The Premier Source for Integrated High-Performance Building

www.EDCmag.com
April 2010

environmental design + construction

Tread Lightly
on the Earth
Sustainable Homes + Healthcare Trends

What Do You See?

Daybreak Elementary School, South Jordan, Utah

Something attractive and modern? Or, durable and sustainable? If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this
one only tells part of the story. You see, MBCI metal panels are not just attractive, they work hard too. Our panels
are resilient and have a longer life expectancy than most conventional materials, oftentimes resulting in better life
cycle costs. MBCI panels are comprised of recycled steel and are virtually 100% recyclable. Our vast selection of
cool roof colors holds superior SRI values that can lower energy consumption. In addition, MBCIs Eco-ficient
insulated metal panels and NuRoof retrofit systems offer a number of green building attributes that improve a
buildings performance while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
And no matter what option you choose, you can create an exquisite exterior that will grab everyones attention.
To learn more about the Daybreak Elementary School project featured above and how MBCI can help add
beauty and long life to your project, visit www.mbci.com/edc.

Houston, TX (Corporate) 877-713-6224 | Adel, GA 888-446-6224 | Atlanta, GA 877-512-6224 | Atwater, CA 800-829-9324 | Dallas, TX 800-653-6224
Indianapolis, IN 800-735-6224 | Lubbock, TX 800-758-6224 | Memphis, TN 800-206-6224 | Oklahoma City, OK 800-597-6224 | Omaha, NE 800-458-6224
Phoenix, AZ 888-533-6224 | Richmond, VA 800-729-6224 | Rome, NY 800-559-6224 | Salt Lake City, UT 800-874-2404 | San Antonio, TX 800-598-6224
Reader Service No. 134 www.EDCmag.com/webcard

THE HEALTHCARE
ENVIRONMENT IS GROWING
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
Thanks to you.
Making design decisions that effect the health of both
the natural and patient-centered environments isnt easy.
Thats why we offer you a wide range of sustainable
flooring solutions to meet specific healthcare challenges.
Collaboration with you has led to breakthrough flooring
solutions for surgical suites, neo-natal units, ICUs, patient
care rooms, high traffic areas and many others. Listening to
your needs has resulted in rubber floor covering that is also
bacteriostatic, resistant to micro-organisms, easier to clean,
can reduce noise and contains no PVCs.
It all starts with you.
You and your challenges.
You and your world.
You and nora.
800-332-NORA
www.nora.com/us/healthcare6

Reader Service No. 26 www.EDCmag.com/webcard

For Energy Efficiency And Green Building...

AIR-SHIELDTM LMP
Liquid Membrane
Vapor Permeable
Air Barrier

PERMINATOR
Underslab Vapor
Barrier

MEL-ROL LM
Waterproofing
Membrane

... nothing beats W. R. MEADOWS.

For more than 60 years, W. R. MEADOWS has been working with architects, engineers and design
firms to create sustainable, environmentally-friendly and energy efficient structures. Our line of building
envelope products protects against all types of moisture air, vapor and water and utilizes advanced,
environmentally-friendly technology. This unique combination of protection and technology is helping
design teams earn LEED credits in indoor environmental air quality, as well as materials and resources.
W. R. MEADOWS plays an integral role in helping design teams block moisture ingress while creating
energy efficient buildings. In addition to detailed product and LEED credit information, we also provide

CAD details and drawings to simplify your green building job.

Visit www.wrmeadows.com or call 1-800-342-5976 for more information.
Reader Service No. 135 www.EDCmag.com/webcard

W. R. MEADOWS, INC. 2010

QUALITY...INTEGRITY...
SERVICE...SINCE 1926

IMProved

Insulative Properties

Choose IMPs (Insulated Metal Panels) to achieve high R-values of 14 to 48, exceed energy
code requirements, and help create a building that is energy efficient and may qualify for
energy tax credits. IMPs offer long-term thermal stability, low maintenance and less installation
time vs. multi-component assemblies. They are available in a wide variety of sizes and colors.

Reader Service No. 176 www.EDCmag.com/webcard

For more information on IMPs, visit www.insulatedmetalpanels.org

CONTENTS

APRIL 2010
VOLUME 13
NUMBER 4

22

26

In This Issue
14

34

In Every Issue
7

WEB TOC

EDITORS NOTE

10

NEW + NOTABLE

32

ADVERTISERS INDEX

34

PARTING SHOT

Sustainable HOME

18

Sustainable HOME

22

26
From Trash
to Treasure

Walking Lightly

Defying Convention

Breaking Ground

A cold-formed, lightgauge steel framing

system offers architects a
powerful new green tool.

Local builders introduce new

products to push the envelope
and deliver affordable highperformance homes.

Miller Childrens Hospital

exemplifies a heros
journey and contributes
to healing.

By David McAdam.

By David Mosrie.

By Damon Barda, AIA, LEED AP.

By Alex Spilger, LEED AP.

28

29

30

31

The Future
of Hospitals

Perspectives:
Tool Time

California Greenin

Information
Showcase

Sustainable design impacts

how hospitals are sited,
designed and constructed.

New tools support continued

growth of USGBCs LEED
for Homes program.

Exploring potential
opportunities presented
by Californias new green
building standards.

By Robin Guenther, FAIA, LEED AP.

By Nate Kredich.

By David Johnson, AIA.

Newsline
For breaking news, visit www.EDCmag.com or sign up online to
receive the eNewsletter delivered right to your inbox. For current
industry news from your phone, snap the mobile tag here.

Recology transforms
dumpsite materials into
art and office furniture.

ED+C advertisers
highlight green
products and
programs.

S
N
A
P
I
T

Get the free app for your phone at

http://gettag.mobi

On the Cover:

ed+c

A P RIL 1 0

Minimizing site disturbances is a key component to building sustainably, as was

successfully achieved with the construction of this house in the Southern California desert
community of Yucca Valley. See page 14 for the full story. Photo by Nuvue Interactive.

