Green & Design 20090304-Blogkientruc-com

8/13/2019 Green & Design 20090304-Blogkientruc-com

1/59

April 15, 2009

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Green & Design, the first of a series of digital

initiatives from the Nielsen Design Media Group that focus on sustainable building

and design.

This digital magazine is a collaborative effort between Nielsens market-leading

design brands and combines the expertise and knowledge of our editors with that of

industry thought leaders, bringing you the products, projects and people who are

changing the face of commercial and residential green design.

We have chosen this digital format precisely because it is green itself allowing us todeliver our content to you in a way that is environmentally sensitive. For best viewing,

PC users should hit the F11 key and Mac users should Click the green plus-sign +

button at the top left of any window to maximize your application window.

I want to thank all of my colleagues at Nielsen Business Media for their support in

creating this new brand with special thanks to Jennifer Busch, the editor-in-chief of

both Contractand Green & Design, Katie Weeks, Senior Editor at Contract and

Green & Designand Jonathan Marsland, the Creative Director of Kitchen & Bath

Businessand Green & Designfor their vision, hard work and dedication.

Green & Designis a work in progress and we encourage and welcome feedback

from readers, so please dont hesitate to contact me at

[email protected] with any comments or suggestions.

Thank you again for your interest in Green & Design, I hope you enjoy this edition

and those to come.

Sincerely,

Patrick L. Brennan,

VP, Nielsen Design Media Group


2/59

Mirabella Retirement Communityin Portland, Ore.

Sustainability in a Down EconomyMarketing Green to Eco-Conscious

ConsumersTo LEED or not to LEED?Focus on Retail

March/April 2009 www.greenanddesign.com


3/59

JUNE 1517THE MERCHANDISE MART CHICAGO NEOCON.COM

PRODUCED BYSelect RS No. 37 at ContractMagazine.com/readerservice


4/59

06

18

20

22

Hot TopicBeyond Fad

Designing enduring sustainablearchitecture when times are tough

ConsumerGeneration Green

How to reach todays eco-minded

consumers

Focus on RetailGreen Flags

Sustainable Opportunities for Retail

LEED for Retail

What to expect from the USGBCs

newest pilot program

DesignHola, la Ciudad

Mexico Cityand Latin America

welcomes a green change withHOKs design for Torre HSBC

Eco-Mountain High

Luxury and sustainability blend

happily in Jackson Hole

Beautiful Vision

Portlands Mirabella retirement

community melds green strategies

with great design

A Better Bean

L.L. Bean moves its bricks-and-mortar

store presence forward with anenvironmentally friendly prototype

Under the Influence

A California kitchen finds inspiration

in nature and the East

InterviewExtreme Environmentalist

Pliny Fisk III of the Center for Maximum

Potential Building Systems has never

been part of the mainstreamand

now others are inside looking out

Green+TechnologyLeading LEED

BIM to take LEED to the next level

Practice&Management

To LEED or Not to LEED?Assessing the ongoing need for

certification

OpinionThe Many Shades of Green

There are a bevy of options when it

comes to going green

Departments

Editorial

Book Review

Products

Products: Designers PicksAd Index

24

28

32

36

43

45

48

52

54

04

10

12

5356

March/April contents

03March/April 2009 | www.greenanddesign.com


5/59

04 www.greenanddesign.com | March/April 2009

editorial

Sustainability is not a trend, its amovement, and one that is likely to

effect massive change in our lives and

in our world if it has not already begun

to do so.

There are those who bought in to the principles of

green design early, intent on doing the right thing,

and they largely have been credited with being the

influential pioneers of sustainability. There are those

who held back for concern over fiscal responsibility:

Green design was too costly, or had too long of a

payback time. These people are quickly learning that

today the most pressing question surrounding

sustainability may not be How much will it cost to go

green? but rather, How much will it cost not to?Regardless of where you lie on the spectrum, between

early adapter or late follower, everyone on the real

estate, design, and construction team seemsfinally

to be headed in the same direction.

As sustainability becomes more elemental to the way

we conduct business, the need for reliable informationsurrounding the complex choices and inexact science

of green design is more pressing than ever. At Nielsen

Business Media, we possess a unique opportunity to

cover the issues from multiple perspectives on the

building team through the collective lens of our sister

publications Contract, Hospitality Design, Display &

Design Ideas, Kitchen & Bath Business, Multi-Housing

News, and Commercial Property News. Thus the

introduction of Green & Design, a new information

resource covering all the developments shaping the

future of sustainability in commercial design and

construction. Green & Design will leverage our group

knowledge and expertise to deliver relevant content

that equips members of the real estate design and

construction community with the tools they need tobuild green more efficiently and profitably.

Patrick Brennan

Vice President, Design Media Group

[email protected]

Jennifer Thiele Busch

Editorial Director

[email protected]

Katie WeeksSenior Editor

[email protected]

Jonathan Marsland

Creative Director

[email protected]

Barbara W. Lau

Production Manager

[email protected]

Editorial Advisory BoardAlison Embrey Medina, Editor, DDI

Magazine; Tara Mastrelli, Managing Editor,HD Magazine; Diana Mosher, Editor, Multi-Housing News; Suzann Silverman, Editor,

Commercial Property News; Christina

Trauthwein, editor, Kitchen + Bath Business

Editorial Offices646-654-4500 phone

770 Broadway, 13th FloorNew York, NY 10003

President: Greg FarrarSenior Vice Presidents: Michael Alicea (Human

Resources); Sloane Googin (Finance); Mark

Hosbein (Marketing); Gerry Byrne (Media &

Entertainment); Sabrina Chow (Brand Media and

Corporate Development); David Loechner

(Retail); Joe Randall (Building & Design);

Mary Kay Sustek (Central Services)

Vice Presidents: Howard Appelbaum (Licensing):

Jennifer Grego (Manufacturing & Distribution);Joanne Wheatley (Audience Marketing)

Welcome to Green & Design

G


6/59

MadeGreen inthe USA

Now you can extend some hospitalityto the planet, too.

Our tables and chairs are built with increasingly sustainable materials and techniques to reduce

environmental impact. We use certified renewable wood. Recycled steel. No-VOC paints. And a

whole host of other green features that can help you earn LEED certification. Now you can be good

to your guests and be good to the planet. Visit our web site to learn more!

G R A N D R A P I D S C H A I R C O M P A N Y

www.grandrapidschair.com or 1.866.4LEGS4U

Select No. 23 at ContractMagazine.com/readerservice


7/59


In the current economy, the broad

topic of design for a more sustainable

built environment must be viewed in

context. Not long ago, it seems that the

construction industry was incredibly

strong, credit was easy, the green

movement was going mainstream, and

energy prices were soaring.

But today, real estate development

reflects a weakened global economy

and the especially distressed credit

markets. Suddenly, a whiff of dilettante

environmentalism could spell disaster

for an architect. As in so many previous

recessions, each real estate expendi-

ture today is more strictly examined by

investors and developers.

Despite that, I argue that we must cre-

ate good when we can, at every junc-ture. This credit crisis can be considered

as a new starting point, an opportunity

to slow down and consider future sus-

tainable building options. We in the first

world, despite positive strides, have

consumed resources at times recklessly,

with insufficient regard for the environ-

ment and the future. Perhaps we have

been too busy and successful to really

change. Now we have time to do so.

It is agonizing to consider how much

money was destroyed in the current

banking failure, and how much could

have been achieved had that moneybeen spent on education, environmen-

tal measures, or even on changing

whole economies to a more sustain-

able approach.

We can only double our resolve to

place our economies and banking sys-tems on solid footing going forward,

while relentlessly mitigating our environ-

mental damage along the way. The

development of truly sustainable busi-

nesses and economies should be our

goal, aidedand not hamperedbyour banking system.

The environment is not a fair weather

problem. The damage to the environ-

menteven from a purely business

standpoint, as the Chinese are finding

outis a reality with grave conse-quences. And while energy is cheap

By Stefan Behnisch, Hon. FAIA, RIBA, BDA, CIMA

beyond fadDesigning enduring sustainable architecture when times are tough

hot topics


8/59


9/59


today, there is no guarantee it will be in

the future. We find that clients are veryaware of this condition.

