principal and vice president, “My wife, Patricia, is one of the few Latina architects around who owns a business, so a lot of our clients tend to be in the Hispanic community. They usually look proactively for someone who genuinely cares and has long-standing volunteer roots

OCT 2010

119

5/15/10 3:31:44 AM

spaces/educational

UrbanWorks

“Although LEED certification is mandated by the City of Chicago in the public sector, our non-profit clients are also very knowledgeable and are requesting more sustainable environments.”

—Meggan Lux, Partner

in the Hispanic community. She’s become quite famous because of that.” Natke goes on to say that the other half of their work is Chicago-based municipal projects—public schools, the Public Building Commission, the Chicago Park District. “Although LEED certification is mandated by the City of Chicago in the public sector,” Lux explains, “our non-profit clients are also very knowledgeable and are requesting more sustainable environments.”

The UNO Veteran Memorial Charter School Campus, completed in 2009, was a $44 million, 180,000-squarefoot adaptive reuse of a bakery warehouse originally built in two phases during the 1920s and then the 1940s. The building, currently under review with the USGBC for LEED Gold status, serves 1,700 students in three separate schools all within the same structure. Each school is on a separate floor and all three share the same amenities such as the lunch room, gym, and library. Some of the sustainable elements include solar panels, reused masonry, permeable pavers in the parking lot, and a green roof used as an outdoor educational facility. “The culture of the school is about educating the entire family not just the students,” Natke says.

Because UrbanWorks projects are primarily within Chicago, 60 to 70 percent of its work is in adaptive reuse.

“There’s always at least one adaptive reuse project on the boards,” Natke notes. “We’re currently converting a vacant church into office space in a historical section of the city for a not-for-profit client. Adaptive reuse projects are often the most challenging in the field. All these churches were built when Catholicism was booming in Chicago in the 1920s and 1930s.”

ABOVE: University of Chicago’s Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.

New construction projects include work for The Resurrection Project (TRP) which improves and supports older Hispanic neighborhoods by renovating churches and building dorms and senior housing as well as initiating community landscaping projects. Currently, UrbanWorks is constructing 6-story student dormitories in some older sections of the city. These dormitories, not affiliated with a specific college or university, offer students affordable accommodation next to public transportation. With its commitment to social responsibility and sustainable design, the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award will be just one of many awards in the years ahead for UrbanWorks. gb&d

CivCon Services has four service divisions - program management, construction management, construction inspection and civil design services - staffed to provide clients with innovative and cost effective solutions on public, private, transportation and institutional projects including major airport and rail programs, streets and highways, schools, financial institutions, and commercial, retail and recreational facilities.

CivCon Services’ major contributions include their Program Management work on the Midway Airport Terminal Development Program and their current participation as a Joint Venture Partner of the Program Management Team on the O’Hare Modernization Program.

230 W. Monroe Street, Suite 340 Chicago, IL 60606 www.c ivc oninc . com 120

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 120

P: 312-379-2220 F: 312-379-2225

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:30:47 AM

spaces/educational

mapping urban renewal The name map-lab, inc., is a nod to its founder’s time at MIT as well as a commitment to scientifically secure sustainable design

by Zipporah Porton

BELOW: The new 24/7 quiet study area in MIT’s Dewey Library features natural light with new shades and new window film to

after 10 years of work at the massachusetts institute of Technology (MIT), David Silverman was inspired to start the sustainable architecture and project management firm map-lab, inc. in 2004. At MIT, Silverman began as an in-house architect and finished his experience with the project management team for the Ray and Maria Stata Center, designed by Frank Gehry.

block 49% of solar heat gain. Refurbished wood carrels and chairs and the refinished existing wall paneling from the original library were used in the library design.

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 121

After naming his company with an acronym for “management, architecture, planning-laboratory,” it made sense for Silverman to combine his skills as an architect and project manager. “The laboratory [in our name] is a nod to our experience at MIT, but also expresses our interest and ability to do design and research in a controlled environment,” Silverman explains.

Focusing on sustainability with every project, map-lab specializes in higher-education institutions, and it also works with non-profit cultural institutions on performing-arts venues, cultural-arts centers, or new museums. Recently, map-lab, inc. designed a temple building that is currently under construction in Newton, Massachusetts.

While sustainability is an integral part of map-lab, inc., Silverman does not believe in following a LEED checklist, as many of his clients are not interested in obtaining the plaque. “All of our projects seek to find sustainable-design opportunities inherent to the project and meet our clients’ objectives,” Silverman says. “We help the client to understand that it doesn’t cost more to build a green building, and that making smarter choices about building systems can lead to operational savings down the road.”

Additionally, map-lab, inc. is one of a handful of Bostonarea firms that has signed on to the Architecture 2030 and AIA 2030 Commitment. Stephen Moore, LEED AP, is the director of design and sustainable initiatives at map-lab, and he is in charge of guiding the effort. The firm has also recently started working on energy-audit projects that focus on understanding the potential energy savings and operation costs for clients. “Our role is to observe existing conditions and identify potential opportunities to save energy,” Silverman says. “As a part of this process, we help educate

OCT 2010

121

5/15/10 2:30:49 AM

spaces/educational

map-lab, inc.

“We help the client to understand that it doesn’t cost more to build a green building, and that making smarter choices about building systems can lead to operational savings down the road.”

—David Silverman, President

LEFT: Abundant natural light penetrates the existing concrete structure

occupants and work on behavioral modifications that can lead to less energy consumption, resulting in a stronger bottom line for the company.”

of the Dewey Library to create a lively yet relaxing environment.

RIGHT: This state-ofthe-art performance space at the New England Conservatory features a flexible seating layout, improved lighting and controls, and multimedia presentation capabilities.

122

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 122

Though not specifically a map-lab, inc. project, Silverman’s work on the Stata Center inspired the company’s sustainable focus. “The Stata Center team led the sustainable design effort for MIT and our project shared research with other MIT project teams and their design teams,” Silverman explains. “As a result of this experience, we were able to create consensus among the architects, engineers, contractors, and MIT client team that we should build sustainably and responsibly.” Some green project features of the Strata Center include: • natural ventilation/operable windows;

• greywater system for flushing water; • displacement under-floor air delivery; and • recycled-wood paneling from a temporary building formerly on the project site.

Currently, map-lab, inc. is working on a project known as Roxbury Gardens. Moore won a design competition with his concept in 2008, and the firm is now implementing the idea.

The overall goal is to create a model of urban rejuvenation that is self-generated and can be applied to other neighborhoods looking to empower communities to participate in their own revitalization by reconnecting with the earth and each other. “This project represents our interest in sustainable design to help build stronger communities, and we are excited to be moving forward with this initiative,” Silverman says.

Sustainable from the start, Silverman’s goal with map-lab, inc. was always to provide green solutions without added cost to his clients. However, going green wasn’t specifically a business decision, though it has helped lead to success.

“We don’t tend to think of our sustainable efforts in business terms,” Silverman says. “We don’t, for instance, charge more to design this way. Instead, it’s simply an integral part of our thinking and our design process.” gb&d

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:30:54 AM

Innovators in Building Specialized Environments Phone: 800-272-3282 Founded in 1975, Longden Company, Inc. is a New England-based specialty contractor composed of four divisions: Tate Raised Access Floors, Building Technology Platform, Server Room Design-Build, and Clean Rooms.

Longden Company, Inc. is one of the largest Tate dealers in the country, and the largest access floor dealer in New England.

We understand the specific needs and challenges that these spaces pose, and we have a long, successful history of effectively addressing those demands while exceeding our customers’ expectations.

Longden Company, Inc. is dedicated to building healthy and environmentally sound work areas. Our designs and products partner with the U.S. Green Building Council LEED Certifications.