TOC

WEB

WEBINARS

S
N
A
P

FAADE STABILIZATION
SOLUTIONS: PRESERVING

I
T

THE PAST AND BUILDING

THE FUTURE

April 22 | 2:00 p.m. EDT

Get the free app for your phone at

http://gettag.mobi

UNDERSTANDING GREEN SCHOOLS

View on-demand at your convenience.
Register at webinar.EDCmag.com

THIS MONTHS WEB EXCLUSIVE FEATURES INCLUDE:

A Renewed
Tradition

The Healing
Touch

Home Is Where the

Health Is

When Green
Becomes Code

By Chris Mekus, AIA

By Marjorie D. Weiss, PhD, APNP, LEED AP,

and Steve Tyink, LEED AP

By Robin Rogers, LEED AP, GACP

By J. David Odom, Richard Scott, AIA,

and George H. DuBose

Throughout history, the

church has relied upon longlifetime buildings that are
inherently sustainable. Today, the
LEED Gold certified building at
All Saints Cemetery portends the
churchs enthusiasm for the modern green movement and brings
hope that sustainable design
could become an integral part of
the Catholic tradition in Chicago.

In healthcare settings,
nurses are the architects of
both how the ideal patient
experience is delivered and how
resources are used to promote
and preserve the environment.
Therefore, it is imperative that
nurses help design the healing
environment so it can support
healthy, sustainable living for
both caregivers and patients.

Beneath the veneer of newly

crafted homes and crusty
old dwellings alike, icky biological stuff and scary chemicals
often lurk undetected. When
the Smith family uncovered
these dangerous villains during
a home-remodeling project, it
prompted a voyage of discovery
and the creation of a new home
built healthy from the ground up.

Online Only at www.EDCmag.com

The inevitable is about to happen, and most people dont

even know it is coming green
buildings are going to become, by
codification, the law of the land. For
some firms, this will just mean business as usual. For other firms, this
change will be cataclysmic. Does
your firm have the requisite skills
and knowledge it will need once
green becomes code?

www.EDCmag.com

EDITORS

NOTE

HAPPY 40TH ANNIVERSARY EARTH DAY!

TO SEE HOW YOU CAN CELEBRATE ON APRIL 22, VISIT
WWW.EARTHDAY.NET.

The Test of Time

As the green building industry continues to evolve, architectural design/building products are often at the forefront of
innovation. For example, the recently debuted Bloom box
(Bloom Energy Server) promises to revolutionize our energy
dependence. Whether it will (in addition to whether questions
regarding the device will be answered) remains to be seen.
Other intriguing new products that Ive seen lately include:
Roos Internationals new Novelio CleanAir, an air-purifying, paintable wall covering;
ECOR Advanced Environmental Composite, a lightweight
structural panel comprising 100 percent recycled material;
HQ Hometek Inc.s HydroCare, a patented unit that transmits a unique radio-frequency signal that breaks up and
prevents limescale buildup in pipes and appliances; and
BIONICTILE by CERACASA, a ceramic product that removes
nitrous oxide from the air through photocatalysis.
These innovative new products are awesome, but we
shouldnt overlook the products that have had deep roots in
sustainability from the start. When I wrote about Greenbuild
products earlier this year and the lack of a lot of new I
was reminded that there are plenty of old reliable products
in the marketplace.
Via ED+Cs LinkedIn group, I received plenty of feedback
regarding some traditional standbys:
Kieran Doyle, lead trainer/contractor development and
national accounts manager at 2001 Co., suggested copper,
terne-coated steel, slate and tile: I was thunderstruck to work
on a roof that was in excess of 125 years old and ... I could
fix it. With some TLC and careful planning, large important
buildings could be returned to everyday service with antique
roofing systems. Doyle also offers a weighted scale for selecting sustainable products (which you can find on our LinkedIn
discussion by visiting www.sustainablefacility.com/connect).
Jack Pouchet, director of energy initiatives for Emerson
Network Power, reports that Straw bale construction has

withstood the test of time, especially when combined with

adobe. Passive heating and cooling techniques were implemented in Asia Minor more than 4,000 years ago with the
basic principles still applied today.
Brian Trimble, PE, LEED AP, senior director of engineering
services for the Brick Industry Association, reminded me:
There is always room for improvement, but something
doesnt/shouldnt have to be new to be good.
Trimble says brick, for example, is durable, resistant and low
maintenance, but it is not a new product. Trimble alluded to
the fact that many of these old standby products have been improved over time in one way or another (i.e., manufacturing process, treatment, recycling, etc.). Brick products have been made
better. According to Trimble, brick possesses lower embodied
energy; the manufacturing process uses alternate fuels like waste
sawdust or landfill gas; it includes recycled materials; and so on.
And there are plenty of old and new buildings to prove it.
So how do we truly define whats old? Its all relative.
Some might think of solar as a breakthrough technology.
But, in fact, its been around for more than a century. Solar
Design Associates designed the worlds first utility-interactive, photovoltaic-powered residence in Carlisle, Mass., in
1979, which was covered in ED+C a decade ago.
ED+Cs product section from 10 years ago is pretty similar
to todays New + Notable section (see page 10). Back then we
brought you ICFs and SIPs, new bamboo and cork flooring
products, recycled-content workstations, energy-efficient lighting, and IAQ and solar products (which we still feature today).
So, does it really matter how we define old or new?
Probably not, as long as the product works and proves
itself to be truly sustainable in the long run. For the recently
released green products, well have to wait and see if they can
stand the test of time.

2401 W. Big Beaver, Suite 700 | Troy, MI 48084 | 248.362.3700 | www.EDCmag.com

Group Publisher
Diana Brown
brownd@bnpmedia.com
Phone: 248.244.6258
Fax: 248.244.3911

Editor
Michelle Hucal, LEED AP
hucalm@bnpmedia.com
Phone: 248.244.1280

Reprint Sales
Jill DeVries
devriesj@bnpmedia.com
Phone: 248.244.1726
Fax: 248.244.3934

ed+c

A P RIL 1 0

Associate Editor
Wendy Lyons
lyonsw@bnpmedia.com
Phone: 248.786.1620

ART + PRODUCTION

ADVERTISING + SALES
National Sales Manager
Jami Brownlee
brownleej@bnpmedia.com
Phone: 248.786.1657
Fax: 248.502.2065

Managing Editor
Derrick Teal
teald@bnpmedia.com
Phone: 248.786.1645
Fax: 248.283.6560

National Sales Manager

Elizabeth Obloy
obloye@bnpmedia.com
Phone: 248.244.6452
Fax: 248.244.3947

Art Director
Shannon Nieman
niemans@bnpmedia.com

Production Manager
Jeff Bagwell
bagwellj@bnpmedia.com
Phone: 248.244.6481
Fax: 248.283.6589

Subscription Information or Service

Phone: 847.763.9534 Fax: 847.763.9538
EDC@halldata.com

List Rentals
For postal information
please contact Rob Liska
at 800-223-2194 x726 or
email him at robert.liska@
edithroman.com
For email information
please contact
Shawn Kingston at
800-409-4443 x828 or
email her at shawn.kingston@
epostdirect.com

ED+Cs use of Rolland Enviro100

Print instead of virgin fibers paper
reduced its ecological footprint by:
Tree(s): 52 Solid waste: 3,283 lbs
Water: 30,991 gal Air emissions: 7,210 lbs
BNP Media Helps People Succeed in Business with Superior Information

PROUD MEMBER

SBIC

Tough
has a
new look

Introducing New Acrovyn 4000. Everyone knows Acrovyn is as tough as an elephants

hide, but it doesnt have to look like one. Weve reengineered our entire line to create a
contemporary new texture that designers and owners overwhelmingly prefer over original
Acrovyn, not only for its good looks, but also for its ease of cleaning. And, our entire line
is now PVC-free. To learn more about New Acrovyn 4000, visit www.c-sgroup.com, call
888-621-3344 or find Construction Specialties on

or

twitter.com/acrovyn.