There can be optimism with regard to

potential government infrastructure

spending, that such projects will be

both purposeful (i.e., mass transit, clean

power plants) and built green.

Regarding private-sector projects, I am

less confident. While the LEED rating sys-

tem is an advance, it nearly becamelittle more than a marketing brand

that developers wanted attached to

their buildings. Can sustainability survive

if it is only an affectation?

We, as architects, designers, and engi-

neers, need to strengthen, not lessen,

our efforts to convince clients of the

need to build truly sustainable build-

ings that will be much more adaptable

for generations ahead, and thus be

more viable through future economic

fluctuations.

There are some other rays of light.

Construction and acquisition costs havefallen, and the additional price of

going green is more than offset by

these reductions, which should ease our

task of convincing clients that sustain-

ability is not a luxury, but a necessity to

survive future economic hard times.

Tenants and building owners are look-

ing at monthly energy and mainte-

nance costs more closely than ever.

This economic climate also poses a

chance for change in peoples behav-

iora redefinition of comfort. Turning

down air-conditioning systems by eight

degrees Fahrenheit will cut energy con-

sumption roughly in half and also save

a substantial amount of water used inthe chiller systems. Promoting the

money-saving aspect will make peo-

ple more accepting of increased tem-

perature swings in summer and winter.

They will come to live by different

comfort expectations. It will also allowarchitects and engineers to design far


10/59

more sustainable buildings without

additional costs.

If the additional cost of sustainable

construction is recouped in three to five

years, it may seem more palatable

today, than when a building was being

constructed for near-certain immediate

sale, with an emphasis on quick trans-actions, not durability.

Now we will have to convince clients to

build green with carefully constructed

economic arguments. Simply, the eco-

nomic facts in times of limited financial

resources are more convincing.

We must face the future with resolve

and optimism. The green movement is

not a fad or period piece; it is a neces-

sary adaptation to ensure higher living

standards for all. That is something

worth fighting for.

Stefan Behnisch is principal/partner of

Behnisch Architekten, based in

Stuttgart, Germany, with offices in Los

Angeles and Boston.

G

The premier maker of indoor waterfalls, Harmonic Environments has always sought

not only to emulate the beauty of Nature but to protect it. Our Custom Green

program encourages the use of environmentally responsible materials and methods,

and has earned our waterfalls a place in LEED-certified projects.

Learn more about the natural beauty of water at HarmonicEnvironments.com

Intelligent Water...by Design.TM Naturally!

Call us today at 800.497.3529 to receive our brochure.

Intelligent Water... by DesignTM


11/59


Disclosure: Ive been privileged to

know Paul Hawken for the past

five years and own an

autographed copy of this

wonderful book. While I dont fully

buy into my friends praise for Wal-Marts environmental initiatives, I

do believe he has accomplished

more to improve the relationship

between commerce and nature

than any other person alive.

Paul Hawken understands as

clearly as anyone the potentially

dire consequences of our

societys self-inflicted

environmental damage. And yet

in his quintessential, infectious

style, he sees a world perched on

the brink of catastrophe and finds

hope. Blessed Unrestexplains why.

At the heart of Hawkens

underlying optimism are the

inspiring efforts of millions ofpeople worldwide who are fueled

by a blessed unrest to work

toward ecological sustainability

and social justice as part of a

movement with no name. From

chronicling the efforts of Emerson,

Thoreau, Gandhi, Gore, Rachel

Carson, and Ray Anderson at

Interface, Hawken traces the

history and interrelationships of this

movement. His exhaustive

appendix, which comes from his

WiserEarth web site

By Bill Valentine, FAIA

blessed unrest

Blessed Unrest: How the Largest

Movement in the World Came intoBeing and Why No One Saw It Coming

book review


12/59


(wiserearth.org), offers an

immense listing of nonprofit and

community organizations that

together are improving our world

from the bottom-up.

Though he credits the USGBC for

making a vital impact on how

architects design buildings and

devotes part of one paragraph to

describing Edward Mazrias

Architecture 2030 carbon neutralproject, Hawken makes few

mentions of the role of architects

and designers in this movement.

Perhaps this conspicuous absence

tells us how much work we still

have left to do? He does note that

green, safe, livable cities are at

the fingertips of architects and

designers. It just takes time, as

well as a willingness to join the

large-scale spiritual awakening

already underway.

In Blessed UnrestHawken presents

an environmental movement so

dedicated and strong that we

cant possibly ignore the message

that this is a world crying out for

help. Now more than ever, weneed to genuinely listen to what

people need and use our design

skills to help them secure their

basic rightsthings like shelter,

health care, and educationas

humans.

In highlighting the story of Rosa

Parks, Hawken notes that, What

distinguishes one life from another

is intention, the one thing we can

control. Rosa Parkss intentions

were deep and unswerving, aswere Kings, Thoreaus, and

Gandhiswhile the events of the

world were out of their control,

their resolve was not.

Its time for those of us who

practice sustainable design to

make our Rosa Parks moment and

have the resolve to refuse to take

our seat on the business as usual

bus. Im more interested in where

the social justice bus that Hawken

chronicles is headed. Care to stepaboard?

Bill Valentine is chairman of HOK

and based in the firms San

Francisco office.

G


13/59


1 | Nemo Tile A variety of finishes

are available for Nemo TilesEkobe/Coconut Naturale, a prod-

uct made of natural, aged

coconut. www.nemotile.com.

2 | Carlisle Wide Plank Floors

FSC-certified Antique Heart Pine ismade from 100-percent post-con-

sumer reclaimed antique wood,

recovered from old factories and

textile mills. The planks feature a

tight, vertical grain structure and

deep orange patina.

www.wideplankflooring.com

3 | Eleeks Nouveau Pendant

comes with optional LED lamping

consisting of three 1W warm-white

(2800K) LEDs that can last up to

50,000 hours and offer a light out-put of 100 lumens per watt, com-

pared to incandescent lamps,

which offer 15 lumens per watt.

www.eleekinc.com

4 | The Energy Star-qualified Lineafrom Bosch features an exterior dis-

play that allows users to access all

refrigerator and freezer functions

from the outside, eliminating the

unnecessary escape of cold air.

www.boschappliances.com

2

3

4

products

1


14/59

G R E E N P R O D U C T S

www.crossvi l le inc.com

Select RS No. 143 at ContractMagazine.com/readerservice


15/59


5 | ALNO AG AlnoArt Woodglas

offers a green alternative to exoticwood veneers by printing a contin-

uous woodgrain on aluminum-

framed doors. The collection fea-

tures down-lit functional shelves

with glass backboards, which can

match a cabinets design.

www.alno.de

6 | Burning eco-friendly, non-pollut-

ing denatured alcohol, EcoSmart

Fires The Tower can be regulated

and shuts off with a lever, leaving

no mess. The freestanding fire towerhas a glass case around the flame

that is treated and toughened. The

cabinet is made of powder-coated

steel. www.ecosmartfire.com

7 | Sanyo recently introduced theHIT Double bifacial solar panel,

which generates power from both

sides simultaneously and is report-

edly designed to achieve the high-

est power per sq. ft. of any solar

panel in the world.

www.sanyo.com/solar

8 | Designed by Philippe Starck,

Hansgrohes Axor Starck Electronic

Faucets feature new infrared sen-

sors inside the front base of the units

and can save one gallon of waterper minute. www.hansgrohe.com

5

6

7

products

8


16/59

Be good. Go to shawcontractgroup.com

essay of

clues

design is good.When it looks good and does good.

When its Eco Solution Q

on top,

EcoWorx underneath, carbon neutralthroughout. Behold Essay of Clues,

the latest cradle-to-cradle collectivebetweenWilliam McDonoughand

Shaw Contract Group.

