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Lexington architects incorporate "eco-friendly" principles and materials in their buildings
It's not easy being green," sang Kermit the Frog, but in towns and cities across America, including Lexington, that's just what many homeowners, contractors, architects, and developers are attempting to be. Green practices address issues from recycling discarded products to using new products that contain recycled materials, energy efficiency, site planning, indoor air quality, and even the source of the products used, placing preference on those manufactured within 500 miles of the construction site to reduce use of fossil fuels. In green building and design, no part of the design or construction process is exempt from consideration.
According to the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a green project "significantly reduces or eliminates the negative impact of buildings on the environment and on building occupants."
USBGC also provides some of the most widely used green building guidelines in the industry through its LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) certification program. The LEED program, which applies to commercial, educational, government, and some multi-unit residential buildings, has been available for new construction since 1998. Since then, LEED has added certification for other project types, including existing buildings and commercial interiors. Building owners applying for certification receive points in five key areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. Depending upon the categories and number of points accrued, they can earn certification at one of four levels: certified, silver, gold, or platinum. To do so, however, they must maintain detailed records and complete a sometimes-onerous amount of paperwork.
Like all such requirements, maintaining this documentation can add time and cost to the bottom line, so many owners choose to follow LEED guidelines without seeking official recognition. Nonetheless, to date there are over 800 LEED-certified buildings nationwide and many others are in the works. To date there are four LEED-certified buildings in Kentucky: Toyota's North American Production Support Center in Georgetown, a PNC bank branch in Tyler Center, Louisville, the Lincoln Hall Renovation in Berea, and Jewish Hospital Medical Center South in Hillview.
One of buildings aimed at becoming LEED certified was designed by the Lexington firm, RossTarrant Architects, for the Cooper Campus of Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC). RossTarrant, a firm that specializes in the design of schools and education-related projects across the state, has always used green principles in its designs. However, it wasn't until the firm was awarded the BCTC contract that its employees had an opportunity to work on a LEED project.
When completed, the multi-purpose Cooper Campus building will house classrooms and meeting rooms, the student center, dining facilities, and a library, as well as labs for students studying the natural sciences. One of these "labs" will be overhead, an example of green practice in action on the building's vegetative roof.
Consisting of drought-resistant plants in special containers, the vegetative roof, like the sod roofs of yesteryear, will reduce storm water runoff and heat gain, improve air quality, and at the same time let BCTC students experience first-hand the benefits of an eco-friendly building.
Concurrent with helping BCTC in its growth process, RossTarrant was experiencing some growing pains of its own. "We'd outgrown the space we had, but we really wanted to stay downtown," said Martha Tarrant, president of the firm, "so we scoured the area looking for a building of the right size, with restaurants and other services nearby." Fortunately, the firm found just the spot at the corner of Old Lafayette and East Main, which until recently housed the National College of Business. The building dates from the 1950s, when IBM used it as a downtown showroom for its typewriters.
Given a chance to apply green principles to its own construction project, RossTarrant decided to seek certification for the renovation under the LEED commercial-interiors category. "The bones of the building lent themselves to the way we wanted to work," explained Dan Colvin, senior interior designer and a principal in the firm, and with that, the project was off and running.
The results are spectacular. With the exception of a stairwell addition at the back, the footprint of the building remains the same: a total of 13,000 sq. ft. on two floors, 11,000 sq. ft. of which is now in use, with the remainder reserved for expansion. However, by designing the space with green building principles in mind, and then implementing that design with environmentally friendly materials and processes, the owners have given the structure a new lease on life.
Laith Ross, principal and chief civil engineer, explained that the many windows in the building had been replaced in recent years, so almost all of them could be reused. The result: 90 percent of regularly occupied workstations now have direct views to the exterior. Low-energy-consumption overhead fixtures supplement natural light, and as an added bonus, they shut off automatically when not required. In areas away from windows, flexible tubing directs sunlight from the roof, while panels of patterned glass salvaged from elsewhere in the building admit additional light.
When possible, electrical devices are Energy Star-rated, and hot water comes from the most efficient energy source of all: the sun. Two solar panels, which also double as an awning for one of the doors, provide more than enough energy to keep 80 gallons of water hot and ready for use.
Tarrant explained some of the other building features. "The way we work, we like an open-office environment," she said, "so there are only two enclosed offices in the entire building." To facilitate this open feeling and still provide privacy, most interior walls are several feet short of the ceiling and sculpted for design interest. Air flows freely from space to space, and a carbon dioxide sensor in the HVAC system adds fresh air when CO2 levels get too high.
Perhaps it was psychological, but the difference was noticeable—a clean, fresh smell not only devoid of smoke and other obvious pollutants, but also minus the background chemical odor often noticeable in freshly occupied spaces. Dan Colvin said part of that fresh smell was due to the materials used. RossTarrant reused as many furnishings as possible, but anything purchased was required to contain low or no VOCs. VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are chemicals found in numerous items, including paints, caulks, furniture, and building materials, and they can emit fumes affecting air quality for years. Low- or no-VOC materials make everyone breathe easier. "In fact," said Ross, "the building underwent a stringent test for air quality before it was occupied, and we blew that test out of the water."