Protection for tomorrows environment

Reader Service No. 43 www.EDCmag.com/webcard

NEW
+ NOTABLE

To request more information on these products, visit www.EDCmag.com/webcard

and enter the corresponding reader service numbers.

Family of Erosion Control Products

Leggett & Platts Landmark Earth Solutions is a new line of civil engineering products consisting of ScourStop, Safe Slope and BarriCage. ScourStop is a transition mat system that provides a no-maintenance, vegetated, NPDES-compliant alternative to rock rip rap. Safe Slope is a natural
fiber hydromulch made from a blend of cotton plant byproducts, other
crop residue and polymers to protect against seed and soil loss from the
elements. BarriCage is a welded wire gabion system for soil retention and
slope stabilization, erosion and flood control at levees and stream banks,
and architectural applications. www.landmarkearthsolutions.com.
Leggett & Platt | Reader Service No. 100

Job Site Material Recycler

Multiquips EZ Grout Hog Crusher Job Site Material Recycler (Hog Crusher) is
capable of pulverizing recyclable material in minutes, according to the company, thus eliminating the need to have debris removed from construction
job sites. The product is capable of recycling materials such as brick, block,
stone, rock, asphalt and non-reinforced concrete. The Hog Crusher can reduce
material down to two inches or smaller and can discharge up to 10 tons per
hour. Featuring built-in forklift pockets, the Hog Crusher attaches to a skid
steer loader or forklift. The machine has a 0.5-yard capacity, a 24-inch crushing
rotor and heavy steel plate construction. www.multiquip.com.
Multiquip | Reader Service No. 101

10

ed+c

A P RIL 1 0

Larger Composite Landscape Pavers

VAST Enterprises LLC has developed a new version of VAST Composite

Landscape Pavers in a 4-by-8-inch size. According to the company, the
4-by-8-inch size is popular for large commercial hardscapes such as
parking areas, walkways, building entrances and plazas. The new tile
is manufactured using VASTs proprietary composite blend of up to 95
percent recycled car tires and plastic containers. The VAST grids, manufactured in the same composite material as VAST pavers, are laid out
on a compacted sand base just like the base for conventional pavers.
www.vastpavers.com.
VAST Enterprises LLC | Reader Service No. 102

Composite Decking Uses Recycled Content

Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies (A.E.R.T.) has introduced

the MoistureShield Vantage Collection. According to the company, deck
planks in the MoistureShield Vantage Collection feature a 5/4-by-6-inch
profile with1-by-5.5-inch realistic wood-grain embossing on both sides,
making them fully reversible. Building professionals can order the solid
decking boards with or without grooves to accommodate hidden fastening systems. The Vantage Collection contains a minimum of 30 percent
post-consumer recycled content and 60 percent pre-consumer recycled
content. www.moistureshield.com.
Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies Inc. | Reader Service No. 103

Reduce Cleaning Needs with an

Entrance Flooring System

Wool Broadloom for Residential

and Hospitality Markets

According to Forbo Flooring Systems, incorporating an entrance flooring system into a

facility reduces
a floorings
total cost of
ownership by
up to 65 percent
while improving sustainable
performance,
reducing
slip and fall
incidents, and
maximizing the
useful life of the
interior floor.
Forbo Entrance
Systems limit the amount of soil and moisture
brought into a building, preventing excessive
amounts of dirt and grit buildup. Its systems
reduce floor care labor, water and chemical
usage, and maintenance costs while increasing
the life and sustainable performance of the
facilitys flooring. www.forboflooringna.com.
Forbo Flooring Systems | Reader Service No. 104

Bentley Prince Street launched Kennington and

Blanket Bay, two new broadloom products inspired by sugar and salt. Available in four natural
shades, both styles are made from European
wool that has been stock blended, a process that
unifies the slightly varied colors and characteristics of raw wool to ensure an aesthetic that is
rustic yet elegant. Their textures lend themselves
to high-end suites and boutique hospitality
markets. The products are comprised of wool,
a long-lasting, biodegradable natural fiber. Additionally, wool is naturally fire resistant, soil and
stain resistant. Both styles come standard with
Action-Bac. www.bentleyprincestreet.com.
Bentley Prince Street | Reader Service No. 105

Sandstone-Textured FRP Flush Door

Special-Lites commercial exterior flush door
features exclusive fine-grained-sandstonetextured face sheets for an aesthetically pleasing surface finish, according to the company.
The doors feature the same construction as
Special-Lites SL-17 FRP flush door and are
designed for locations that are not expected to
see deliberate abuse or vandalism. Features in-

clude factory finishes

that are designed to
eliminate painting
and refinishing, corrosion resistance for
humid or corrosive
locations, thermal
performance, and
a 10-year warranty.
The doors are also
GREENGUARD certified. www.special-lite.com.
Special-Lite Inc. | Reader Service No. 106

Formaldehyde-free Batt Insulation

Johns Manville (JM) offers MR Faced Batt insulation a product with facing treated by an
EPA-registered mold inhibitor for applications
and climates where moisture management is
needed, the company reports. JMs MR Faced
Batt insulation recently received SCS Indoor
Advantage Gold + Formaldehyde Free certification from Scientific Certification
Systems. MR
Faced products
are available in

Custom fabricated to match any

architecture, Special-Lite Doors
require less maintenance and
last longer even in challenging
applications. Better design means
better performance.