Select RS No. 110 at ContractMagazine.com/readerservice


17/59


9 | JLF/LoneMeadow furnishings has part-

nered with ForrestPerkins to create the

ForrestPerkins for Lone Meadow 20-piece

line. The complete line utilizes sustainable

woods, 100 percent recycled foam, recy-

cled post-consumer steel hardware, and

water-based finishes. www.jlfurnishings.com

10 | Silverstate Winds of Change is a Sil-verState fabrics Smart Life collection.

Made from 100 percent recycled and

recyclable polyester, the collection is

inspired by the sounds of earthwind,

leaves, and landscapesgiving it a clean

palette with a twist of bright color.www.silverstatefabrics.com

11 | Armstrong The new Tierra ceiling

from Armstrong weighs in with 45 percent

rapidly renewable content. The product

features an exclusive BioAcoustic sub-

strate made from jute, a natural fiber that

grows from seed to harvest in ninety days.

www.armstrong.com

12 | Trend Group USA Trend Q, the recy-

cled stone agglomerate, is a flexible 1/4-

in. material that can be installed overexisting surfaces. The collection contains

up to 72 percent post consumer recycled

content, integrated with glass from recy-

cled beer, gin, and water bottles, copper-

infused Aventurina, and mother of pearl.

www.trendgroup-usa.com

10

11

12

products

9


18/59


19/59


Were all familiar with the common

characteristics associated with

the Boomers, Generation X, and

Generation Y. But, with the

increasing awareness of the need

for energy and water conservation,

consumers of all ages are bonding in aneffort to preserve the earths natural

resources. Todays generations are all

part of a new Generation Green,

seeking tangible action and real

results. Effectively marketing eco-

friendly products and services tothis new generation requires an

understanding of who they are.

The movement toward green products,

especially in the home, is being shaped

in part by educated women who are not

only eco-sensitive, but also career-driven and financially secure. A

study by Kleber & Associates and

StandPoint Marketing Research

that focused on purchasing

habits found these highly motivat-

ed consumers are responsible forabout 80 percent of all household-relat-

ed purchasing decisions, earning

them the designation of Chief

Purchasing Officer (CPO). Typi-

cally the manager of household

finances, they are prime targets

for those selling eco-friendly prod-

ucts and services. Also spearheadingthe green home movement are Genera-

tions X and Y, whose spending on home-

ownership and remodeling will

peak in the next few years.

Spending Behavior

Motivating factors ranking high in

importance included energy sav-

ings, preservation of natural resources,

look and feel of natural products, and

indoor air quality. Additional buying con-

siderations include:

Saving green. Though partici-

pants in the focus group were

familiar with the Energy Star

logo, when asked if they would

pay more for an item bearing the

logo, they indicated a willingness todo so if the increase was no more than

generation greenHow to reach todays eco-minded consumers

consumer

By Steven Kleber


20/59


five percent. Both CPOs and youngergenerations tend to make decisions that

directly affect their day-to-day lives, like

decreasing their utility bills, and specifi-

cally look for products and services that

provide energy- and water-efficient

benefits.

Quality and price vs. brand name.

Though brand-conscious, CPOs dont for-

sake quality for brand name. The

younger generations also are known for

having little or no brand loyalty, purchas-

ing items based primarily on need andbudget. Generation Green understands

that a brand product does not necessari-

ly equate to quality workmanship.

Combining luxury and environmental

consciousness. Generations X and Y tend

to have varying style preferences, but will

often choose design and comfort above

any other product classifications.

Improving Contact

In light of these preferences, these mar-

keting strategies may offer better reach:

Provide online information. Avid and

savvy Internet users, Generation Green

goes online to research subjects or com-

pare information on brands and pricing.

Offer a community for referrals.

Because Generation Green is Internetreliant, creating an online community

where visitors can converse about your

product or service will pay dividends.

Endorsements and customer testimonials

can go a long way with this group.

Partner with green organizations and

programs. Generation Green isnt just

looking to purchase a high-efficiency toi-

let; it wants to support a company that is

involved in eco-friendly innovation. A

commitment to sustainability is more

appealing than just a green product.

Create green-focused marketing mes-

sages. Generation Green is sharp, knowl-

edgeable, and not easily fooled. With

the prevalence of greenwashing, truly

eco-friendly businesses must market

themselves carefully. Saying youre

green is not enough; you must prove it.

Generation Green will only continue to

grow in volume and spending power.

Understanding this complex generation

and its different members will increasesales and market share, simultaneously

allowing companies to embrace their

environmental side.

Steven Kleber is president and founder of

Kleber & Associates, Marketing and

Communications in Atlanta.

G

focus on retail


21/59


Lets face itretail has certainly been

dabbling in green practices over the

past couple of years, but the industry as

a whole is experiencing a paradigm

paralysis, despite the paradigm shift

that has occurred in other market sec-

tors. Current economic times undoubt-

edly slow development, but this

shouldnt halt the pace of innovation

in fact, it should escalate it. Retails hes-

itancy to adopt comprehensive green

practices is surprisingly peculiar, espe-

cially since retailers are keen to aligningwith the likes of the consumera con-

sumer who is changing.

More than 80 percent of the U.S.adult

population shows some type of green

motivation, according to new research

by the Natural Marketing Institute. For

an industry whose success depends

upon consumer demand, I raise the first

green flag of opportunity for retailers

looking to differentiate themselves and

capture the attention of a strengthen-

ing consumer type.

Today, there is a flood of experts com-

ing together to guide retailers through

the economic downturn. They call for

reductions in quality, product mix and

payrollbut why not call for efficiency

and resourcefulness in the way energy

is used, products are transported and

packaged, or materials are reused?

Why do we not hear about compre-

hensive water-use reduction programs,

the installation of T5 lighting or the use

of on-site renewable energy to lever-

age the price associated with peakenergy demand? Any of these strate-

gies would save a national retailer mil-

lions of dollars and lessen the need to

trim away the very core competencies

and people that built the brand. This is

the second green flag of opportunity Illraise for retailers planning a store for

the future.

Perhaps the decision makers in the

retail industry have fallen victim to the

stigma that green is expensive. The

truth, however, is that green is notexpensivechange and development

By Justin Doak

Green Flagsof Opportunity

focus on retail

are So the first obstacle we face is get government compliances and chang


22/59


are. So the first obstacle we face is get-

ting retail owners to understand how a

sustainability program works within the

traditional expectations of the retail

business model. Just like the develop-ment of any prototype, the real invest-

ment is in the smart planning all of us

green folks talk about. In times like

these, people rarely deviate from the

norm, but sometimes deviation is exact-

ly what is needed. Now is a great time

to explore options, such as lengthening

the payback horizon associated with

major equipment upgrades to better

reflect hold-times. It is equally as smart

to look for operational efficiencies and

greening practices that can ramp up

net operating income, while also deliv-ering the green programs demanded

by shareholders and key publics. This

means it is time to get creative and

coordinate existing resources and staff

with leaders in the industry, and imple-

ment free and low-cost, quick-returnmeasures. This is the third green flag.

The stores of the past could afford inef-

ficiencies due to a lack of competition.

The store of today has afforded ineffi-

ciencies due to a buy now, pay later

culture and cheap resources. However,the store of the future wont have such

luxuries, and consequently, will require

a comprehensive green program. The

level of competition; skyrocketing price

of energy, water, and materials for con-

struction, operations and production;escalating real estate; forthcoming

government compliances; and chang-

ing cultural expectations will drive sus-

tainability hard and quick into retail.

The store of the future is on the horizon.

It will have a smaller real estate foot-

print; be cognizant of its waste; track

its water and energy use; realize that

access to public transport and estab-

lished communities will secure stable

sales; be an energy generator, rather

than an energy consumer; communi-cate green practices and products to

its customers; and participate in green

programs in cooperation with its land-

lord. The store of the future will be

resourceful (reusing whenever possi-

ble), will grow its regional product linesand will provide both customers and

employees with a comfortable and

healthy environment to work and

shop. This is smart business; this is retail

in the future. The irony is that once

retailers realize the aggregate savings

associated with portfoliowide efforts

like this, theyll wonder what took them

so long.