Providing high performance designs for your projects and Mother Earth’s.

•

Underfloor Air

•

Modular Power

•

Access Floor Systems

Check us out on the Web! www.Longden.com

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 123

OCT 2010

123

5/15/10 2:30:55 AM

/urban designing for density A historic-district infill project in Santa Fe and a waterfront development in San Francisco provide glimpses into Opticos Design, Inc.’s vision for social equity through well-designed urban density

by Jennifer Hogeland an architect’s contribution to sustainability is typically thought of in terms of the building they design— the physical structure. However, the passion behind California’s Opticos Design, Inc., a Berkeley-based architectural firm, goes beyond its well-crafted buildings. The firm’s mission is to spur social and environmental change through the development of healthful, sustainable communities.

BELOW: This award-

break down the barriers in terms of zoning to encourage these type of structures to be built in new projects as well.”

An example of Opticos Design’s missing-middle theory is its courtyard housing project design, which won the GreenWORKS Design Competition.

The City of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Enterprise Community Partners, and Green Communities challenged architects to create a model green, affordable, infill project for the Westside-Guadalupe Historic District. Opticos Design responded with a design that integrated six units on the quarter-acre lot.

winning, affordablehousing design in Santa Fe’s WestsideGuadalupe Historic District is oriented around a series of courtyard

The design reinforced a sense of community while incorporating sustainability with passive-solar heating and cooling, vegetative roofs, low- or no-VOC finishes, local materials, and construction techniques that used recycled and reclaimed materials.

spaces and a shared

Principal Daniel Parolek founded Opticos Design in 2000, joined shortly thereafter by Karen Parolek and Stefan Pellegrini. The group set out to create an untraditional workplace—one where employees could walk to work and achieve the highly sought-after work/life balance. They pledged to recognize that the financial bottom line is only one piece of the puzzle. Opticos Design has done this remarkably well over the last 10 years. “The focus of our firm has always been the people we work with and the people we work for, as well as taking care of the environment,” Karen says.

community building.

The design maximizes passive-solar heating and cooling, uses solar to provide up to 40% of needed energy, and integrates a green roof that reduces heat gain and provides a habitat for ground-dwelling pollinators and avifauna.

Municipalities and private developers compose the majority of the firm’s clients. “Across that structure we work with everything from small, rural communities in California’s Central Valley to large communities like Cincinnati,” Daniel says. “We work with extremely diverse types and sizes of client. That is one of the things that keeps us excited on a dayto-day basis.”

Daniel says, “This design is an example of how well-designed density can play a role in the evolution of existing neighborhoods to meet the growing market demand for attached housing.”

Another sustainable project in its early stages is the Hercules Bayfront, a large waterfront property in California’s Bay Area, which received Stage 1 LEED-ND Certification in 2010. Opticos Design joined the property developer to help tie the site to the adjacent neighborhoods. The project includes nearly 40 acres with 1,224 residential units, 215,000 square feet of commercial space, 42,000 square feet of retail, an Amtrak station, and a potential ferry terminal. These elements work together to reveal a promising walkable community.

Opticos Design strives to renew sustainable communities and design better places for people to live and work—to create places where kids can ride their bikes to school and residents can walk to meet their daily needs. This philosophy inspires the firm to design a variety of housing options that will promote social and economic diversity in cities and neighborhoods.

This concept of the “missing middle” guides their practice.

Daniel explains, “One of our goals is to introduce those missing-middle building types back into old neighborhoods to revitalize and maintain them but also to create or

124

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 124

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:30:58 AM

spaces/urban

LEFT: The 30-arcre Hercules Bayfront site, certified LEED-ND Gold, integrates residential, retail, commercial, and flex space around a new Amtrak station, proposed ferry terminal, and regional bus station located on a new mixed-use main street.

plans for small California towns and unincorporated communities. Funded through environmental justice and community-planning grants, most have dealt directly with issues of revitalization, pedestrian connectivity, and safety in underserved communities. “They have become an integral component of our practice, and reflect our B Corp commitment to social change,” Pellegrini says.

Topping the firm’s list of B-Corporation accomplishments is that all 10 of the firm’s employees walk, bike, or take transit to work. They strive to be an example to other businesses.

“One of the most important points is, no matter what scale we are working at, we really are looking to do the right thing socially and environmentally for everyone involved,” Karen concludes. “All of our decisions are made with that thought in mind.” gb&d

A MeSSAGe FROM TIFFANY & BOSCO, P.A. Dustin jones of Tiffany & Bosco P.A. is a Phoenix-based zon-

“[The courtyard housing project] is an example of how well-designed density can play a role in the evolution of existing neighborhoods to meet the growing market demand for attached housing.”

ing attorney and green-development champion whose vast knowledge of land use, development, and government issues helps bridge the gap between clients’ projects and municipal, state and federal officials’ approval. We share and applaud Opticos Design’s passion for creating healthy, sustainable communities.

—Daniel Parolek, Principal

While Opticos Design did the site planning and design work, they also wrote the Form-Based Code to replace the existing zoning.

Leaders in zoning reform, Daniel and Karen are attempting to change the rules to make walkable, sustainable urbanism the default—instead of drivable suburbanism. The two co-authored the book Form-Based Codes: A Guide for Planners, Urban Designers, Municipalities and Developers to educate the building community on this growing neighborhood trend.

They are also founding members of the Form-Based Codes Institute, a group designed to promote best practices in form-based coding.

Inside the office, Opticos Design has established practices for all to live with integrity. In 2007, Opticos Design became a founding B-Corporation; the firm does their part to push for social and environmental change. Since 2003, Pellegrini has led efforts to author more than one dozen urban design

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 125

OCT 2010

125

5/15/10 2:31:01 AM

Photo Credit: Sheri Berliner

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 126

5/15/10 2:31:09 AM

solutions MILLWORK SURFACES MECHANICAL CONTRACTING RESTORATION INSULATION MODULAR DESIGN OUTDOOR DESIGN

MILLWORK

WeSTgaTe HaRdWoodS

127 130 133 136 138 140 142

Producing custom-made architectural millwork that benefits the environment and local tree populations at the time the mass-production and global-shipping capabilities of building products emerged, the craftsmanship of Westgate Hardwoods was an anomaly—and still continues to be. From custom furniture and coffered ceilings to fine kitchen cabinets, each item is “one of a kind.” The company uses a variety of premium wood species, including black walnut, alder, poplar, redwood, Chinese pistachio, and cherry, which come from Washington, Canada, and the eastern United States.

Westgate Hardwoods also has access to gorgeous local species due to their location in Northern California. “We’re very fortunate to be sitting right in the middle of an urban forest of Claro walnut,” says Alec Hoath, vice president of Westgate Hardwoods. “As far as the full-grown, mature trees, they are found exclusively in California. The species is native and has really, really beautiful wood.” The wood contains orange, brown, and black hues in conjunction with curly figures.

The founder of Chico California was an arborist who planted numerous Claro walnuts in the 1800s. Now many of these trees have started dying and need to be removed. “We have been harvesting [Claro walnut trees], and the whole process is very green. We only take out trees that have been classified as hazardous.”

TOP: Phil Aldred, mill

The company is concerned about the future of this majestic tree. Although many mature trees exist, the tree is in decline, as even local governments are not commonly replanting new trees.

on the island in this

foreman and walnut connoisseur, cutting logs.

BOTTOM: Euro cabinetry with raised panel door, and custom stain and glaze were used

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 127

kitchen. Rope crown, a farmhouse sink, and custom accents were also used.