I specify these
doors for superior
performance and
sustainability

t
(3&&/(6"3%
DFSUJmFE
t
&YUFOE
TFSWJDF
MJGF
PG
FOUJSF
FOUSBODF
t
%VSBCMF
UJFSPE
DPOTUSVDUJPO
t
$PSSPTJPOSFTJTUBOU
NBUFSJBMT

Visit our website for

all 8 reasons why
Special-Lite Doors are
a more sustainable choice.

special-lite.com/sustain
Reader Service No. 75 www.EDCmag.com/webcard
EDC06094Spec.indd 1

www.EDCmag.com

4/30/09 11:47:18 AM

11

For Strength, For Beauty

For the Environment

NEW
+ NOTABLE
pre-cut batts that fit a variety of standard wall cavities and are available
in R-values up to R-38. MR Faced insulation can be used in a variety of
residential and commercial applications. www.jm.com.
Johns Manville | Reader Service No. 107

Evaporator Performs Cooling and Heating Functions

Delphis new MCHX evaporator is a specially designed evaporator capable of performing both cooling and heating functions for both indoor
residential and commercial settings. According to the company, because
of its design the evaporator can operate efficiently in both condensing
(heating) and evaporating (cooling) modes. It cuts 40 percent of the
mass of a competitive product while still achieving SEER requirements.
With its all-aluminum construction, the MCHX evaporator also eliminates the issue of formicary corrosion seen with traditional copper-tube
evaporator coils. www.delphi.com.
Delphi | Reader Service No. 108

Full Line of FSC-Certified Wood Ceiling Panels

USG True Wood ceiling panels
provide customers with more
than 200 product choices of
Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood ceiling panels, the
company reports. The panels
feature a natural wood veneer
laminated to a medium density
fiber board, which provides the
warmth and elegance of true
wood with a Class A fire rating.
The durable panels remain dimensionally stable and crack resistant over
time. The portfolio includes perforated options with USGs ACOUSTIBOND
backer for high-performing sound absorption. www.usg.com.
USG Corporation | Reader Service No. 109

Solar Control Coating Now Available in More Colors

Pilkington has expanded its architectural line of energy-efficient solar
control Low-E products, the company reports. The Pilkington Solar-E
coating is now available on a palette of natural colors Arctic blue,
blue-green and grey, to complement Pilkington Solar-E on clear and
other lines of pyrolytic low-E products. The Solar-E family provides a
unique combination of aesthetics and performance values with the
same benefits of the on-line hard-coat technology. Pilkington Solar-E can
be bent, insulated, laminated and tempered, and edge deletion is not
required. www.pilkington.com.
Pilkington | Reader Service No. 110

Hydronic Tank Controller, Flow Center

2

Grasspave porous paving has the strength you need

and the beauty you want. With 5,721 psi compressive
strength and 100% real grass coverage, you can specify
Grasspave2 for your next truly green re lane, parking lot,
driveway, and more.

invisiblestructures.com
800-233-1510
Reader Service No. 76 www.EDCmag.com/webcard

12

ed+c

A P RIL 1 0

The new HydroZone hydronic tank controller from WaterFurnace

International Inc. eliminates the need
for external control devices when used
in conjunction with the WaterFurnace
GeoTank, a new large flow center. The
HydroZone can control and stage Envision NSW, NDW water-to-water units,
and Synergy3D products. A sensor built
into geothermal storage tanks enables
the module to control water temperature using one of three strategies. The
HydroZone controller is designed for easy installation and setup. The
new GeoLink large flow center provides a compact pumping station with
three-way valves for loop flushing. www.waterfurnace.com.
WaterFurnace International Inc. | Reader Service No. 111

Introducing

THE NEW

Welcome to the new IPS:

New Look
New Facility
New Products
New Manufacturing Capabilities

Same Great Company

At IPS, our panels offer quick and easy installation, design versatility,
appealing aesthetics, energy efficiency and longevity. We also
provide excellent service and support, before and after the sale. That
combination of superior products and outstanding service is what sets
IPS apart and gives our customers the opportunity to be successful.
Look to IPS for all of your insulated metal panel needs. For more
information, visit us online at www.insulated-panels.com/newpanels or
call us at (800) 729-9324.

www.insulated-panels.com
n{UvJ>i`>iV
Reader Service No. 197 www.EDCmag.com/webcard

SPECIAL SECTION

Walking
By David McAdam

A COLD-FORMED, LIGHT-GAUGE STEEL FRAMING SYSTEM

OFFERS ARCHITECTS A POWERFUL NEW GREEN TOOL.

14

ed+c

A P RIL 1 0

A NEW BUILDING SYSTEM HELPS TO MINIMIZE SITE DISTURBANCES AND

PRESERVE THE EXISTING NATURAL LANDSCAPE. PHOTO BY NUVUE INTERACTIVE.

any architects pride themselves on the

design of a very green house. However,
its not too uncommon for those same
architects to be dismayed when the
actual construction of the house proves
to be anything but green.
One of the most environmentally destructive aspects of homebuilding can be the very act of site
preparation. Most traditional homes require a flat, or nearly
flat, building pad. But when the terrain is not flat, extensive
grading and the construction of retaining walls is often
required all of which is very expensive and, ultimately,
highly disruptive to the local environment.
However, houses built with a new light-gauge steel building system lets architects work with the natural terrain, not
against it. This system can practically float over the existing
topography with minimal need for site work and at a cost far
less than structural steel solutions.
Blue Sky Homes recently completed a house in the
Southern California desert community of Yucca Valley using this system. The 2.5-acre parcel of land sited
for the construction is a spectacular natural landscape
of enormous and deeply weathered boulders, ancient
juniper trees, majestic pion trees, gnarled desert oaks,
and threatened Joshua trees. Crossing the property is a
seasonal stream.
Although the home was not built on virgin desert land
(the area was subdivided and roads cut in the 1960s), creating a flat building pad for a traditional home on this site
would have, nevertheless, destroyed the very characteristics
that made the property so desirable.
By using the Blue Sky Building System, minimal damage
was done to the land because there was no need for typical
site grading. Indeed, the system is uniquely suited for steep,
sensitive or remote sites, though it also works well in slabon-grade environments.

The Design
The house in Yucca Valley required only six hand-dug 24inch-by-24-inch concrete footings to which 8-inch-by-8-inch
square structural steel columns were bolted. Cold-formed,
light-gauge, high-tensile galvanized steel elements were
then bolted to the columns to create bidirectional, pointloaded, moment-resisting frames the systems heart and
soul. No specialized trades, field welding or large cranes
were required, which allowed the entire house to be framed
and enclosed in less than five days.
No load-bearing walls (neither interior nor exterior)
were required due to the strength of the moment-resistant
frame. Thus, it was possible to locate windows and doors
almost anywhere.