Formerly the program manager of LEED

for Retail at the U.S. Green BuildingCouncil, Justin Doak is now the founder

of BlueBin Inc., a sustainability guid-

ance firm for retailers.

G

focus on retail


23/59


In todays competitive retail market,

providing financially and environmen-

tally responsible solutions while main-

taining customer loyalty is of para-

mount importance to the success ofyour business. Seeing a need several

years ago to address the specific chal-

lenges and unique opportunities pre-

sented by retailers actively working to

green their stores, the USGBC estab-

lished the LEED for Retail Pilot program.

The launch of the full rating system is

expected in the coming months.

The pilot program included participa-

tion by more than 80 retail teams to

better tailor the goals of the new pro-

gram to address retail-specific issues.These included the need for a rating

system with flexibility to encourage par-

ticipation by retailers from supermar-

kets, restaurants, and salons to specialty

retailers, big boxes, and banks.

The new rating system takes intoaccount the varying demands on sys-

tems in a retail environment with a

small number of full-time employees

compared to a potentially large and

By Rachel J. Zsembery, AIA, LEED AP

LEED RETAILWhat to expect from the USGBCs newest pilot program

for

focus on retail


24/59


variable number of customers occupy-

ing the space at any time. Retail-specif-

ic lighting needs, water use for processloads, and energy required for refriger-

ation were also taken into account. The

rating system addresses the opportunity

retailers have to employ green strate-

gies in fabricating their fixturing systems

in concert with assessing the amount ofrecycled content and VOC levels con-

tained within construction materials.

Unique solutions to transportation issues

are also addressed, with LEED points

being offered to retailers who make

arrangements for delivery services for

customers who wish to use public trans-portation, but need a way to transport

bulky items, and for providing outreach

to both customers and employees in

the form of maps of local bike routes,

car share memberships, and preferred

parking for hybrid vehicles. There alsoare several credits that are affected by

a stores location/building and retailers

can work with landlords and develop-

ers to build some of the requirements

into base lease agreements.

Responding to the growing populationof environmentally conscious con-

sumers, smart retailers are greening their

portfolio, while reaping the benefits of

increased profitability, customer loyalty,

and market recognition. Consumers,

now more than ever, have a choice ofwhere, or if, they will spend their hard-

earned money. Supporting the retailer

whose stores provide a positive environ-

mental impact in their community, while

remaining cost competitive, is certainly

a growing marketplace trend.

Rachel J. Zsembery, AIA, LEED AP is an

associate at Bergmeyer Associates Inc.,

in Boston

L.L. Bean, designed by Bergmeyer Associates,

Inc. Photo by Richard Mandelkorn.

G

office


25/59

office



26/59

By Linda BurnettPhotography by Adrian Wilson

hola,la ciudadMexico Cityand Latin Americawelcomes agreen change with HOKs design for Torre HSBC

When we think of bustling cities of industrialization, we often picturethe obviousNew York, London, Paris, Tokyo. But some 70 percent

of urban dwellers are in developing countries, and that meansmore than a handful of untapped potential. Some companieshave taken heed. In 2002, the British bank HSBC, with more than 130

years in the business and a global strategy to target emerging mar-kets, acquired the local Banco Bital in Mexico City with a plan

beyond deposits and withdrawals. Mexico City has unveiled the firstLEED-certified building not only in its country, but also in all of Latin


America, with the HOK-designed headquarters for


27/59


HSBC Mexico smack in the middle of a burgeon-ing urban center.

Located on the Paseo de la Reforma, the citys

main thoroughfare, Torre HSBC (HSBC Tower) isa beacon of forward thinkinggoing green.Although the concept might be untested forthe region, carbon neutrality has long been

essential to HSBCs operation. Since it was agiven that HSBC required a green building, Ithought we had a good chance to go further

and get certification, Claudio Tanco, HSBCsregional head of corporate real estate LatinAmerica, says of the decision to reach for LEED

Gold status, We knew it would call attention tobe the first to get certification in Latin America,but that wasnt the driver.

Mexico City has long had problems with cleanwater, so sustainable building practices with a

requirement to decrease water usage is morethan a signal for change. Tower HSBC uses 55percent less water with the help of a 4,000-sq.-

ft. green roof that reduces storm water runoffand filters pollutants, and an on-site graywatertreatment plant. And since there are only 10private offices, allowing for an ample open

plan for 90 percent of the space, daylightfloods in, stimulating an intelligent lighting sys-tem and helping reduce energy usage by 40

percent. All the details were considered. The

copy/fax room here is isolated for indoor airquality control.

With more than 100 million inhabitants, Mexiconot only received the re-branding of a bank, but

also a nod toward social consciousness. We arepioneers in green. We also introduced the first

gym on the office premises and other amenities,says Tanco of the 400,000-sq.-ft., 24-story building.


28/59

hospitality


29/59


By Alia AkkamPhotography by Cameron R. Neilson

p y

t i hi h


30/59


Hotel Terra is viewing luxury

through a more authentic lens.

Its a new definition of luxury;

providing clean air and fresh

water, says Erin Langan, senior

interior designer at Seattle-

based Callison, who worked on

the Jackson Hole, Wyo., project.

The perception of luxury and

sustainability has been in con-

flict, but it doesnt have to be

the case, agrees Jim Moore,associate principal at Callison,

who spearheaded the archi-

tectural footprint of the hotel.

It can be the same goal.

The 72-room condo-hotel prop-

erty is awaiting LEED certifica-tion (it will be the fifth LEED-cer-

tified U.S. hotel), and even has

a director of sustainability on

the premises to oversee its myri-

ad eco-friendly initiatives.

Energy-saving design abounds

throughout the property. The

roof is made of 100 percent

Eco-Shake shingles; Fly Ash,

a coal-burning byproduct,

replaces up to 50 percent of

the cement used in the con-

crete; and Energy Star windows

and low-flow toilets are in

place. More than 90 percent

of the hotel interiors capture

natural light, while 80 percent

of the striking steel used

throughout the property fea-

tures recycled content.

Natural mattresses integrate

un-bleached, un-dyed cotton

and recycled springs, and

guests wash their hair with

organic shampoo.

Hotel Terras pristine setting,

adjacent to Grand Teton

National Park, naturally was

inspiration, giving shape to the

design concept of the modern

mountain lodge. You find alot of wood columns and

eco mountain highLuxury and sustainability blend happily in Jackson Hole


31/59



32/59


beams in traditional mountain lodges,

but we took a lighter touch, says

Moore.

As Langan points out, the goal was to ref-

erence the cultural soul of the area while

keeping the design clean and modern.

For example, they shunned ubiquitous,

hackneyed antlers. Instead, chandeliers

are crafted based on an abstraction of

branches. Reclaimed cedar, meanwhile,suggests a more chic, contemporary

log cabin.

The modern theme continues with steel-

detailed rough-hewn lumber and a flag-

stone fireplace set against red tiles; half-

cut white pebbles mark the entry and

reception area; and quality, contempo-

rary art meshes with the overall sophisti-

cation of the property. As you walk

through the first floor, its not like walking

through a traditional lodge. Art leads the

way, says Langan.

See sources from this project on pg. 56.

G

multi-family


33/59



34/59


Does sustainable design make finan-

cial sense for developers? On some

for-profit projects, the answer may

be no. But for some large-scale mul-tifamily properties, sustainability is

becoming a fiscal necessity.

Pacific Retirement Services Inc.s

(PRS) Mirabella South Waterfront in

Portland, Ore. is a perfect example.

In Italian, Mirabella translates to

beautiful vision. However, the pro-

jects beauty is more than skin-deep.

As a sustainable building, Mirabella

will have a minimal long-term effect

on its environment. Even moreattractive is the propertys ability to

insulate its owner from escalating

energy costs, while earning close to

$1.5 million in tax credits and other

financial rebates in the form of sys-

tem development charges and

other up-front fees. Developer PRS

and local design partner Ankrom

Moisan Architects are aiming for

LEED Platinum certification.