OCT 2010

127

5/15/10 2:31:20 AM

solutions

Westgate Hardwoods

“We’re very fortunate to be sitting right in the middle of an urban forest of Claro walnut. As far as the fullgrown, mature trees, they are found exclusively in California. The species is native and has really, really beautiful wood.”

—Alec Hoath, Vice President

these initiatives save space in the landfill while helping the bottom line.

“The people who use our wood byproducts will usually come to get it, and we sometimes even get paid for it,” Hoath says. “The cost of unloading our dumpster is around $100. We have saved a lot of money by recycling.”

LEFT: Phil Aldred and Alec Hoath next to a fresh-cut Claro slab.

“[Claro walnut trees] are getting old, and they are being taken out,” Hoath says. “So far, there aren’t many new ones planted. We might be experiencing the end of an era for some of these trees.” To combat the problem, Westgate Hardwoods has started a program that encourages customers to plant Claro walnut trees in their yards.

In fact, many of the practices espoused by Westgate Hardwoods are very eco-friendly. The only plywood Westgate Hardwoods uses is PureBond by Columbia Forest Products, which contains no formaldehyde and uses a non-toxic adhesive that was designed by mimicking the protein secreted by mussels to grip rocks. “The product was created with the science of biomimicry,” Hoath says. “The result is a very safe and low-emissions plywood. That is what we use almost exclusively when we use plywood in our products.”

128

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 128

Westgate Hardwoods uses some wood that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting forests and promoting the use of sustainable forestry practices. The company is now working on manufacturing products that meet the rigorous durability requires of the Kitchen Cabinet Maker Association and the environmental criteria of LEED. This entails using water-based finishes and reducing the quantity of waste that the company generates.

Westgate Hardwoods has recently become environmentally friendly by finding uses for their waste products. Several years ago, the 40-yard dumpster needed to be emptied every week.

The sawdust, which was a large portion of this waste, is now used for horse bedding, garden mulch, and by a cogeneration plant for power.

The company is also working to create nitrogen-rich compost from their sawdust. All of

Such cost-saving measures are especially important in the current economic climate that has required the company to cut the workforce in half. Although the high-end architecturalmillwork market still exists, it has shrunk in the last couple years. The demand for specialty woods has also diminished, as some local species can have five times the cost per board-foot compared to readily available domestic wood species.

This has encouraged Westgate Millwork to explore new markets, such as e-commerce, where they are looking to reach a larger market with a smaller product. Although most of their products are not easy to ship or customize from a distance, signs and furniture can be.

Westgate Hardwoods has a vibrant company culture that encourages creativity. Hoath says that entering the mill “is like walking into a beehive. The camaraderie and teamwork is great. There is excellent communication throughout the company and a lot of respect.”

— by Sarah Lozanova

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:31:24 AM

greenB+D:Layout 6

3/3/10

5:03 PM

Page 1

The Industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Project Connection!

Find Vendors

/RZ FRVW IVF FHUWLILHG &XVWRP 0DGH 'RYHWDLO 'UDZHUV )6&

%$0%22 0DWHULDOV $YDLODEOH

&HUWLILHG

6LQFH

5HF\FOH 3XOO 2XWV

)UHH &RQVXOWDWLRQ

&RUQHU 'UDZHUV

1R DGGHG )RUPDOGDK\GH

www.thebluebook.com

Spec Products Share Plans/Specs

Promote Projects

&XUYHG )URQW 'UDZHUV

:DWHUEDVH )LQLVKHV

)6& &HUWLILHG )6& 6ROLG 0HODPLQH :RRGV 3O\ZRRG 0DSOH 2DN 0DGH The mark of &KHUU\ /RFDOO\ responsible forestry 0DKRJDQ\ SW-COC-000077LQ &DOLIRUQLD

Takeoff Plans

© 1996 FSC

'29( ZZZ GUDZHU FRP VDWLVIDFWLRQ

Get Connected Now...itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Free!

thebluebook.com | 888-303-2243

*XDUDQWHHG

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 129

Helping to connect Blue Book Customers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; like Sungloss Marble â&#x20AC;&#x201C; since 1913!

OCT 2010

129

5/15/10 2:31:53 AM

solutions SURFACES

SungloSS MaRBle Co. Natural restoration method prevents pollution and saves energy and money mike pavilon estimates that throughout the years, his natural-stone restorationand-repair business has saved millions of gallons of waste materials from running into lakes, rivers, and streams in the Chicago area Left to right: Alex Rocha, George David, and Lisa Park. Photo: Sheri Berliner. and across the Midwest, continuing on down the Mississippi past the reviving New Orleans.

He founded Sungloss Marble Company when he discovered a need for such a service in the local marketplace. After careful research and training with specialists flown in from Germany, Pavilon and his associates came across something extraordinary. “What we wound up doing was eliminating the need to use topcoats and waxes,” Pavilon says. “We use diamonds, ‘wet sanding’ processes, and water-based natural materials that allow one to polish and prepare the marble without harmful chemicals, dust, toxic debris, and waste. That, in and of —Mike Pavilon, Founder itself, is very environmentally friendly.” Restorits Jefferson Park office. The addition will ating rather than replacing floors also has the tach to a south-facing wall and provide natural added benefits of saving the client money, enheat and insulation for a particular part of the ergy, and aggravation. The energy expended building. by replacing stone—the process to quarry, cut, transport, re-cut, fabricate, transport, install, An example of the Sungloss work can be seen and seal it—is incredible. Sungloss saves that in the Administration and Public Safety Comenergy, and its customers save that money. plex in Elk Grove Village, the state of Illinois’ first town hall designated to receive LEED Gold Sungloss’ commitment to the environment certification. “The unique aspect of that job is can be seen in other aspects of the company as that we were not included in the original scope well. It is a member of the USGBC, and does its project,” says Sungloss vice president of busipart to stay on top of the latest information on ness development Lisa Park. “This was an adLEED standards. In addition to its work with dition...to the old building to expand it. The clients, Sungloss leads by example by adhering stone for the new floor came from Minnesota. to company policies designed with the environThe old building had granite flooring which ment in mind: had been waxed over and over again. They had • Rather than driving a fleet of fuel-hogging nothing in common. We spent about a month vans, Sungloss employees drive to sites in more removing all of the old wax with a biodegradeco-friendly station wagons, averaging no less able stripping agent and water. Once we come than 26 mpg. in, it’s the last time you have to do the waxing • The company’s office uses natural light and and stripping cycle, and on a maintenance levCFL bulbs. el, with water-based products, few chemicals • Plans are underway to build a Trombe wall for

“We use diamonds, ‘wetsanding’ processes, and water-based natural materials that allow one to polish and prepare the marble without harmful chemicals, dust, toxic debris, and waste.”

130

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 130

are needed to take care of the floor.” In recent years, additional high-visibility projects that utilized Sungloss’ techniques included work on several severely damaged condominium lobbies that were originally going to be replaced.

Pavilon points to some of the world’s oldest man-made structures in Turkey as proof that materials such as marble and granite can last for thousands of years. Companies like Sungloss serve to ensure these structures’ longevity. “Even if someone has broken the marble, there is a way to repair it,” Pavilon says. “If a floor or counter is broken, we can come in and fix it. That is something a lot of people don’t know. We have colorizing polyester mixes that harden with the marble. We can repair most pieces, rather than throw them away. Smooth it out, polish it up, and it will almost look brand new. There are a lot of ‘tricks of the trade.’”

— by Jamie Ludwig A MeSSAGe FROM THe BLUe BOOK BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION The Blue Book Building and Construction Network is the industry’s largest network of information, communication, and marketing solutions. established in 1913, The Blue Book Network leverages the industry’s most complete database and current technology to provide free workflow solutions throughout every phase of the project life cycle.