BLUE SKY HOMES PROTOTYPE PROJECT TEAM

Developer: Blue Sky Homes LLC, Palm Springs, Calif.
Architect: o2 Architecture, Palm Springs, Calif.
Engineering and Steel Fabricator: FCP Inc., Wildomar, Calif.
Contractor: Solterra Development, Palm Springs, Calif.
Interiors: Christopher Kennedy Design, Palm Springs, Calif.

www.EDCmag.com

15

Walking
PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS

WITHOUT THE NEED FOR LOAD-BEARING WALLS, SPACIOUS AND OPEN ROOMS CAN BE EASILY INCORPORATED INTO A HOUSES DESIGN.
PHOTO BY NUVUE INTERACTIVE.

The architect for the project, o2 Architecture of Palm Springs, Calif., was able to
maximize the amount of indoor-outdoor
living space available in this modest-sized
home. Thus the house features extensive use
of sliding glass doors.
A decision was made early on in the project
to minimize the amount of space devoted to
bedrooms and to maximize public spaces.
Again, with no load-bearing walls to contend
with, this goal was easy to achieve, especially
given that the system is capable of creating
large clear-span areas of up to 30 feet. The
system can readily be used to create structures
of up to three stories.
The exterior of the house was clad with two
materials: bare corrugated steel on lower walls
(which was sprayed with apple cider vinegar
to create a rusted patina) and painted Hardie
board on upper areas. But a variety of other
cladding materials could have readily been used
further enhancing the design possibilities.

Minimizing Environmental Impact

All of the steel used in the Yucca Valley home
was manufactured with as much as 70 percent
recycled steel, which can, itself, be 100 percent
recycled later. Most steel elements in the home
were factory fabricated, which meant dramatically less waste was created onsite.
The waste generated in the factory during
fabrication was immediately recycled even
the steel filings created during bolt-hole
drilling. The extremely limited amount of construction waste created onsite was also sorted

16

ed+c

A P RIL 1 0

and recycled. The houses rapid construction

meant far fewer trips to and from the jobsite by
workers as compared to a typical construction
project. In short, the system creates structures
that are highly sustainable in terms of fabrication, shipping, assembly and life cycle.
Steel has the highest strength-to-weight
ratio of any building material. Additionally, it
is dimensionally stable and will not expand or
contract due to moisture. Nor will it warp, split,
crack or creep. And it is highly resistant to fire
and impervious to mold, dry rot and termites.
The system is the result of more than 15 years
of design and rigorous testing. Additionally, it
is now a recognized and approved standard of
AISI (AISI S-110 and ASCE7), and is expected to
be included in the International Building Code
(IBC) and the California Building Code (CBC).
The system, which requires no bracing of
any kind, is capable of creating cantilevers, is
suitable for all seismic zones and can be engineered to meet all wind-loading requirements.
As construction of the prototype house
in Yucca Valley shows, a light-gauge steel
building system provides architects with a
powerful new tool to overcome engineering constraints and to execute highly green
designs. Better yet, the designs can be constructed without the heavy cost to the natural
landscape that is often caused by traditional
site-preparation methods.
DAVID MCADAM IS A CO-FOUNDER OF BLUE SKY HOMES LLC. HE CAN
BE REACHED AT DMCADAM@BLUESKYHOMESLLC.COM OR BY PHONE
AT (800) 448-9130.

Roof: AEP Span Design Span panels, standing

seam roof (SSR) in cool zinc grey
Floor Underside Cover: Bare (iron-ox) AEP Span
Nu-Wave Corrugated and galvanized
steel sheets
Exterior Walls: Accelerated Building Technologies
accel-E Steel Thermal Efficient Panels (S.T.E.P.)
Exterior Cladding: " Bare (iron-ox) AEP Span
Nu-Wave Corrugated steel siding
Exterior Fiber Cement Siding: 5/16" Hardie board
External Moisture Barrier: DuPont Tyvek
HomeWrap
Sliding Glass Doors: Milgard Series 450/450S
Clerestory Windows: Milgard Custom C716
Vapor Barrier: Grace Construction Products
Bituthene
Split System Heat Pump: Amana/Goodman
Heating & Air Conditioning Co.
Air Handler: Amana/Goodman Heating & Air
Conditioning Co.
Thermostat: Honeywell
Thermal Hydronic System: Vaillant flat
plate collectors
Solar Water Heater: SunEarth Inc.
Pipe Insulation: Johns Manville Micro-Lok
Fiber Glass
Waste Heat Recovery: Turbotec Products Inc.
ENVIRO-PAK heat recovery system
Photovoltaic Inverter: SMA America, Sunny Boy
solar inverter
Light Switches and Plugs: Leviton Decora
Dimmers: Lutron Diva
Recessed Light Cans: Elite Lighting USA
Under Cabinet and Upper Cabinet Lighting:
Philips Color Kinetics eW Profile Powercore LED
Path Lighting: Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting
Toilet: Toto USA Aquia Dual-Max
Exhaust Fan: Broan-NuTone whisper quiet
Indoor Shower Faucet: Grohe
Bathroom Faucet: Grohe
Bathroom Sink: Kohler Co.
Shower Pan: Kohler Co.
Bathroom Countertop: Vetrazzo Glass House
Cabinet Doors and panels: Smith & Fong Co.
Plyboo
Countertop and Backsplash: Vetrazzo Glass
House
Kitchen Sink: PROFLO
Kitchen Faucet: Grohe
Cooktop Range: GE
Oven: GE 30-inch built-in single convection wall
oven with self-cleaning
Kitchen Hood: GE Profile slide-out hood
Refrigerator: GE Monogram 36-inch built-in
Dishwasher: Bosch Integra 500 Series
Washer/Dryer: GE combination washer and dryer
Interior Paint: YOLO Colorhouse non-VOC
A/V Wire Box: Leviton Structured Media Center
Septic System: BioMicrobics wastewater
treatment system
Waste Water Treatment System: Fuji Electric ring
compressor aeration blower pump
Deep Well Jet Pump & Tank: ITT Goulds Pumps
Domestic Water Jet Pump & Pressure Tank: ITT
Goulds Pumps (A. O. Smith Motor)
Pump Controller Box: ITT CentriPro Model CB
10412 HP 1

SPEED UP
BUILD TIME
SLOW DOWN
ENERGY COSTS

Reader Service No. 123 www.EDCmag.com/webcard

SPECIAL SECTION

Defying

Convention
LOCAL BUILDERS INTRODUCE NEW PRODUCTS TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE
AND DELIVER AFFORDABLE HIGH-PERFORMANCE HOMES.
By David Mosrie

18

ed+c

A P RIL 1 0

s green-built
homes are
quickly becoming the norm in
Asheville, N.C.,
the drive to
build affordable high-performance homes
has produced some interesting
developments. Two local builders
in particular are challenging the
locally accepted green building
standards. Although their methodologies are quite different,
both are pushing the envelope
and attempting to deliver affordable high-performance homes
with superior indoor air quality.