PRS doesnt play favorites, but its

Portland project is special. The 30-story CCRC is PRSs first true high-rise

and is next door to the Oregon

Health and Science University

(OHSU) Wellness Center. This facility is

connected by aerial tram to the

main university campus west of the

site, OHSU will also contribute the lat-By Michael Russo

Portlands Mirabella retirement

community melds green

strategies with great design

beautifulv

sion

est technological resources and appli-


35/59


g pp

cations for Mirabellas aging-yet-

vibrant population, allowing residents

to remain independent while providing

healthcare support when needed.

Theres been an explosion in urban

housing here, observes Brian

McLemore, PRS executive vice presi-

dent. The [River Blocks] area where we

are building was well planned out witha lot of hard work by Portland officials.

LEED certification is a requirement

when building on The River Blocks,

which suits PRS just fine. McLemore

expects that Mirabella will be joined

by another Platinum-certified buildingand a few that meet Gold standards.

The CCRC has been described by its

designer as an upscale condo within a

five-star hotel. Key items include skilled

nursing and assisted living services,

physical therapy centers, and demen-

tia treatment facilities. A medical

office building and various OSHU

health care centers are within walking

distance. The nearby Greater Oregon

Health Sciences medical campus, vet-

erans and childrens hospitals, andteaching facility are icing on the cake.

Many of our residents are in their mid-

70s and up, and they require access

to both healthcare and transportation

facilities, notes McLemore. In fact,

Mirabella is very much a transit-orient-

ed development (TOD) project, with

Portlands streetcars literally pulling up

to residents doors.

The other thing on PRSs side was a

decades-long relationship with Ankrom

Moisan Architects. The companys

principal, Jeff Los, AIA, has over 30

years of experience in CCRC design.

High-rise CCRCs are not typical but

are gaining acceptance, especially

for upscale retirees looking for access

to downtown activities. When you

combine this trend toward downtown

living with efficient transportation, it

creates some strong drivers for devel-opments like Mirabella, says Los.

The project requires 460,000 sq. ft. of

above-grade space, which made its

design more vertical than past proj-

ects. However, we dont have the

long corridors associated with low-rise


36/59


buildings, observes Los. Residents can

step off the elevators and be at theirfront door. This is particularly relevant as

our seniors age in place.

CCRC development holds a lot of

potential, but it demands a higher level

of articulation than for high-end con-

dominiums or apartments, according toRick Mazza, PRSs vice president of busi-

ness development and planning.

Can an experienced condo develop-

er succeed in our market? Its possible,

says Mazza. But besides the ownership

structure, CCRCs are purpose-built with

an entirely different level of healthcare

amenities. While many condos todayare mixed-use, they are more geared

toward the living space than the

amenities, continues Mazza. However,

facilities like Mirabella will eventually

become more common, as baby

boomers look to coordinate their own

health services and not burden their

children. Typically, a wealthier, more

demanding client will require the one-

stop health services that a standard

condo cannot provide. G

retail


37/59


A BETTER BEAN


38/59


By Sree RoyPhotography by Richard Mandelkorn

L.L. Bean moves its bricks-and-mortar store presence

forward with an environmentally friendly prototype

Well-established as a catalog and Internet merchant, out-

door equipment and accessories company L.L. Bean Inc.

recently spied an opportunity to expand its bricks-and-

mortar presence. About seven years ago, it became

clear that the physical retail part needed to expand to

provide more opportunities for customers in more mar-

kets, says Ken Kacere, senior vice president, retail stores,of the 95-year-old brand. Whereas store sales (mainly

from the companys flagship store near its headquarters

in Freeport, Maine) made up only about 10 percent of

the brands business a few years ago, these sales are pro-

jected to make up between 20 percent to 30 percent of

the companys business by 2012. To reach that goal, theretailer has developed a new, eco-friendly prototype to

cater to its outdoorsy clientele.

When we were developing the store concept, it was a

natural thing that our stores would be environmentally

friendly, because one of our core values is based around

a stakeholder concept, Kacere explains. The companyconsiders all of the stakeholderscustomers, employees,

vendors or the overall communityin every decision it

makes, Kacere says, including its impact on the environ-

ment. Sean Salter, L.L. Beans director of visual design,

adds: A goal for the new design was to make it feel

authentic to the Bean brand and heritage. Fortunately, a

A BETTER BEAN


39/59


lot of things that help portray this in our

store actually tie back to the environ-

ment, like the authentic feel ofreclaimed wood in the flooring.

The three prototype stores that opened

in 2007in Mansfield, Mass.; South

Windsor, Conn.; and Albany, N.Y.are

all expected to earn LEED certification

through the USGBC LEED for Retail Inte-riors pilot program. The design team is

hoping for a silver rating for the 25,000-

sq.-ft. stores. There were some chal-

lenges, like the store in Albany, N.Y.,

had less daylighting opportunities

because of its first-floor location, but we

incorporated enough flexibility into the

design so there were certain trade-offs

we could make to ensure each store

reached the same level of certifica-tion, says Rachel Zsembery, project

manager at Boston-based design firm

Bergmeyer Associates Inc.

A lot of research went into the proto-

type design. Six members of the design

team actually worked in an existing L.L.Bean store for a day to learn about the

store experience from the inside. Plus,

shop-alongs and exit interviews were

conducted to understand what the

customers were looking for, what they

responded to, and what they didnt

like, before the prototype was created.

Visual enhancements begin with the

exterior A large porch surrounds the

ing trips. It also fits in with the retailers

mantra of learn try buy and enjoy


40/59


exterior. A large porch surrounds the

faade, providing direct entrances to

certain departments, such as the pad-

dling and biking areas, and also servingas a gathering place during the sum-

mer. Expansive amounts of glass pro-

vide ample daylighting. Exterior materi-

als were chosen for their ability to

change and adapt with the environ-

ment. Natural cedar-finish shingles onthe roof will transform over time from a

pewter color to a weathered gray; the

zinc-clad copper also on the roof will

dull to a deeper gray as it ages. We

really wanted to complement some

qualities that are seen in Bean prod-

ucts, says Joseph P. Nevin Jr., senior

principal at Bergmeyer. When you buy

Bean boots, they look great, but they

become better over time as they

acquire a patina and wear and

become part of you. In the same way,

we wanted the buildings to look greatwhen they first open, but we also want

them to acquire a patina and change

over time as they become part of the

local environment.

Inside the front doors, a large informa-

tion desk orients customers to the

stores offerings, and provides informa-

tion about the green design. An Out-

door Discovery Center serves as a hub

in the center of the store, connecting

customers to the environment through

organized outdoor activities, like kayak-

mantra of learn, try, buy and enjoy,

Kacere explains.

Around the Outdoor Discovery Center,the floorplan is separated into smaller

specialty sections based on the four

core product offerings of biking, hiking,

boating and flyfishing. We designed it

as more of a specialty store rather than

a department store, Nevin explains.

We wanted to create a more intimate

experience.

As opposed to a typical racetrack lay-

out, the path around the store is more

like a winding path in the woods.

Through platforms and ramps, it evenchanges in elevation to mimic the

changes in topography that are found

in nature. The path itself is made of

reclaimed wood. One of the green

things we did in the stores was use a lot

of reclaimed wood, says Matt Hyatt,

lead designer at Bergmeyer. It sepa-

rates L.L. Bean in terms of the character

of those materials.

The flooring of the Albany, N.Y., store

has an especially interesting story. One

of the things that struck our customersthe most about the reclaimed wood in

the Albany store is that its from a barn

that was being torn down, Kacere

says. We hung a picture of the barn

with a plaque explaining the source of

the wood, and people have really

been responding to that. Recycled-

retail

I dditi t t ki d t f


41/59


content carpet is used throughout the

sales floor, and recycled rubber flooring

is present in the paddling and biking

areas. Some new wood is also used in

the store, but more than 50 percent of

it is Forest Stewardship Council-certified.

Store fixturing also is constructed fromreclaimed wood. It was pretty innova-

tive where some of the wood came

from; it includes sources like wooden

pickle barrels, Nevin says. All of the fix-

tures were manufactured within 500

miles of each store.