We are happy to work with the companies in our Network, like Sungloss Marble Co., providing them with exposure and free tools to help them build their business.

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:31:57 AM

solutions

'YWXSQ 6IG]GPIH +PEWW 'SYRXIVXSTW

'YWXSQ .SFW 'SPSVW 0SGEP 6IWSYVGIW 7IEQPIWW 7MROW

,)047 /))4 396 )2:-6321)28 % '0)%2)6 40%') *36 *9896) +)2)6%8-327

%JJSVHEFPI ø 7LMTW 2EXMSR[MHI 3J½ GI *E\ )QEMP VMZIVWIHKIGSYRXIVXSTW$KQEMP GSQ ;IFWMXI [[[ VMZIVWIHKIGSYRXIVXSTW GSQ

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 131

OCT 2010

131

5/15/10 2:31:58 AM

solutions SURFACES

RiveRS’ edge CounTeRTopS On the fast-track to being a premier designer and installer of recycled-glass and concrete counters the phrase “custom-made” calls to mind other, connected phrases: “quality,” “one-of-a-kind,” and “unique.” All these phrases could describe the products designed and molded by Rivers’ Edge Countertops, Inc., an eco-friendly company specializing in recycled glass and concrete surfaces.

Its owner and founder, Jeremiah Rivers, began the company to bring a growing industry to his home-state of Oklahoma. He grew up in the construction world, putting in windows and siding with his grandfather in the summers. Eight years ago he began working for a company that made laminate, granite, and quartz countertops, learning the ins and outs of cutting shapes from solid slabs. But he knew that he could make more of his skill and more of the product. So he started Rivers’ Edge.

“I felt like I had more to offer this industry than just making normal countertops like every other company,” Rivers says. “We are striving to provide affordable but eco-friendly countertops that look beautiful and are functional at the same time.” Rivers’ Edge has made countertops for churches, dentist offices, private homes, and more. The products’ make-up ranges from recycled glass, laminate, solidpour concrete, and concrete overlays.

Rivers and a colleague, Heath Gray, spent a year perfecting their blend of materials for the glass and concrete mixes before going public. The glass tops are formed from postconsumer glass from a local recycling center.

Using 75–80 percent glass in the mix makes it extremely scratch and heat resistant. The concrete tops are made from a portland base with different ad-mixes, incorporating crushed granite to increase its strength.

132

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 132

Custom vessel sinks like this one can be custom made out of recycled light bulbs.

“We have several green home builders in our state that are working with me to help build some of the most eco-friendly homes on the market. I feel like this will help my business grow in the way I have been dreaming about.”

—jeremiah Rivers, Owner & Founder

can be stained to imitate marble without the cost or waste.

Now that Rivers’ Edge has developed a product that is sustainable, beautiful, and affordable, the company is ready to introduce itself into a larger market. It already ships its product nationwide, and clients are split between private homeowners, contractors, and kitchen and bath designers, like Urban Kitchen and Baily Industries. Rivers is working on having his countertops on the vendors list of architects as well. But the biggest feat, and achievement, will be getting his product LEED certified, which should happen within the year.

Durability is just one of the many beneficial features of Rivers’ Edge products. When Rivers started his business he was coming out of an industry that not only created countertops but also created waste by cutting counter designs from huge slabs of material. His technique not only uses recycled, locally made and sustainable materials, but each design is custom poured.

Rivers is working on a light-weight concrete top made out of expanded recycled glass, which could reduce the product’s weight by 50 percent, and he has been commissioned to fabricate recycled-glass countertops for what tentatively will be the first Emerald-certified home in Oklahoma according to the National Association of Home Builders’ guidelines. The house is also designed to LEED standards.

“This eliminates waste, keeps it out of our landfills, and makes it cheaper for the consumer because they are not paying for a slab of material where they only get to use about three fourths of [it],” Rivers says. It also makes for original designs, shapes, and colors so clients can truly express their aesthetic in their home or business. Blue recycled glass with a white base can give a calming effect, while solid concrete tops

Rivers, a member of the USGBC, says new products and projects like these push his countertops closer to the LEED certification he desires. “We have several green-home builders in our state that are working with me to help build some of the most eco-friendly homes on the market,” Rivers says. “I feel like this will help my business grow in the way I have been dreaming about.” —by Jamie Morgan

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:32:01 AM

solutions MECHANICAL CONTRACTING

HMC SeRviCe CoMpany In a region slow to adopt energyefficient practices, mechanical services company is unique in kentucky and southern indiana, where HMC Service Company operates its business, utility rates are amongst the lowest in the nation. That’s a good thing when it comes time for residents and business owners to pay their bills, but bad news for green builders. The payback for energy-efficient structures is longer and thus less appealing. If the system’s not broke, why fix it?

“The Louisville building market is a little behind the times, compared to what’s going on on the coasts,” says Wayne Turchetta, vice president at HMC. “Some clients ask for LEED, others don’t even really consider it. Things are still very cost-oriented here, especially considering the effects of the recession.” As it is, government buildings are where most of the sustainable building is happening, courtesy of a bill passed in July 2009 requiring stricter energy efficiency on all new state-government structures.

and universities are areas of expertise, though projects run the gamut.

A recent HMC project, the Newburg Library in Louisville, featured a geothermal water system; high-efficiency, low-flow fixtures; heavy daylighting; and a bio-retention basin collecting 100 percent of storm drainage. “We provided the only LEED-accredited professional for design and construction,” Turchetta says. For a University of Louisville biomedical-research facility with a price tag of more than $33 million, HMC assisted with the eventual LEED certification via the installation of a rainwater-retention system and progressive technology to monitor air quality—an especially important element in such a facility.

“Retrofits on our service side are a good way to get that idea in clients’ heads. Because it can more immediately provide an opportunity for savings and payback, with less initial investment. It’s an easier way to get the ear of the owner.”

—Wayne Turchetta, Vice President

In some ways, existing buildings offer a greater opportunity for HMC to contribute to sustainability in its region. Larger general contractors and construction managers in the area sometimes ask for LEED options that they will price in as an alternate to the base, but when bidding on jobs, it’s detrimental to include LEED criteria on the front end. “Retrofits on our service side are a good way to get that idea in clients’ heads,” Turchetta says. “Because it can more immediately provide an opportunity for savings and payback, with less initial investment.

It’s an easier way to get the ear of the owner. If a project was not designed with LEED considerations, we will often benchmark the building with Energy Star to raise awareness about energy inefficiencies.”

In terms of vendors, Turchetta says HMC makes a priority to select green manufacturers, but that the trend is circling toward sustainable products in general anyway, making the process easier on his end. He says that, looking ahead, HMC hopes to set a worthy example for other mechanical contractors and builders. “Open up the yellow pages here, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a group of employees open to seeing things the way we do,” he says.

“We’re on the leading edge for this stuff. Plus, we don’t want a customer coming to us asking for services we don’t provide. We want to provide answers. We want to be solution providers.”

— by David Hudnall

Slowly but surely, the tide is turning, and HMC is gradually positioning itself as the goto source for green building. “Even though we are not as active on that front as an East Coast firm might be, we’re still the contractor of choice in our area for LEED projects, just because we’re one of the only companies with experience in that area,” Turchetta says.

HMC was founded by George and Henry Hussung in 1966 as Hussung Mechanical Contractors. In 1986, HMC officially initiated the service side of its business, HMC Service Company, to focus on preventative maintenance and customer support—to continue partnerships with customers in the aftermath of new projects. HMC today boasts 3 LEED APs on its staff of roughly 300 field employees, and is the only MSCA Green Star contractor in the state of Kentucky. Healthcare, hospitals,

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 133

Service technicians receive factory training, provided by the equipment manufacturer, to guarantee proper preventative maintenance.