ERV) and a thermo-siphon solar

hot water system, the Springtime
Cottage uses 30 to 45 percent of the
energy when compared to a home
of the same size built to code, per
the HERS rating. With the addition
of an average-sized PV system,
Knight estimates the home could
achieve net-zero energy use.
Other features of the home
include roof catchment, universal
design, use of reclaimed wood
and poplar bark accents, and
an energy monitor. Often, the
resident is the most difficult component of a homes energy use
to quantify. Therefore, the energy
monitor offers the homeowner an

Springtime Cottage
The Springtime Cottage by
Asheville-area builder Brian Knight,
owner of Springtime Homes, is
setting a new local standard for
hyperefficient, affordable design
and construction. Knight is committed to building with polyurethane
structural insulated panels (SIPs).
The Springtime Cottage is built
with Eco-Panels SIPs, a relatively
new, locally produced product that
offers several key advantages to
traditional SIPs, including a seamless
corner panel that eliminates the
most common thermal break in
typical SIPs systems and a locking
CAM mechanism that grabs the
adjacent panel and locks the panels
together. According to Knight,
another tremendous advantage is
that the panels are delivered with
LP SmartSide siding primed and
in-place, making for an efficient and
agreeable board-and-baton exterior.
Knights commitment to polyurethane panels stems from the
fact that the panels have only 3 to 4
percent of the total envelope area
occupied by thermal bridges, compared with 8 percent for polystyrene SIPs and 18 percent with smart
framing without foam sheathing.
The cottages primary heating
strategy is passive solar. When
combined with a highly insulated
envelope (Eco-Panels and triplepane windows), efficient mechanical design (15 SEER heat pump and

accessible quantitative feedback

loop. Offering the end-user the
ability to monitor and adapt
behavior to minimize use and
maximize the homes performance
is turning out to be surprisingly
important to the buyers of this
particular type of product. The
data collected from Energy Inc.s
The Energy Detective (TED) 5000
home energy monitor will also be
used by the builder to evaluate
the performance of the home for
consideration in future plan modifications. The home is delivered to
market at just under $300,000.

Hemp Homes
Anthony Brenner, owner of Push
Design LLC, is indeed pushing convention by building with technolo-

gies never before utilized in North

America: Hemcrete and Pure Panel.
Asheville has become the
entry point for Hemcrete into
the United States through locally
based Hemp Technologies LLC.
The product, which has been
utilized for some time in Europe,
is a mixture of industrial hemp
and lime poured into foot-thick
forms around a 24-inch on-center,
2-by-4-inch frame wall. Because
U.S. law currently prohibits the
cultivation of hemp, industrial
hemp must be imported from
Canada or Europe. However, some
of this additional cost is offset by
the reduced framing and the ability to downsize the foundation.
The material offers many
intriguing advantages, according to
Brenner, particularly in the mixed
humid environment found in the
Appalachians. The lime content
eliminates mold concerns. The wall
breathes and absorbs or releases
moisture, depending on conditions.
The ability of the walls to breathe
and store heat allows for a passive
self-regulation of the temperature
and humidity within the building in
general, often reducing the need for
air conditioning. The end result is a
chemical-free wall system that offers superior IAQ nonmechanically.
Together, Hemp Technologies
and Brenner are developing a spray
application to increase the labor
efficiency. The finishes can range
from stucco to plaster to siding to
drywall, although natural finishes
such as earth plaster are preferred
to maintain the breathability and
good IAQ the product offers.
To date, two homes have been
built with the system in Asheville.
The material offers an estimated
R-Value of more than 2 per inch. In
addition to the high IAQ, the calcification process of the lime actually
creates a carbon-negative wall
system. David Madera of Hemp
Technologies estimates it is the
equivalent of planting more than
an acre of trees. The hardening of
the lime over time creates a highly
durable wall. European studies suggest a lifespan of hundreds of years.

(LEFT) THE ECOPANEL SYSTEM, PRE-SKINNED WITH LP SMART SIDING, IS EASILY AND QUICKLY TRANSFORMED INTO A BOARD AND BATON EXTERIOR
FINISH. PHOTO BY BRIAN KNIGHT. (ABOVE) LABORERS ON THE FIRST HEMCRETE HOME BUILT IN THE U.S. PREPARE TO INSTALL THE PURE PANELS ON THE
CEILING AND INTERIOR WALLS. PHOTO BY ANTHONY BRENNER.
www.EDCmag.com

19

Defying

Convention
SPRINGTIME COTTAGE
Size: 1,410 square feet
Completed: March 2010
Market Price: $289,000
Springtime Homes: Brian Knight, Owner,
www.springtimehomes.com
Eco-Panels: www.eco-panels.com
Designed to achieve Gold level NC HealthyBuilt
Homes certification.

HEMCRETE/ PURE PANEL HOMES

Push Designs: Anthony Brenner, Owner,
www.pushdesigns.net
Hemp Technologies LLC: David Madera,
Owner, www.hemp-technologies.com

Since the material is lightweight and strong,

estimated to be seven times the strength of
concrete, the potential creative new applications
for Hemcrete are vast.

THE HEMCRETE WALLS HAVE THE FEEL OF HEAVY MASS

CONSTRUCTION, MUCH LIKE ADOBE, AND ARE PREPARED FOR
EXTERIOR FINISH IN MUCH THE SAME FASHION. PHOTO BY
ANTHONY BRENNER.