Another term often applied to green efforts is "sustainability." A big word with big ambitions, sustainability applies not just to the building project itself, but also to the environmental impact that the structure will have throughout its life. Using renewable products—for example, wood from forests where the number of trees planted supports the number harvested, as well as recycled materials helps avoid taking more from the planet than we give back.
RossTarrant used all of these approaches and more, recycling much of the construction waste and choosing recycled and/or recyclable materials whenever possible. They donated the surplus furnishings from their old offices to Habitat for Humanity. Even the gas pumps get a rest at this firm, since seven of the company's 53 employees walk or bike to work, and those who car pool have parking spots designated just for them.
Green Living in the City
Being able to walk to work, or to cultural and sporting events, restaurants, and other activities has helped spark a renewed interest in living downtown, and it's hard to drive through the city without noticing the many residential construction projects underway. For developers, however, offering attractive city living options goes beyond mere convenience. Known as infill, the process of reclaiming unused land or buildings for new development not only keeps our city vibrant, it also helps to save the surrounding bluegrass, named in 2006 as an endangered site by the World Monuments Fund.
Long-time Lexingtonians Joe Graviss and Bill and Susan Hardy are huge supporters of the infill concept, but when they formed the development firm of Newpast, they wanted even more. With a motto of "unapologetically green," the firm turned to architect Scott Guyon for its first project, a series of environmentally friendly, energy-efficient town lofts geared to young professionals and empty nesters. The result is Newpast on Main, two impressive new structures that contain 14 2000-sq. ft., multi-story townlofts (a term coined by the developers), plus three other living units, one new and two in renovated historic buildings, nestled among the trees in the 600 block of Main Street.
To maintain the historic character of the area, the new construction sits back from and perpendicular to the street, fronted by two existing homes, which are also being renovated. To complete the picture, a small "gatehouse" (actually a 700-square-foot townhouse best suited for someone not inclined to be a pack rat) will be constructed between the existing homes, forming a charming entrance to one of the most innovative projects in town.
Guyon, an award-winning designer of homes throughout Kentucky and a downtown resident himself, has used sustainable building materials in his practice since the late 1980s. Newpast went one step further, as the developers and architect worked together to define a list of green principles that would apply to this and future Newpast projects. Based on the EarthCraft House program, a joint effort of the Atlanta Home Builders Association and Southface Energy Institute, these principles promote sustainable residential construction in much the same way LEED does for commercial projects.
Infill development demands a delicate balance between increasing the density of the site and maintaining the character of the surrounding neighborhood. To make certain that the project met zoning and other requirements, Newpast submitted plans first to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government's Planning Commission and then to the Board of Architectural Review (BOAR). Reviewers from these bodies, often accustomed to more traditional building and renovating efforts, must now wrestle with the added challenges offered by infill projects. It's a fact of life, explained Guyon, "that increasing density in our historic neighborhoods is one way to save our horse farms. So you can't be against density and against sprawl at the same time."
Once plans were finalized and approvals received, construction began under the guidance of Josh Marrillia, president of Epic Design and Construction, whose firm is also building 500s on Main just down the street. Marrillia pointed out some of the green features of the Newpast project, where a model home will be available for viewing in July. First and foremost, perhaps, is the use of geothermal energy to heat and cool each unit.
Not only does this method significantly reduce energy costs to the homeowner, it also helps preserve natural resources.
Water runoff can be another problem, particularly in high-density areas, so permeable concrete was used for driveways and common areas to allow rainwater to be re-absorbed into the ground. And environmentally-sensitive building materials and practices have been used extensively to create healthy living spaces requiring minimal maintenance.
Tall trees surrounding the townlofts provide shade and privacy, and when the project is completed in September 2007, rooftop gardens atop each unit will offer private space for homeowners to relax or try their hand at "green" projects of their own.
"Most of the time," said Guyon, "residential development takes place without the benefit of urban design or true architecture." Newpast on Main, with its distinctive blend of the old and new, and its emphasis on serving its residents for today and tomorrow, is a notable exception.
Green tips
The number of green structures being built or renovated is increasing significantly each year. In the meantime, you don't have to move or remodel to contribute to a more sustainable environment. Here are some suggestions from the experts interviewed for this article:
• Purchase recycled items when you can, and look for new items with recycled content.
• Buy from local suppliers (consider the energy used to ship materials long distances).
• Patronize farmers markets.
• Buy Energy Star appliances and other high-efficiency electrical devices.
• Replace the incandescent light bulbs in your home with fluorescents. A variety of sizes and shapes are available, and they use far less energy.
• Install low-flow showerheads and faucets.
• Choose low- or no-VOC paints and stains for do-it-yourself projects.
• Install a rain barrel. The water you capture can feed plants and bushes.
The Internet is a prolific source for more information on what you can do to support the green movement. Here are a couple of sites to get you started: www.planetfriendly.net www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200704/tows_past_20070420_b.jhtml."