OCT 2010

133

5/15/10 2:32:02 AM

JUHHQ JUÄ?Q DGM Ă RXULVKLQJ DFWLYH ´*UHHQÂľ GHVLJQ LV PXFK PRUH WKDQ HQHUJ\ FRQVHUYDWLRQ LW LV FUHDWLYH UHVSRQVLEOH SURIHVVLRQDO DQG VHQVLEOH ,W EDODQFHV WKH FXVWRPHU¡V QHHGV ZLWK LQQRYDWLRQ DQG SUDFWLFDOLW\

5 / &UDLJ &RPSDQ\ ,QF ´*UHHQ¾ VLQFH

(QHUJ\ 5HFRYHU\ $LU 'LVWULEXWLRQ +9$& &RQWUROV

ZZZ UOFUDLJFR FRP &RPPRQZHDOWK 'ULYH /RXLVYLOOH .<

Great Service in Good Company!

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Equipment Installation and Repair Guaranteed Preventative Maintenance

â&#x20AC;˘ Energy Management and Controls â&#x20AC;˘ Refrigerant Management â&#x20AC;˘ Water Treatment â&#x20AC;˘ Industrial Piping â&#x20AC;˘ Plumbing â&#x20AC;˘ Cooling Tower Installation and Service â&#x20AC;˘ Turbocor Compressor Retrofits

MECHANICAL CONTRACTING

ojS Building SeRviCeS, inC. Company transforms business model to help customers reduce energy costs as energy prices continued to escalate worldwide, Steve Meyer began to notice a demand for someone to help his clients reduce energy costs. So two years ago, Meyer, who is LEED accredited, transformed his full-service construction company into a niche-services company that focuses on the energy-related segment of construction. Since this change was made, Meyer and his team at OJS Building Services, Inc. have been working with energy consultants on developing ways that their clients can better conserve energy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Saving on energy and ultimately saving on their costs is what our customers needed,â&#x20AC;? Meyer says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Energy prices are going up, and people are realizing that they need to save energy just to meet the demands of their return on investment to get the most of their building. We strive to make their buildings more efficient and productive by making them comfortable and by keeping their energy as low as possible.

People arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t very productive if they are not comfortable.â&#x20AC;?

Meyer has been working in the construction industry since 1981, getting his start working at OJ Shoemaker Construction, Inc., a company his father and grandfather purchased in 1965.

He and his brother took over the business after his father passed away in 1995. While the company was a highly successful construction and service company for many decades, Meyer felt it was in the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best interests to get out of the construction business and focus on the service work. Today, OJS provides services for projects involving energy-conservation measures for commercial, institutional, and industrial customers.

Meyer believes that one of the key strategies to his companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success begins and ends with providing outstanding service. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That is one

1008 Lincoln Way East | South Bend, IN 46601 P: 574.284.2020 | F: 574.284.2016 | info@ojsbsi.com 134

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 134

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:32:03 AM

solutions

PROBLEM-SOLVING SOLUTIONS elkhart General Hospital had a surgery area that required 90 tons of cooling.

This was being provided by an existing rooftop chiller. The hospital was looking to add another redundant chiller because of the critical nature of the area served, however, the roof could not support any more additional weight. To solve this problem OjS selected the advanced DanfossTurbocor compressor and could install two 90-ton compressors in the same space with less weight than the existing compressors—in the end, providing the hospital with substantial energy savings.

of our biggest values. We’re very prompt, and we get the work done right the first time. We pride ourselves in having the best technicians in the area, and we try to be able to handle any work that other people can’t,” he says, noting that the services are niche-based but comprehensive. “Our primary goal is to save energy for our customers. We can still do some design-build services. Our main product is a... service contract that will guarantee everything in the building for a set price. If something breaks, we’ll fix it.” Another key strategy is OJS’s team leadership. Most of the senior staff who works there have been in the industry for a long time—at least 20 years—Meyer says, and they are very well-versed in all aspects of what they do. “They’re one of the reasons we’ve been around for so long,” he notes.

Establishing key partnerships is the third reason why the company has been a success. OJS is part of the Linc Service Network, which provides preventive HVAC service and energy solutions to commercial-building owners. They are part of an international network, comprised of more than 140 independent and companyowned mechanical contractors. The company

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 135

“We’re very prompt, and we get the work done right the first time. We pride ourselves in having the best technicians in the area, and we try to be able to handle any work that other people can’t.”

In addition to being a Turbocor-authorized dealer, OJS also represents Reliable DDC energy-management-and-control systems, which are direct-digital controls used to monitor and control mechanical/HVAC and electrical/lighting equipment. “This allows us to conduct an energy conservation audit for buildings and indentify energy-savings measures through inspections of a company’s systems and equipment and work with them to lower their energy bills,” Meyer explains.

—Steve Meyer, President also is an authorized dealer of Danfoss Turbocor’s family of compressors—a line of oil-free compressors that are specifically designed for the HVACR industry and mainly function on magnetic bearings. “That does two things—it eliminates the oil so there is no waste oil, and it improves efficiency because oil does nothing for efficiency,” Meyer says. “It’s also a very small, lightweight, and efficient compressor because it only uses magnetic bearings. With its variable-speed centrifugal compression and digital-electronic controls, these compressors are known to achieve a high overall efficiency for HVACR applications.”

Looking ahead, the company plans to get into more energy-building modeling and energy reporting so it can go to customers and use these techniques to identify where they are losing their energy. “So we evaluate whether there is not enough ventilation, no night setbacks, or see if they’re running equipment when they do not need to be,” he says. “Those are some of the measures we try to identify to increase their bottom lines by shaving off their energy costs. Working with customers and identifying their problems and making them satisfied with better comfort and less energy costs is the best part of our job. That’s what we feel is a rewarding goal.” —by Daniel Casciato

OCT 2010

135

5/15/10 2:32:05 AM

solutions RESTORATION

STaTeWide diSaSTeR ReSToRaTion

Before (below) and after—fire damage to a school classroom. Repairs to the room were completed quickly and students were able to return to the classroom.

Using green-building practices for insurance restoration statewide disaster restoration started as an offshoot of a Michigan carpet-cleaning company, but has since grown to a more than $20 million business with locations in both Michigan and Florida. “The restoration company was the natural add-on to the carpet cleaning and water-restoration services we started with,” says Adam Becker, owner and president of Statewide.

Becker formed his carpet-cleaning business right after college in 1993, and, as customers continually contacted him to repair water damage, he realized the potential of waterdamage repair. As a result, he formed Statewide in 1994, and it has experienced steady growth. Following Hurricane Opal in 1995, Statewide headed to Destin, Florida, and performed restoration services. “After the experiences and lessons learned from Hurricane Opal, we came back to our home market in Detroit and focused on growth for the future,” Becker says. “Since then, Statewide has become an industry leader for the past 15 years, and now has multiple offices and travels the country doing large-loss work.”

Growing from just six employees at its inception to 52 current employees, Statewide is still expanding to help serve existing buildings and homes that have suffered damage from fire, wind, water, vehicle, vandalism, or collapse. However, the company doesn’t hire just anyone, and makes sure its potential employees will fit within the team. “At Statewide, we are strong believers in the team concept,” says Scott Black, certified restorer, waterloss specialist, and green-risk professional with Statewide. “Each employee knows that the other employees are there when they are called upon to help. Ownership does not micromanage the company and prides itself on

136

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 136

the first green organization in the insurancerestoration industry.

Since then, Statewide has taken sustainability to the next level by using products that are better for the environment. “We have made changes to the chemicals we use on all flood projects,” Black says of the firm’s green efforts.