The other new material Brenner is implementing is Pure Panel, a 100 percent post-consumer
recycled paper structural/nonstructural wall system which can also be used as cabinetry, doors,
furniture, countertops, etc. A 4-by-8-foot panel
can be set with four screws and a glue gun and
then painted, which eliminates lumber and drywall. With the combination of the environmental

benefits, ease of installation and the materials

90-ton-per-square-meter crush strength, Brenner
is convinced that Pure Panel will be an integral
part of of Ashevilles green building future.
Brenner and David Madera, owner of Hemp
Technologies, say they will endeavor to develop
new applications for both Hemcrete and Pure
Panel, hoping to bring the advantages to a
broader market. Both Hemcrete and Pure Panel
are alternatives for homeowners with severe environmental sensitivities. New construction from
Push Design using both products is currently
slated to begin on a 1,100-square-foot home
offered around $225,000.
Asheville is fortunate to have become a
nexus for green building and development in
the Southeast. The commitment to setting a
new green standard, which is shared by many
tradesmen, designers and residents alike, is
transforming this small city into an epicenter of
creative building.
DAVID MOSRIE IS A REAL ESTATE BROKER AND PROJECT CONSULTANT IN
ASHEVILLE, N.C. HE HAS BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE GREEN BUILDING
MOVEMENT SINCE 1993 AND REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE PROPAGATION OF
GREEN BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
REGION. MOSRIE CAN BE REACHED AT THEGLEASONTEAM@GMAIL.COM.

Reader Service No. 77 www.EDCmag.com/webcard

20

ed+c
A P RIL 1 0
EDC07074FRNK.indd

6/21/07 11:29:28 AM

CONVENTION 2010

JUNE 1012

DESIGN
F OR T H E NEW
DECADE

Register online at www.aia.org/convention

The AIA 2010 National Convention and Design Exposition will explore the
theme of Design for the New Decadehighlighting how design knowledge,
vision, and leadership contribute to creating lasting buildings and cities.
Design will permeate every aspect of the conventionkeynote presentations,
seminars, workshops, roundtable discussions, exhibits, materials, and tours.
Join more than 22,000 architecture and building and design professionals as
we address the new challenges that arise from an emerging and more modern
economy. Help shape the future of the profession in the next decade by
recommitting to our discipline's primary mode of thought and actiondesign.
AIA Convention 2010 offers value, education, and quality.
Register by April 26 and save.
www.aia.org/convention

MIAMI

BUILDING A HEALTHY REFUGE FOR THE RECOUPERATION OF

YOUNG HEROES AT MILLER CHILDRENS HOSPITAL.
By Damon Barda, AIA, LEED AP

MILLER CHILDRENS HOSPITAL

Location: Long Beach, Calif.
Size: (new construction) 120,000 square
feet; four-level expansion
Estimated Project Cost: $150 Million
(construction cost: $93 Million)
Completion Date: December 2009

22

ed+c

A P RIL 1 0

ometimes the most important sustainability efforts begin long before a project
breaks ground. The recent opening of the new inpatient pavilion at Miller Childrens
Hospital was the culmination of a six-year endeavor that brought hospital administrators and clinicians, young patients and their families, the Long Beach community,
and the architectural firm TAYLOR together in pursuit of a shared goal to build
a new hospital dedicated to children. Through an inclusive visioning process, the
theme for the design the heros journey and the castle refuge emerged.
The desire to make that refuge an environmentally friendly place was integral to the vision. When children are ill, their resources to fight disease and infection are depleted. Creating a healthy building free of toxic materials and full of quality air and light contributes to
the healing process.

Extraordinary efforts to ensure

Miller Childrens Hospital would
be a healthy building began at
the ground. The building site
was toxic, impacted since the
1920s by Long Beachs oil field
production boom. To prepare
the site, remaining oil wells
were re-abandoned to current
standards, and more than 45,000
tons of contaminated soil was

removed and thermally cleaned.

For these greening efforts, Miller
was honored as the first and only
nonprofit hospital to receive
three brownfields cleanup grants,
totaling $600,000, from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
With sustainability in mind,
the hospital recycled nearly
75 percent of its construction
waste, which amounted to more

TAYLORS DESIGN TEAM FOLLOWED THE

GREEN GUIDE FOR HEALTH CARE AND
LEED CONCEPTS IN THE DESIGN OF MILLER
CHILDRENS HOSPITAL. PHOTOS BY
ASSASSI PRODUCTIONS.

www.EDCmag.com

23

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PRODUCTS WERE SPECIFIED IN MILLER CHILDRENS HOSPITAL,

INCLUDING TERRAZZO AS WELL AS LINOLEUM AND CARPETS MADE FROM ORGANIC AND RAPIDLY
RENEWABLE MATERIALS. PHOTO BY ASSASSI PRODUCTIONS.

DURABLE, MAINTENANCE-FREE AND LOW-VOC FINISHES CONTRIBUTE TO A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

AT MILLER CHILDRENS HOSPITAL. PHOTO BY ASSASSI PRODUCTIONS.

than 2.5 million pounds. Materials like concrete, metal, wood and other
resources were segregated and recycled whenever possible.
TAYLORs design team followed the Green Guide for Health Care a best
practice guide for healthy and sustainable building design, construction and
operations as well as LEED concepts in the design. In addition to a highly
efficient central plant, a variety of measures were taken to conserve energy.
A white roof reflects the Southern California sun, which reduces the heat the
building gives off, the temperature inside the hospital and the demand for
air conditioning. Plenty of windows fill the building with daylight, meaning
less electricity is used during the day. High-efficiency lighting systems with
motion sensors turn off lights in empty rooms.
Water conservation, a critical issue in Southern California, was a priority. The
landscaping includes drought-tolerant and native plants as well as a natural
meadow that requires minimal watering. Designers placed flow-restricting
faucets in the public restrooms to reduce water consumption.
TAYLORs design team specified environmentally friendly products whenever alternatives were available, including linoleum and carpets made from
organic and rapidly renewable materials and wall paints and floor adhesives
free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Terrazzo, an epoxy resin containing recycled glass and porcelain, was selected for the lobbies and hallways
because it is extremely durable and maintenance free. Using Terrazzo saved
Reader Service No. 78 www.EDCmag.com/webcard

24

ed+c

A P RIL 1 0

Stop costly air leaks

UISPVHI
UIF
CVJMEJOH
FOWFMPQF
MATERIALS
Casework Materials: Roseburg Forest Products Co.
formaldehyde particleboard content less than
0.2 percent; 3form Ecoresin panels; Avonite
solid polymers
Paint Lines Low-VOC Content: Frazee, ICI
paints, Hasson Inc., Dunn Edwards
Adhesives - Low-VOC: Dow Corning Silicones,
Tnemec Company Inc.
Roofing Material: Tremco Inc.
Windows: Viracon Inc.
Exterior Building Cladding: Trespa North America Ltd.
Gypsum Board: National Gypsum Manufactured
locally in Long Beach
Flooring: Forbo Flooring Systems linoleum flooring

