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Archive for the ‘LEED’ Category

SUNY’s Centennial Hall, a student dorm completed this summer, has earned LEED Gold certification, according to gbNYC, making it one of the largest modular construction projects in the state of New York.  It’s not the only modular student building — The Modules is but another modular project on my mind — though The Centennial showcases what’s good about off-site construction with a total of about 184 wood modules.

The Centennial was designed by WTW Architects and HKK & Associates and built by Hueber Breuer.  On their website, HB said the modular construction method enabled a shorter build schedule, increased worker productivity, reduced site costs, reduced construction utility costs, minimal site disturbance, reduced material waste, increased quality, and better soundproofing.

Students moved into The Centennial upon opening in August 2011.  The 454-bed building houses 280 freshman and 174 upperclassmen.

The Centennial has indoor bike storage and EV charging stations for resident convenience.  The design also facilitates energy and water savings through rain gardens, native-plant landscaping, windows placed to take advantage of natural lighting, high-efficiency mechanical systems, and the like.  It was built for $31.4 million.

[+] More information about Centennial Hall at SUNY College.

Credits: Hueber-Breuer, Centennial Hall. 

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3. Solera Strikes LEED Gold in Denver

This is Brookwood Terrace, an affordable project by ROEM Corporation and Eden Housing, Inc. that recently opened in California.  The $24.9 million multifamily building has 84 homes, units ranging in size from 636 to 1094 square feet, and amenities like a community room, fitness room, business center, and a laundry room.  The place is also designed by KTGY Group, Inc. for LEED Gold certification and to exceed Title 24 by 17%.

To save a little bit of energy, Brookwood Terrace was built with R30 attic insulation, R13 wall insulation, a rater-tested duct system, low-E windows (u-value and SHGC of 0.35), and an efficient central boiler water heater system.  Units also have Energy Star refrigerators, bathroom fans, and dishwashers that use 6.0 gallons per cycle or less.

To save water, the landscape system has drip irrigation, high-efficiency nozzles, and moisture sensors.  Inside, all units have dual-flush toilets, high-efficiency fixtures, and shower heads using 2.0 gallons of water or less.

Other green products used include Green Label plus carpet, low-VOC paints, and energy-efficient lighting.  As a result of these investments, ROEM Corporation is already seeing reduced utility costs, according to VP Jonathan Emami.  The green project is located at 1346 East San Antonio Street in San Jose, California.

Credit: KTGY Group, Inc.

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1. Nine Luxuriate LEED Homes in California
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3. Affordable Housing Meets LEED Platinum

This is the Live Work Home, one of the winning proposals (with the R-House) in the From the Ground Up Competition in Syracuse, New York, designed by Cook+Fox Architects.  The home was awarded LEED Platinum certification earlier this month, a fitting one-year anniversary since the homeowners John and Kathy Miranda moved into the home in November 2010.  Here’s more about this beautiful, durable home with an inventive design.

One of the more obvious features of Live Work Home is the perforated screen that wraps the western and northern facade.  It’s made with a medium density overlay — plywood with a weather-resistant resin layer — that’s painted white on the underside.

From the interior, rays of the sun that pass through the screen mimic “dappled light filtering through a tree canopy,” according to Cook+Fox.

A garage-type front door creates a front porch that folds down if need be.  Beyond that, Live Work Home has a long, narrow, single-level floor plan that facilitates aging in place, as well as a lifetime of waste-free remodeling.  There are no columns and the heating element is buried in radiant flooring.  The Mirandas can rearrange sliding doors and mobile partitions to accommodate life as it happens.

In fact, the Mirandas moved into the home with plans to both live and work within the available 1,400 square feet.  Live Work Home doubles as the owners’ environmental consulting business.

There was an old home on the property that was deconstructed piece by piece.  It turns out, old growth pine and hemlock were reclaimed and put to new use in the form of flooring and cabinets.

Other materials were selected to protect the indoor environmental quality. A heat recovery ventilator circulates fresh air throughout the home.

The SIPs envelope saves energy and perhaps a little construction waste at the outset with members cut to size.  Also inside, Live Work Home has casework modules that can be added, subtracted, or reconfigured to suit the owners needs, such as through combined beds, desks, or additional storage.

The LEED Platinum project was built for about $250,000.  Team members include Cook+Fox Architects, Home HeadQuarters Inc. (builder), Terrapin Bright Green, LLC (environmental consultant), Northeast Green Building Consulting, LLC, Severud Associates (structural engineer), ARUP (MEP engineer – competition), Jaros, Baum & Bolles (MEP engineer – project), and Terrain NYC (landscape architecture).

[+] More about the Live Work Home in Syracuse.

Credits: Cook+Fox Architects.

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1. Work Begins on New LEED Platinum Prefab
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At Greenbuild, the USGBC presented the 2011 LEED for Homes Awards, recognizing projects, developers, and home builders who have demonstrated leadership in the residential building marketplace.  An independent panel of judges decided on a diverse selection of these single-family, multifamily, affordable, and development projects:

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Project of the Year

The Go Home – GO Logic, LLC, Belfast, Maine (LEED Platinum)

GO Home “uses minimal energy and was built at construction costs comparable to a building a standard home. As a net zero and passive house, The GO Home was designed to bring design and energy performance in line with affordability, and is designed to slash energy usage by 90 percent. The project will be replicated across a 36-home community in Maine,” according to the USGBC.

[+] Read our coverage of GO Home.

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Outstanding Single Family Project

PowerHaus – Josh Wynne Construction, Sarasota, Florida (LEED Platinum)

“Passive ventilation, cooling and lighting, coupled with innovative use of cutting-edge technologies earned the Sarasota, Fla. home the lowest Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score on record in the U.S. The high-design, high-performing home actually produces more energy than it consumes.”

[+] Read our coverage of PowerHaus.

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Outstanding Multi Family Project

Primera Terra – KB Homes, Playa Vista, California (LEED Platinum)

“Special attention was given to optimizing the 52-unit building’s envelope in order to maximize performance. KB Home controlled costs by performing cost/value reviews and proved that a LEED Platinum project can be designed and built without a significant increase in construction costs.”

[+] Read our coverage of Primera Terra.

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Outstanding Affordable Housing Projects

Juneberry Lane – Clackamas Community Land Trust, Oregon City, OR (LEED Platinum)

“Juneberry Lane … built on a high density infill property, consists of 12 subdivisions of six duplexes, and provided permanently affordable homes for families with modest incomes in Oregon City, Ore. Buyers are required to invest sweat equity towards landscaping and home maintenance projects, helping to sustain its aesthetics while building a cohesive community.”

[+] More info about Juneberry Lane.

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In addition, ActiveWest Builders was recognized as Outstanding Production Builder; New Hope Housing of Houston, Tex. was recognized as Outstanding Affordable Developer; and the Habitat for Humanity of Kent County (Michigan) was recognized for Outstanding Program Commitment.

Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:

1. 19 Stunning Platinum Projects of 2010
2. Bastyr Platinum Project Gets Top Award
3. 2010 AIA COTE Top Ten Green Projects!