“We have purchased new equipment that does not use as much electricity, and we are looking into all of the new green technology available today and where it can be applied.”

“After the experiences and lessons learned from Hurricane Opal, we came back to our home market in Detroit and focused on growth for the future.”

—Adam Becker, President the education of the employees and technology available for use.”

Most of the projects that Statewide takes on can be considered sustainable, because the focus is on restoring and repairing existing buildings, thus avoiding any additional injury to the natural environment by starting from scratch. As a part of Disaster Kleenup International Inc. (DKI), the largest disasterrestoration contracting organization in North America, Statewide began its official green focus in 2009 when DKI decided to become

In addition to enhancing projects with sustainable features, Statewide focuses on creating a green-friendly office environment as well. The company is working to get everyone on board with bringing in their own refillable water bottles, breaking down and stacking cardboard, and each employee has a box next to his or her desk for used-paper products. Black says that, in eight months, the office staff reduced trash removal by 20 percent. Other sustainable efforts at Statewide include: • Two certified green-risk professionals on staff have completed weeklong training class taught

by Vale Training Solutions to bring awareness to building/home owners.

• The company has designed a recycling logo that is placed on the fleet of vehicles.

• Statewide will soon replace its standard marketing items with reusable-shopping bags or other green-friendly giveaways.

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:32:11 AM

solutions

â&#x20AC;˘ Currently, the company is looking into rebate programs in which every temp completed will receive a pack of CFL light bulbs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The key to our sustainable success comes from our management,â&#x20AC;? Black says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ideas are welcome and, most often, put into place. Knowing that green restoration is new, we will be in position to help lead the way.â&#x20AC;? While they have not yet had to restore a LEED-certified project, one of Blackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desires is to find a client that will enable him to take this route. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m waiting for the first LEED-certified building, home, or owner that shares the same vision that I do,â&#x20AC;? says Black. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I look forward to using the green ideas, materials, and the crews we have to restore a LEED project and gain more experience.â&#x20AC;?

As for Statewideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall success and rapid growth, Black attributes this to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business practices. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are always looking for ways to improve our services and stay ahead of our competition,â&#x20AC;? he concludes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Through continued quality, service, performance, and accurate pricing, our work continues to grow.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D;by Zipporah Porton

In business over 20 years. Residential, Commercial, Remodel, Repair and New Construction.

QualiďŹ ed for all your plumbing and heating needs

0HFKDQLFDO &RQWUDFWRUV Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x201E;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2030;Č&#x2014; Â&#x2021;Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2030;Č&#x2014; Â&#x2039;Â&#x201D; Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x2020;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2030; 3OXPELQJ +HDWLQJ $LU &RQGLWLRQLQJ Â?Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2030;Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2026;Â&#x203A; Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2026;Â&#x2021;Č&#x20AC; Â?Â&#x2022;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D;Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2026;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2021;Â&#x2019;Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2022;

ͳnjͺ͚͚nj nj

+RXU (PHUJHQF\ 6HUYLFH ,QVXUDQFH 5HSDLUV

1((' .0, .HLSHU 0HFKDQLFDO ,QF /LYRQLD 0LFKLJDQ

American Plumbing

7 9 4 2 D i x i e H w y | F a i r h a v e n , M I | 4 8 0 2 3 | T: 8 1 0 . 6 5 0 . 2 8 1 5

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 137

|

F : 8 1 0 . 5 1 OCT 2 . 42010 064

137

5/15/10 2:32:14 AM

solutions INSULATION

go FoaM, inC. Benefits so obvious that all federal buildings now require spray-foam insulation forty percent of an average home’s energy inefficiency is due to air leakage. A typical 2,000-square-foot home has more than half a mile of air leaks—equal to just taking the front door off its hinges. To combat this, Glen Ellyn, Illinois’ Go Foam, Inc. offers an alternative to the usual batt or blown-in approaches: spray-polyurethane foam (SPF), a high-quality insulator used in foundations, walls, and attics in residential and commercial properties.

SPF insulation has been around since the 1940s; its use increased in the ’70s as energy prices rose, but as they again retreated, so did SPF’s popularity. Today, of course, the world is again in a place where energy efficiency is a major concern, and demand is on the rise—for a lot of reasons. “All spray-foam insulation is green—not necessarily because of the chemical makeup, but because of the lifetime of energy savings,” says Roland Imes, Go Foam’s operations manager. “When you spray foam a house from the ground up, you can save up to 50 percent on your energy bill over traditional insulation. Savings can also be realized by decreasing the tonnage on a new A/C system by as much as 40 percent. It has exceptional insulating properties.”

Traditional types of insulation like fiberglass batt allow air and moisture not only to move in and out of a home, but also to infiltrate each stud cavity. Fiberglass—commonly selected as the default insulation—is jammed in the walls and stuffed around electrical wires, plumbing pipes, and HVAC ducts. The result often leaves gaps, compression, and hollow voids that compromise occupant comfort and cost the homeowner money. SPF offers immediate and longterm monthly savings on energy bills, as well as a number of other benefits when compared to traditional insulation: • It is completely non-toxic (no HFCs, HCFCs, formaldehyde, or asbestos), and is safe for use with chemically-sensitive persons.

138

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 138

A room at a newly constructed home is sprayed with liquid insulating foam before the drywall is added.

“The rooms that are insulated with SPF stay much cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, while saving money.”

conduit, plumbing pipes, ducts, and electrical boxes—eliminating voids and channels for air movement within the walls. It can be applied at a structure’s foundation, exterior walls, or attics, and it is common to spray the underside of the roof sheathing, rather than to down-spray onto the floor of the attic.

—Roland Imes, Operations Manager • It reduces airborne dust and allergen infiltration as well as airborne noise.

• It helps prevent mold and mildew.

• It saves natural resources and allows for downsized HVAC equipment.

“With unvented attics and cathedralized ceilings, the concept is to keep the air that you have spent money conditioning—by either making it hot or cold and dry or moist—from escaping through traditional attics that use soffit and ridge vents,” Imes says. “The rooms that are insulated with SPF stay much cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, while saving money.”

“I was attracted to SPF and its benefits after building a house for my family and seeing no options for anything better than traditional insulation,” Imes says. “A big part of our goal at Go Foam is to educate not only the homeowner, but also architects and builders focused on green building about the alternatives they have in insulating their projects.”

Go Foam, whose clients include owners, builders, and architects of residential and commercial properties—including a good deal of work for the Chicago Housing Authority—is also starting to benefit from state and federal laws. The federal government has declared that spray-foam insulation must be used on all new federal buildings, as well as retrofits if there is Go Foam functions as both a manufacturer and access to it. And the recent Homestar (or Cash an installer. It purchases two components—an for Caulkers) stimulus program is providing A-side isocyanate and a B-side polyol—from a $6 billion to people seeking to retrofit their manufacturer like Dow, Lapolla, or Gaco Westhomes. “The plan is that it will reduce energy ern. It then combines them on site, using a prodependence and put the construction industry portioner and spray gun to create the SPF. The back to work,” Imes explains. “We’re anticipatsubstance functions by filling cavities, expanding that will mean an uptick of business for us.” ing rapidly, and sealing the studs, sheathing, —by David Hudnall

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:32:18 AM

• • • • •

HH Robertson in-floor cable distribution systems maximize flexibility and sustainability without sacrificing safety.

Custom Homes Commercial Industrial Rehabilitation LEED Projects

SPF Benefits •

Eliminates air infiltration

•

Controls moisture and condensation

•

Reduces convective air currents

•

Eliminated wind washing

•

Effective low and high temperature efficiency

•

Saves up to 50% on energy costs

Go Spray Foam Insulation

877.774.3626 Gofoaminc.com

Go Foam Inc Sustainable Design

Simple Set-up.