In addition to taking advantage of

daylighting, the designers incorporated

other energy-efficient lighting mecha-nisms. Daylight-responsive controls are

installed near windows, while motion

sensors are installed in areas that arent

regularly occupied. Plus, the entire store

is tied together in a system that shuts

off lights depending on an astronomic

light clock, which is based on the sun

pattern for that specific day of the

year. Energy Star lighting fixtures are

also featured throughout the space.

A separate energy-use management

system lets L.L. Beans headquartersremotely track how much energy the

stores mechanical systems are using.

This system also monitors temperature in

the stores. Together, the lighting control

and energy-use management systems

reduce each stores energy by about

40 percent over comparable facilities.

When asked how green design has

helped L.L. Bean, Kacere points out

that while it may not have helped the

bottom line (at least in the short run),

its something L.L. Bean and its cus-tomers are very happy about. Green

aligns with our core values, Kacere

says. By sticking by our core values

and doing the right thing, our cus-

tomers ultimately feel better about their

relationship with the brand.


G


42/59

Produced by

Nielsen Business Media,a part of the Nielsen Company

Presented by

June 15-17, 2009The Merchandise MartChicago, IL

Join more than 50,000 interior designers,architects, facility managers, corporate and

real estate executives, and federal governmentspecifiers at LIGHT! 2009, co-locating withNeoCon Worlds Trade Fair.

LIGHT! 2009 is the only event that showcasesthe latest HighDesign, HighTech, and HighStyle

products in the Contract lighting industry.Attend and be inspired!

Finding Lighting Solutions

for Todays Design Projects

ight

Register Today!lightingdesignexpo.com

Co Located

with NeoCon


43/59


nder the Influence

U


44/59

Asian influences and great green

style may not be what first comes to

mind when you think of a kitchen

that got its start on an HGTV show.

But then again, this isnt just any

kitchen. Created by designer Troy

Adams, this 625-sq.-ft. beauty in

Huntington Beach, Calif, hasenjoyed its fair share of on-air

celebrity. Not only did the kitchen

originate with an HGTV program,

Designers Challenge, but it also

came in as number five in the

networks Top 10 Amazing Kitchens.And its easy to see why. Functional,

modern and evocative of both East

and West, the kitchen incorporates

earth-friendly materials to provide its

owners with an inviting place in

which to cook, entertain, and enjoy

their memories of faraway lands.

A highlight of the kitchen is the

raised, sushi-bar-style breakfast area

that anchors the island at one end.

Here, family members and guests

can sit at a curved, honed, absolute

black granite counter to enjoy dishes

served to them on a lazy susan of

red enameled lavastone. The sushi-

bar concept, says Adams, is a nod

to the wifes passion for cooking,

which extends to Asian-inspired

dishes, while the natural stonefinishes, selected for their low toxic

emissions, contribute to a healthier

indoor environment. Similarly, all of

the walls are painted using low-VOC

paints, while above, energy-efficient

low-voltage lighting illuminates thebreakfast nook and the rest of the

kitchen and family room.

Behind the island, an Energy Star-

rated refrigerator, a set of ovens

and other appliances areintegrated into a wall of cabinetry,

further ensuring convenience and

easy access. Like the island, the

cabinets are veneered in warm

cherry wood and have simple,

contemporary-style doors with sleek

UBy Alice LiaoPhotography by Douglas Hill

A California kitchen finds inspiration in nature and the East



45/59


pulls to reinforce the East-West

connection. The units are offset by

bamboo flooring in a pale, natural finish

and by espresso-brown poplar veneers

on a wall cabinet and display shelf.According to Adams, the bamboo was

chosen not only for being a rapidly

renewable material, but also to

enhance the kitchens Asian feel. A

Tansu chest for storing fine china and

silverware, a shoji-screen pantry door,and a built-in recirculating water feature

further reflect the Eastern bent.

But Adams design solution was about

more than just a melding of disparate

worlds. It also stresses the importance ofestablishing a connection between

interior environments and the natural

world outside. Hence, by moving the

back wall out 1.5 ft. and expanding the

kitchen, Adams was also able to add a

16-ft.-wide doorway that looks out on an

outdoor barbeque kitchen, a patio

area, as well as a redesigned pool.

Outfitted with pocket doors that

disappear into the walls when not in use,

the generous opening fosters anintegration of indoor and outdoor

spaces, says Adams, and allows sunlight

to flood the kitchen and family room,

reducing the need for supplementary

lighting during the day.

Although Adams remodel was borne

out of a reality home-improvement

show, the kitchen and adjoining spaces

effuse a timeless charm and elegance

not always found in projects of similar

beginnings. And while the renovationwas completed over a harried six-month

period, as required by the program

producers, its use of materials sensitive to

the planet and to the well-being of the

homeowners, make the results seem,

well, truly amazing.


G

extreme

interview


46/59


Some people might consider 33 yearsa long time to be working outside the

mainstream, pushing boundaries,

being called a renegade and a mav-

erick. For Pliny Fisk III thats life, and he

cant imagine it any other way. Fisk

co-founded the Center for Maximum

Potential Building Systems (CMPBS) in

Austin, Texas, in 1975, and currently

serves as its co-director. CMPBSrec-

ognized as the oldest architecture and

planning 501c3 non-profit in the United

States focused on sustainable design

is much like Fisk in persona, demeanor,and eccentric qualities. Forget a fancy

corporate headquarters with academ-

ic scholars traipsing the halls in three-

piece suits. Instead, picture an 18-acre

mishmash of buildings with wildly

green-growing roofs, giant compostpiles, dozens of electric cars, a few

cement mixers, and countless other

contraptions designed to bring every-

thing eco to lifereal, sustainable

solutions, not hypothetical theories.

By Holly Richmond

e n v i r o n m e n t a l i s tPliny Fisk III of the Center for Maximum Potential Building Sys-

tems has never been part of the mainstreamand now others

are inside looking out

Pliny Fisk and his wife Gail Vittori (above), co-directorsof CMPBS. (Photo by Denise Prince.)

Q: Do you consider yourself a

maverick?

A: The design industry and the world in


47/59


A: The design industry and the world in

general are catching up with me. I

think Im less of a maverick every pass-ing day, which is great. My father was

a microbiologist, always tinkering in

nature, and my mother was a free-

thinking artist. In a way, I think my

career choice was predestined. I like to

say I grew up in a huge compost pile. Ilooked out my bedroom window in

Westchester County and saw gigantic

tomatoes growing, and I thought thats

just how the world was. Ive made that

practice part of my world but expand-

ed on the ideasome may say to

the extreme.

Q: How have you gained accept-

ance on your own terms?

A: Im always reinventing myself. I see

gaps that need filling, and Ill try any-

thing. For example, right now Im work-ing on and am very excited about one

particular building system: I recently

had the realization that to enter an

overlooked marketplace, I needed to

go in through warehouses. Boring! The

last thing I want to do with my life is getinvolved with big boxes; theyre the

bane of sustainable design, taking up a

huge amount of land area. But if we

tweak them with multiple levels of

renewable energy sources, they can

be the next frontier in evolutionarydesign. Is that being a maverick, or just

seeing what weve missed for years?

The team here at CMPBS works on

ideas like this and gets them going on a

policy level. Were not just sitting on a

hilltop creating prototypes. We work ona city level, then state and federal. The

Green Building Program and the USGBC

are examples of our forward-thinking

philosophy.

Q: How do you realize your work in

sustainable design within CMPBS?

A: I see every move we make as vitally

important. I have to piggyback on

team projects. You cant be a maver-

ick and be alone. You have to have a

work nest, not a theory nest. I loveto teach. [Fisk is a Fellow in Sustainable

Urbanism and Health Systems Design at

Texas A&M University, where he holds a

joint position as signature faculty in

Architecture, Landscape Architecture

and Planning.] And Ive been lucky

that many of my students have gone

on to affect change at both a state

and national level. They are influential,

and therefore our work at CMPBS

i i fl ti l

Are they all good? No! But, that said,

we cant handle everything at once.