Eliminate dangerous cabling in ceiling air plenums Achieve complete flexibility with in-floor activation points up to every 2 square feet of floor space

Cablefloor Low Profile Access floor Modular Power Systems Data Zone Cabling Solutions Demountable Wall Systems Modular Floor Finishes

Reduce materials and cost by using the cellular deck to create the structural clab and a safe raceway for all wiring

Cellular Floor Duct

7491 N Federal Hwy C-5 # 260 Boca Raton, FL 33487

Toll free: 888-MIT-0330 Office: 561-997-2670 Fax: 561-431-8031

www.mitfl.com

Whether it’s HH Robertson Q-Floor/Taproute™ for steel frame construction, Cellcast™ for concrete frame construction, or 3+1™ for slab-on-grade construction, you can specify an HH Robertson system to meet the requirements of any project.

HH Robertson 450 19th street Ambridge, PA 15003

P 800) 932 - 0706 F 412) 299 - 8083

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 139

E info@hhrobertson.com www.hhrobertson.com 5/15/10 2:32:23 AM

GBD HH Robertson Floor Systems 1-2 Page‫‏‏‬.indd 1

5/12/10 2:06:21 PM

solutions MODULAR DESIGN

ModulaR inTeRioR TeCHnologieS Adaptable solutions reduce waste and eliminate the need for costly change orders an estimated five billion pounds of carpet are deposited in US landfills each year.

Add to that drywall, cabling, and other flooring materials, and it’s obvious that there’s a hefty toll on the environment each time a business redesigns its office space.

Hagan Freeman, president of Modular Interior Technologies (MIT), insists that it doesn’t have to be that way. Freeman has spent his career selling, designing, and implementing alternative floor, wall, and ceiling solutions—ones that cut down on waste and save clients trouble and costs in the long run. Founded in 2007, the Boca Raton, Florida, company has been enjoying steady growth. In fact, Freeman says, 2009 was the company’s best year, and it saw few effects of the recession.

Freeman compares MIT’s business model to that of tilt-up concrete construction. “Years ago, people built exterior walls one block at a time by hand until tilt-up construction provided a modular wall that saved time and money and ultimately provided a better solution,” Freeman explains. “That’s what we do for the inside of the building.” With MIT’s approach, a facilities manager can move people and equipment around and even scale up power and data stations without any demolition. “What we do is all plug-and-play,” Freeman says. “I can move walls and furniture about easily because the modular power and data systems are right beneath their feet. If I need to reroute power or data, I open the floor and reroute it—no demolition required.”

MIT has grown every year since inception. In 2009, the firm took on about 25 projects, from small data-center applications to large corporate facilities. K-12 school projects represent a large portion of its work, and one of MIT’s biggest projects to date has been as part of the construction of Riverview High School in Sarasota, Florida. The building was developed as

“I can move walls and furniture about easily because the modular power and data systems are right beneath their feet. If I need to reroute power or data, I open the floor and reroute it—no demolition required.”

In past positions selling electrical and data products, Freeman witnessed the oft-occurring problems that came when clients decided to redo their floor plans or even rearrange office buildings. With traditional construction methods using power poles, poke-throughs, or cable trays, the data cabling is put in toward the end —Hagan Freeman, President of the cycle, so change orders often require a rip-and-replace approach, the availability of an electrician, and, of course, a large fee. Freeman’s business turns all of that on its head, putting flexibility at the forefront. “Conventional construction is a one-time finish,” Freeman says. “What we provide can be used over and over again.”

Providing modular access flooring, plug-andplay power and data solutions, and demountable walls, MIT’s specialties can be called design-through-installation services. Its major customers mostly are within education and government buildings and call centers.

140

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 140

a model school and designed to achieve LEED Silver status. It involved about 90,000 square feet of low-profi le access floor and used modular cabling systems.

Modular design is particularly attractive for schools, Freeman says, because of the need to reconfigure their multimedia stations. “In our design, a teacher can reconfigure a classroom so that power and data can be available for any setup they want,” Freeman says. “It gives them a lot of flexibility.”

MIT’s target customers are those with openoffice environments, labs, media centers, and call centers. “Most every client is experiencing the same issue—and that is churn,” Freeman says, citing the national average churn rate of 42 percent. Whether the company is growing, shrinking, or reconfiguring, MIT makes it a painless process.

The look of modular solutions has greatly improved throughout the past decade, a selling point for skeptics. “Now the stuff is gorgeous,” Freeman enthuses. “In most cases, you wouldn’t know you were standing on [modular flooring] unless I told you.”

A big part of Freeman’s job is educating potential clients on the cost effectiveness and green benefits of modular solutions. The change is coming slowly, he says, adding that it seems to be the case with eco-friendly solutions across the board. “There’s a general misconception that you get less,” he says, “but I’ve never had a presentation when people didn’t come away saying, ‘Wow, that’s a great idea.””

—by Lauren McKay

The Cablefloor system-support structure provides wall-to-wall cable management for power and data cabling.

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:32:30 AM

Pavesto

P A V I N G

S O L U T I O N S

L A N D S C A P E™

P A V I N G

Y O U R

Perfect for both large and small areas, the multipiece Eco-Venetian Stone™ system performs as a structural pavement, allows for storm water detention, reduces storm water pollutant discharges, is LEED Credit compliant and can actually contribute to the health of the living environment around it.

E A R T H - F R I E N D L Y

E A R T H - F R I E N D LY

I M P R O V I N G

Eco-Pavestone is our green approach to permeable paving, helping to conserve the earth’s natural resources.

S O L U T I O N S

Learn more at pavestone.com gbdmagazine.com

OCT 2010

©2010 by Pavestone Company. All rights reserved.

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd Pavestone GBD Ad 0910.indd 1 141

141

and Eco-Venetian Stone™ are trademarks of Pavestone Company

5/15/10 3/18/10 2:32:33 2:10:40 AM PM

solutions OUTDOOR DESIGN

LEFT, BELOW: Margarido House, the

paveR pRo

first LEED Platinumcertified custom home

Landscaping a convergence of beauty and practical sustainability

in Northern California features a Permeable Interlocking Paver driveway installed by Paver Pro.

owned and operated by husband-andwife team Dave and Susie Garcia, Paver Pro specializes in permeable pavers, retaining walls, synthetic lawns, water features, landscaping, pergolas and arbors, and architectural stone.

Based in California, the company has acquired an impressive amount of recognition for its work, including multiple awards at the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show, a feature on Home and Garden Television’s Curb Appeal, and a profile on The Bay Area Home Show.

After many years in the landscaping industry, Dave Garcia—a Bay Area native—launched Paver Pro in 2006, at a time when interlocking pavers were growing in popularity in California. “I began researching permeablepaver systems as a means to recharge water back into the ground, instead of running into streets and polluting the San Francisco Bay,” Dave explains. That same year, Dave and Susie met, and in 2007 she was promoted to director of marketing of the expanding company. Soon afterward, the two entrepreneurs got married.

“We are partners in life and business,” Dave says. “We are fortunate to work together and love together, and we love our work together.”

In 2007, the couple collaborated with developers and architects to work on the Margarido House, which was the first LEED Platinumcertified custom home in California. Here, they installed a permeable-paver driveway, a backyard landscape with more permeable pavers, a synthetic lawn, a water feature, and a vineyard.

“We also preserved a tree stump in the upper portion of the landscape that was burned during the Oakland fires,” Dave mentions. Working with LEED APs motivated both Garcias.

“We were inspired by our collaborators’ realistic and practical approach to green living and using sustainable products,” Dave says.

“It was during our collaboration on this project that we became more active in wanting to conserve water,” Susie says, “so we added

142

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 142

synthetic-lawn installation to our portfolio. It made practical sense because the installation, excavation, and base system is similar between pavers and synthetic lawns.” She estimates that since then, the company’s synthetic-lawn installation projects have quadrupled.

The Garcia team worked with architects on another LEED Platinum custom home in California’s Marin County. In addition to designing the home’s landscape, drainage, and irrigation systems, Paver Pro installed a rooftop synthetic lawn. Moreover, the company completed a project for Epicurious Gardens—a premier restaurant in Berkeley, California. “We were honored to learn that Mills College hosts a

“It is our personal mission as well as our company vision to preserve our environment.”

—Dave Garcia, Co-owner

fieldtrip to the restaurant for its landscaping students,” Susie says.

Because many cities in the Bay Area now require permeable paver systems, Paver Pro is poised to assist homeowners with meeting municipal requirements, while simultaneously enhancing their property’s beauty and resale value. “It’s a fun and exciting way to approach design and building,” Dave says. “Get involved with your contractor and architect in the planning stages,” he advises, noting that Harvey MacKay’s famous quote, “Failures don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan,” applies specifically to construction. “Consider your lifestyle,” he says, “set your goals, and contemplate your return on investment.”

The Garcia’s overall mission is to provide superior products, timely installation, and exceptional service to each individual customer, from design to build. “It is our personal mission as well as our company vision to preserve our environment,” Dave says. “It feels good to know that we are doing something positive for the environment that will impact the lives of future generations.” —by Jennifer Samuels

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:32:40 AM

architect to watch

DAVID MONTALBA Drawing on a Swiss background while searching for green-design inspiration

by Matt Petrusek

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 143

“IF THE PUBLIC PERCEIVES VALUE IN SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS, THEN CLIENTS WILL TOO.” —DAVID MONTALBA, PRINCIPAL OCT 2010

143

5/15/10 2:32:43 AM

architect to watch

D

avid montalba, principal at Montalba Architects, wanted to be a professional surfer when he grew up. Born to a family of Swiss designers and builders (he moved to California from Switzerland when he was eight), he initially followed in his family’s footsteps only as a means to float his surfing aspirations. “I only went to school [to study architecture] so I could stay in the water,” he explains. Then, something unexpected happened: Montalba discovered he actually liked designing. “It felt natural, like getting back on a bike after years of not riding,” he recalls.

Since that realization, Montalba has dedicated his professional life to producing compelling and innovative designs. After school, Montalba worked for several prominent Southern California firms before setting out on his own in 2004. His company now works primarily in the areas of luxury retail, restaurants, and residential.

Montalba admits that, apart from some exposure in architecture school, “sustainability” was not a major concern when he launched his career. Yet his frequent travel to Switzerland and continued interactions with Swiss builders and architects as he built his business eventually led to the realization that Europe had something important to teach the United States about sustainable design. “There’s a really different take on building [in Switzerland],” he notes. “It’s much more scientific, and, where we build for 20-30 years, they build for 150 years, so they don’t mind spending more money for sustainability up front.”

Montalba has come to admire this steadfast commitment to green building and seeks to emulate European rigor in his designs when possible. However, he’s also pragmatic. “There are some very conscious clients here who are willing to pay a premium [for green design],” he observes, “but not 30 percent more.”

Montalba has thus worked hard over the years to strike the right balance between possibility and feasibility in his designs. Fortunately, he’s recognized and taken advantage of two favorable trends that make hitting that sweet spot much easier: being green has recently become much simpler, cost-effective, and aesthetically

144

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 144

1

“IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT USING RECYCLED MATERIALS. IT’S ABOUT CONSUMING LESS IN THE FIRST PLACE AND REDUCING THINGS THAT MIGHT GET THROWN AWAY.” —DAVID MONTALBA, PRINCIPAL pleasing from a design perspective; and thanks to changing public attitudes, clients are increasingly finding that sustainable building not only to be the right choice, but the profitable one as well. “If the public perceives value in sustainable buildings,” Montalba says, “then clients will too.”

One of the firm’s ongoing projects—a dental office in San Francisco—aptly demonstrates these influences on Montalba’s design approach. The office is tightly sealed, allowing for an ultra-efficient HVAC system, and also takes advantage of an adjoining, expansive outdoor landscape to flood the space with natural light. The true eco-friendly elements of the design, however, reside in its innovative details.

For example, Montalba used green-certified carpet to dampen the interior’s acoustical reverberation and also created semi-translucent walls made out of drainage material that provide privacy while also letting light pass through.

Yet perhaps most emblematic of the spirit of the project, which is on track to be LEED Silver or Gold, is its incorporation of refurbished dental equipment, including vintage dental chairs the firm tracked down in Utah—an excellent example of how reusing is just as important as recycling. “It’s not just about using recycled materials,” Montalba says. “It’s about

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:32:53 AM

architect to watch

3

A MeSSAGe FROM M & M & CO. Renowned for outstanding quality and service, Los Angeles-based M & M & Co. California Land Surveyors have been delivering premier land surveying services for more than 30 years. Montalba Architects and other world-class designers, builders, and architects rely on M & M & Co. to provide them with critical land and topographical surveys for new construction and renovation, as well as to show clear and accurate property boundaries. For more information and to get a free quote, call 2

consuming less in the first place and reducing things that might get thrown away.”

(818) 891-9100 or visit mmsurveyors.com.

1. Montalba Architects renovated a historic mid-century home in

Montalba is proud of this and the numerous other projects his firm has completed, but he also recognizes that his work, and the field of architecture more generally, exists within a wider context. “One of my favorite buildings was recently demolished to make space for something new,” he says. “It made me realize that what you do is so temporary and that what really counts is the relationships you build along the way.”

Pasadena, CA, to include trellis shade elements and skylights to “bring the outdoors in.”

2. The firm rehabilitated a decaying storefront for IDC Gallery in San Francisco.

3. Arcade Boutique in

No matter what the ultimate fate of Montalba’s projects, he has developed a sustained passion for green design that looks beyond each building to an ever-brightening horizon. Perhaps channeling his inner surfer, he’s learned to take everything in stride, while always keeping an eye out for the next big opportunity to come his way. “Sometimes you’ve got to let it happen,” he smiles. “Just let it flow.” gb&d

gbdmagazine.com

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 145

West Hollywood, CA.

OCT 2010

145

5/15/10 2:33:14 AM

last look

bared necessities Simplicity, transparency, sustainabilityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the furniture and accessory designs showcased at the 2010 International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City bare themselves to the world through candid minimalism; the necessary accessories represent the latest innovation and avant-garde originality in the design world.

2 3

1

4

5

1. Nanimarquina nanimarquina.com

6

2. Council Inc. councildesign.com 3. Cocoon Fires cocoonfires.com 4. CP Lighting cplighting.com 5. Christian Brown Design christianbrowndesign.com 6. Nanimarquina nanimarquina.com

146

OCT 2010

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 146

gbdmagazine.com

5/15/10 2:33:26 AM

Traditional value, modern innovation, under every roof. Pitched or flat.

Stylistic preferences vary, but there’s no disagreement here: When spending your hard earned money on home construction or renovation, you want something built to last that saves you money over the long haul. That’s why, modern or traditional, Pinnacle marries yesterday’s sense of true craftsmanship with today’s promise of green ingenuity.

The best of both worlds. Your priorities, your budget. That’s our style.

404-373-2345 www.pinnacle-custom-builders.com R E N O V A T O R S

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 147

A N D

“G R E E N ”

C U S T O M

B U I L D E R S

5/15/10 2:33:26 AM

GB&D_3_OCT2010_Final_1am.indd 148

5/15/10 2:33:27 AM