My particular focus is buildings, which

j T l thi


48/59


is influential.

Q: You were once quoted as sayingyou werent rich enough to truly be

eccentric. If you had all the money

you needed to be truly eccentric,

what would you do?

A: One of the grand ideas were incor-

porating is a building system companywith design, engineering, and manu-

facturing start-up partners, all with in-

depth experience in each of the three

areas. The companys name is Sustain-

able Construction Technologies, based

in Texas, and were working on a sys-tem that can be adapted to many dif-

ferent materials, environmental impact

zones, income levels, and build-out

density scenarios. As part of this, I cre-

ated what I call the Dial a Building

System Wheel, which contains all the

protocols for clients to choose the sys-

tem combination that best suits their

needs, from housing to mixed-use to

warehouses.

Q: Will negative factors in the econ-

omy help your cause at CMPBS?

A: Yes, if we are careful. Its about cre-

ating life cycle analysis measures as a

design technique in order to under-

stand and balance resources. We

need to see the big picture, not just

focus on alternative fuels, for example.

are major energy users. To solve this

problem we need systems thinking in a

holistic sense, no Ph.D. bull. We must doour work rapidly. Its about ecology.

We are part of nature. She is responsi-

ble to us, and we are responsible to

Her. There has to be a shift in approach

to resource utilization through trans-

portation, manufacturing, use andreuse, recycling, and disposal.

Q: What is your opinion on the

current state of sustainable

design trends?

A: Were going in the right direction.We need to use our ideaswhich I con-

sider to be like green-thought viruses

like blogs, community projects, and

national green design competitionsto

connect individuals to their community

and the world. [Fisk heads up a team

from Texas A&M competing in the Solar

Decathlon, an international sustainable

design competition on the Washington,

D.C., Mall.] This is happening, and Im

proud CMPBS is part of that trend. How-

ever, I feel sustainable design is far too

list-oriented. We need to focus on thelife cycle of all of our resources like

water and food, not just energy. You

cant get truly sustainable design with

checklists. G

green+technology


49/59


Imagine a highly sophisticated

building integrated modeling (BIM)

software capable of calculating

real-time energy and water use lev-

els, for example, and USGBC LEED

points based upon evolving design

decisions, as theyre made. This

dashboard concept is the cen-

terpiece of a joint partnership

between the USGBC and Autodesk.

Essentially, Autodesks Phil Bernstein,

FAIA, LEED AP, vice president ofAEC industry strategy and relations,

explains the concept as a plat-

form that allows you to predict the

behavior of your building before

you construct it, via a convergence

of modeling, analysis, and sustain-able validation into an improved

design process.

With the USGBC revamping LEED

into a more intelligent system, more

capable of assessing the environ-

By Barbara Horwitz-Bennett

BIM to take LEED to the next level

A screen capture of the USGBC and Autodesks visionof a BIM-enabled next-generation version of LEEDdepicts a daylighting consultant sketching sun-shad-ing devices to block out solar gain directly onto thebuilding model. The software then responds, in realtime, calculating increased daylighting levels and

LEED energy and daylighting credits.

leading LEED

mental impact of the built environment is thanks to data generated by the


50/59


mental impact of the built environment,

BIM stands to better enable this goal.

From a strategy perspective, the USGBCrecognizes that part of the green build-

ing movement is going to have to be

technology-driven, acknowledges Max

Zahniser, LEED AP, NCARB, formerly LEEDs

program manager for process and inte-

gration, and currently principal of Praxis-Building Solutions, Philadelphia. The USG-

BC and Autodesk are developing this

software with the hope of creating a

more integrated design process via a

holistic approach to building systems.

For example, if the design team knows

how sophisticated its daylighting system

is, thanks to data generated by the

next-generation software, the decision

can more accurately be made to utilizefewer fixtures. Similarly, the team can

track the trade-off between LEED day-

lighting and energy credits by experi-

menting with different shading devices

and glazing systems on the building

model. Or by tracking the efficiency ofthe building envelope, the HVAC system

can then be accurately downsized and

the baseboard heating system eliminat-

ed. Such a building tool will allow the

user to quickly understand the com-

plete interdependence between differ-ent systems and the environment,

claims Bernstein.

This BIM screen shot of a building under design calculates the facilitys current breakdown and per-

centage of recycled materials and corresponding LEED credits.

G

T LEED N t t LEED?

practice&management


51/59


In the fall of 2007, The New York Times

Headquarters opened to acclaim for its

energy efficient and environmentallysensitive featuresnotably its pioneer-

ing daylighting system, an onsite

co-generation plant, under floor air

distribution, and a respectable roster of

sustainable materials and finishes. What

LEED level did the tower achieve?

None. The building was never registered

for certification.

If designed just a few years later, its

likely the Timesbuilding would sport a

USGBC plaque. LEED has evolved signif-

icantly over the past few years as a sys-tem and in the minds of architects, the

public, and the developer community

to become the de facto development

standard for new large-scale buildings

in major U.S. cities.

In the 2005 article LEED Is BrokenLetsFix It, energy activist Randy Udall artic-

ulated what a lot of architects, devel-

opers and building owners felt about

LEED at the timethat the certification

process was too costly, cumbersome,

and bureaucratic. Consequently, the

LEED building portfolio tended to be

dominated by projects willing to shoul-

der the extra expense and muscle

through the documentation.Today, commitment to sustainable

design has moved far beyond a collec-

tion of idealistic advocates, and LEED

certification has come a long way from

To LEED or Not to LEED?

By Jan Lakin

1331 L Street, NW, in Washington, DC,

designed by SmithGroup, has received LEED

Gold certification for Core and Shell 2.0.

Assessing the ongoing need for certification

its broken status. In the current con- instantaneously, once that became the


52/59


its broken status. In the current con

struction market downturn, green build-

ing remains the one bright spot.

McGraw-Hills 2009 Green Outlookpre-

dicts a doubling of green residential and

non-residential building by 2013. But

LEED certification and sustainable build-

ing are not necessarily synonymous. With

design and construction budgets

shaved to the bone, one would think the

industry would be tempted to forego

the cost of certification and instead

achieve green goals by independently

following LEED standards.

Actually, many see the extra expense

of certification as insignificant. Any

pushback on cost is just noise, says

Russell Perry, leader of SmithGroups

corporate sustainable design efforts.

The experience level and knowledge-

base of LEED requirements are much

higher today, making the process much

more efficient. Also, registration for

LEED is now online, which further

streamlines the process.

Tax incentives and regional benefits arehelping to render cost a non-issue for

LEED as well as to significantly drive cer-

tification. The design firm NBBJs sustain-

ability leader, Margaret Montgomery,

notes that zoning benefits are encour-

aging LEED Silver (or better) construc-

tion in downtown Seattle. Almost

instantaneously, once that became the

zoning code requirement, all the devel-

opers who werent necessarily interest-ed in green building for green buildings

sake, suddenly decided they had to be

certified. Similarly, municipal, state,

and federal requirements for LEED

buildings have provided a huge boost

to the growth of registered projects. Theeducation market is also a key driver,

with the typical university and K-12

school RFP requiring a minimum of

LEED Silver.

As ever more buildings become certi-

fied, and with many designers regularlydesigning to LEED standards anyway,

the question has become, Why isnt

your building certified? Our clients

are realizing that if they are going to

go through the rigor of green design,

they might as well take credit for it,says Montgomery. Also, its an impor-

tant third-party seal of approval, proof

that youve done what youve said

youd do.

An added benefit for designers is the

watch dog role that LEED can play,taking the pressure off the design team

to do so. As soon as you take away

the threat of the requirements of certifi-

cation, it is a lot easier to value-engi-

neer sustainability out of the building,

says Tommy Linstroth, with Melaver Inc.,

a sustainable development firm. Others Further research is needed to deter-


53/59


take comfort in that LEED ensures a

project will undergo energy modelingand commissioning.

While LEED has succeeded in overcom-

ing its high barrier of entry image, it

continues to present hurdles for smaller

projects, buildings with modest budgets,

unconventional building types, andmarkets lacking expertise. If youre

doing a building for a very small foun-

dation, $50,000 in costs related to certifi-

cation could be significant, says

Montgomery. Carlie Bullock-Jones, an

environmental consultant, notes LEEDwas initially based on an office building,

so it can be a challenge to fit this to an

aquarium, a dance studio, a data cen-

ter. Particularly problematic is that LEED

for Existing Buildingsan enormous seg-

ment of the industryis a category that

has made notoriously meager progress.

LEED is also now coming under fire for a

system that enables points for negligible

sustainable features while neglecting

the urgent issues of energy conservation

and carbon emissions.

In fact, a survey completed December

2008, indicates that while the building

industry almost unanimously feels it is

worth the time and effort to build sus-

tainably, the perceived value of LEED

certification has actually declined by

10 percent from the previous year.

mine the reasons for this drop, but the

sponsors of the survey, Allen Matkins,Constructive Technologies Group, and

the Green Building Insider, reference

the economy as well as green laws and

regulations that do not specify LEED

certification and/or that focus on car-

bon footprints and greenhouse gassesas potential factors.

LEED 2009, the much-anticipated evolu-

tion of the rating system due to launch

this June, promises to address a range

of industry complaints including its lack

of focus on energy and carbon emis-sions. Its also designed for continuous

evolution, with more rapid responses to

industry needs and emerging environ-

mental issues.

So LEED is likely to gain more adherents

in its new iteration, but is it here to stay?According to Leanne Tobias, a real

estate investment advisor specializing in

green development, it is until there is a

green standard that can be introduced

wholesale into local building codes.

Indeed, a committee that includes theUSGBC and national heating, cooling,

and lighting associations is currently

focused on developing such a national

green building standard. Eventually, it

may not be a question of certifying or

not certifying. We all may be just build-

ing to code. G

TOP PICKS

products


54/59


TOP PICKSExecutive Vice President, Director of

Kirksey EcoServices

Houston

Brian M. Malarkey, AIA, LEED

AP

1 | Pint-Flush Urinals

Not the most glamorous green product,

but incredibly efficient. Many jurisdictions

do not allow waterless urinals, so this is a

perfect alternative. We have them in our

office and have had no issues. Both Sloan

and Zurn offer this 1/8 gallon wonder.

2 | Sage Glass

Imagine glass that can tint itself at the

click of a switch, eliminating blinds and

exterior shading devices. It exists and it iscalled Sage Glass. We used it in our facili-

ty and it allows the glare protection of

blinds or shades andclear views out of

the window, not to mention the energy

savings. The windows paid for themselves

when we eliminated the blinds and exte-rior shading devices.

3 | EcoTop Surfaces

This solid surface product has all the

green pedigrees: 50% bamboo, 50% FSC-

certified recycled wood and paper, and

100% water-based, zero-VOC resin. I was

worried about absorption until I tested it

overnight with red wine, soda, and lime

juice...on the WHITE sample. It wiped

right up.

4 | Daltile Eco-Body Ceramic Tile

I like finding a finish staple that hasgone green. This everyday ceramic tile

is the perfect example. It comes in a

bazillion colors and shapes, is reason-

ably priced, and has 34% recycled con-

tent, 17% post consumer recycled glass

and 17% post industrial discarded grind-ing paste.

12 34

opinion


55/59


It seems everyones going green these

days, from deep green to pale green

and everything in between. Businessesaround the world are realizing sustainable

design is good business that can help

capture market share and reduce costs.

At Callison, aligning sustainable design

priorities with clients business priorities is

not only a design approach, but also apowerful solution to business, brand,

and market issues. Here is an example

of a sustainable design prioritization

exercise we conducted while develop-

ing a new prototype: Looking at the

store brand attributes, we identifiedand ranked complementary sustain-

able strategies. Daylighting and lighting

rose as a top priority, followed by ther-

mal and visual comfort and an effi-

cient, natural materials palette that

accommodates future reconfigura-

tiona variety of options for the client.

Another client surveyed their customer

base and found that for certain seg-

ments having daylight was a factor in

shopping longer and leaving with more

purchases. We are adding skylights to

their new big-box prototype, a move

grounded in good business. The sky-

lights also address other considerationssuch as worker satisfaction, reduced

utility costs, and good PR.

While there are clear economic advan-

tages, determining the shade of

green for specific strategies and mate-

rials choices is less clear. On the materi-als side there are a plethora of green

product resources for the eco-minded

designer, from GREENGUARD to

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS),

CRI Green Label to Energy Star. But not

all systems are created equal. SCS pro-vides third-party certification, one prod-

uct at a time, of environmentally pre-

ferred products based on eco impacts

over the entire product lifecycle, from

the ground to the grave. Systems such

as CRI Green Label and GREENGUARD

focus on low-VOC requirements for car-

pets and furniture systems, respectively.

A single definitive and holistic system

remains illusive. The new Pharos Lens

program (www.pharos.net) is aiming to

fill that gap. It reaches out industry-wide

The Many Shades of GreenBy Teresa Burrelsman, LEED AP

There are a bevy of options when it comes to going green

to compile product information, includ- water while avoiding the harshest toxins


56/59


to compile product information, includ

ing health and social equity impacts as

well as materials and resource efficien-

cy. If every designer submits information

on their top five sustainable materials

picks, or asked their vendors to do so,

Pharos could grow exponentially pro-

viding the industry with the compara-

tive tool we have been missing.

Incorporating site and energy, building

rating systems like LEED do offer a com-

prehensive framework for looking at an

entire building or interior remodel.

Additional programs like Architecture2030 and Cascadia Green Building

Councils Living Building Challenge con-

tinue raising the bar to deep green

design. We have the technology right

now to create self-sustaining buildings

that create their own power, light, and

water while avoiding the harshest toxins

and damaging local ecosystems. Its

not rocket science, but it does take

time, education, and dedication.

Every year the building sector remodels

5 billion square feet and builds new

another 5 billion square feet. At the

same time, the pool of existing buildingsthat need energy and design overhaul

is staggering. Over 50 percent of all

buildings in the U.S. were built before

1970. These buildings can be a burden

or an enormous resourcereduce,

reuse, recycle, and use green.

The Obama Administrations new stimu-

lus package includes $12.3 billion of

incentives and grants for energy-effi-

ciency, renewable energy projects,

alternative fuel company fleets, and

efficient appliances. Connect yourclients with available incentives and

help them plan for daylighting; efficient

lighting, controls and HVAC systems;

occupant controls and Energy Star

appliances. Combine green materials

and green furnishings to maximize the

effect. Get green, deep green.

Teresa Burrelsman, LEED AP, is director

of sustainable programs at Callison.She

is formerly a senior green building con-

sultant at Paladino Consulting and

technical consultant to the USGBC.

G

Hotel Terra, designed by Callison. For more

on this project, see Eco-Mountain High on

page 28. Photo by Chris Eden/Callison.

sources

Hola, La Ciudad (pg. 24-27)Client: HSBC. Architect: HOK Mexico;Juan Andrs Vergara, Luis Fernndez.

neering: Rendezvous Engineering(Civil); ABKJ (Structural); Bradley Engi-neering (Electrical); CN Engineers(M h i l) C ff E i i

Engineer: Synergy Consultants Inc.

Specficiations Consultant: Kalin Asso-

ciates Inc.

Fl i El d R l i d Ti b


57/59


gInterior Designer: HOK Mexico, HOK

Canada & ER; Juan Carlos Jimnez,Don Crichton, Javier Presas.Developer: GICSA. Structural Engineer:M. Edmonds. Mechanical Engineer:IACSA. Electrical Engineer: DiseosElctricos Complejos S.C. GeneralContractor: GIA Interiores. LightingDesigner: UNICORP. Furniture Dealer:PAPSA (Haworth), Herman Miller,

Steelcase, Knoll. Photographer: AdrianWilson. Paint: Sherwin-Williams,Kempton and Evolution, Comex.Laminate: Ralph Wilson, Abet Laminati,Nevamar,

Green & Design 20090304-Blogkientruc-com

Documents