"JS

8BUFS3FTJTUJWF
#BSSJFS

GPS
TIFBUIJOH
BOE
$.6
CBDLVQ
t
$VU
OBUVSBM
HBT
DPTUT
CZ
NPSF
UIBO

t
$VU
FMFDUSJDBM
DPTUT
CZ
NPSF
UIBO

t
8BUFSCBTFE
BWPJE
70$&1"
JTTVFT
t
*NQSPWF
JOEPPS
BJS
RVBMJUZ
t
%FQSJWF
NPME
PG
DPOEJUJPOT
GPS
MJGF
t
)FMQ
FBSO
-&&%
QPJOUT

PROJECT TEAM
Architecture & Interior Design: TAYLOR
Contractor: Turner Construction
Construction Manager: Cleo Enterprises LLC
Structural Engineer: TMAD Taylor & Gaines
Mechanical, Electrical, Low Voltage, Data/
Telecom Engineer: JBA Consulting Engineers
Civil Engineer: Moffatt & Nichol
Geotechnical Engineer: MACTEC
Geotechnical Engineer: Smith-Emery Co.
Interior Design and Environmental Graphics:
Ford Design
Programming: Kurt Salmon Associates
Landscape Architects: Rabben/Herman Design
Office Ltd.
Land Surveyors: Dulin & Boynton
Acoustical: Newson Brown Acoustics LLC
Medical Equipment: Facilities Development Inc.
Methane Gas Consultant: Kleinfelder
Traffic Consultant: Linscott, Law & Greenspan
Soils Remediation: SCS Engineers
Curtain Wall Consultant: JA Weir Associates
Elevator Consultant: Lerch Bates
EIR Consultant: Sapphos Environmental Inc.
Shoring Engineer: Burnett & Young Inc.
Architectural Hardware Consultant: Ingersoll Rand
Specifications Consultant: C Plus C Consulting LLC




t


XXXQSPTPDPDPN
Reader Service No. 79 www.EDCmag.com/webcard

money by eliminating the need for the future

use of products like strippers and wax.
From the initial site work to thoughtful details
like using environmentally friendly paints and recycled paper in the art program, TAYLOR worked
closely with Miller Childrens Hospital to create
a healing refuge where sustainable features
contribute not only to the health of its young
patients but also to the wider community.
DAMON BARDA, AIA, LEED AP, IS A SENIOR ASSOCIATE
AND ARCHITECT AT TAYLOR, AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM
COMMITTED TO PROMOTING WELLNESS THROUGH
ARCHITECTURE.HE HAS MORE THAN 12 YEARS
EXPERIENCE IN HEALTHCARE DESIGN AND DEVELOPING
SUSTAINABILITY GOALS AND CONCEPTS FOR HEALING
ENVIRONMENTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.TAA1.COM.
Reader Service No. 80 www.EDCmag.com/webcard

www.EDCmag.com

25

CASE
STUDY

By Alex Spilger, LEED AP

From Trash to Treasure

RECOLOGY TRANSFORMS DUMPSITE MATERIALS INTO ART AND OFFICE FURNITURE.

Recology Inc. formerly Norcal

Waste Systems Inc., one of the
nations oldest urban recycling
companies used its new office
space in San Francisco to illustrate
the companys rebranding transition. Recycled items from the
waste haulers dumpsites were
incorporated into artwork, office
tables and furniture throughout
the sunlit LEED Gold space.

Reduce
Recology downsized from a
24,500-square-foot office to a
19,500-square-foot office in an
existing, free-standing building
located in a high-density neighborhood with close proximity to
public transportation. Standard
LEED requirements for reducing
water and energy usage were
met through the incorporation of low-flow water fixtures,
energy-efficient lighting, and
HVAC control systems. Natural
light flowing into every work
space further reduced lighting
demands to create a healthy
work environment.

Reuse
One of the most innovative
aspects of this project was the
clients incorporation of found
treasures in its art and furniture
program. Recology sponsors artists-in-residence who produced
the majority of the attentiongrabbing items distributed
throughout the headquarters.

A WALL IN RECOLOGYS HEADQUARTERS

WAS PANELED WITH PIECES OF OLD
SKATEBOARDS FOR AN ARTISTIC EFFECT.
PHOTO BY ERIC LAIGNEL.

26

ed+c

A P RIL 1 0

RECOLOGY HEADQUARTERS
Location: San Francisco
Size: 19,500 square feet
Completed: April 2009
Additional Materials
SierraPine Ltd.: MDF
Knauf Insulation: EcoBatt Insulation
Henkel N.A.: Draft & Acoustical Sound Sealant
InterfaceFLOR: Reinvent and Reincarnation
Carpet Tile
Expanko: Cork Flooring
Visions Paint Recycling Inc.: Latex Finish Paint
Scuffmaster: EnviroMetal Paint
Farruggia Design: Recycled Material Tables and
Furnishings

Recology Project Team

Architect: POLLACK Architecture
Engineer: Amit Wadhwa & Associates
LEED Consulting & Construction: BCCI
Construction Manager: COLE Project Management
General Contractor: BCCI Construction Co.
Vendor: MG West

THE RECEPTION AREA FEATURES FOUND OBJECTS, LIKE FURNITURE (WHICH WAS REUPHOLSTERED). SCULPTURES, SUCH AS THE ONE
HANGING ABOVE THE RECEPTION DESK, WERE CREATED WITH FOUND GLASS SHARDS. PHOTO BY ERIC LAIGNEL.

Artistic additions to the new build-out consisted of:

A giant mobile made from broken glass;
A huge wall divider composed of discarded skateboards; and
A pine tree sculpture made from old saws, which is promoted during
the holiday season to remind San Franciscans to consider alternatives
to live Christmas trees.
Furniture created from recycled materials included:
Conference tables composed of recycled cardboard;
A computer desk constructed from a wine cask;
Salvaged lobby and office furniture reupholstered in recycled-fiber
fabrics; and
Tabletops that incorporate the bottoms of glass bottles, found maps,
discarded circuit boards and old road signs.

Recycle
Myriad colored paint from Recologys paint recycling program was mixed
together, used as a base coat for the office, and then covered with a lowVOC final coat. Recycling collection points were incorporated throughout
the office and composting containers were included in the boardroom,
lunchroom, training area and pantry. More than 75 percent of all construction waste was diverted from landfill.
Recologys new headquarters is not only a functional, healthy work space
but also a fitting showcase for trash turned to waste-hauler treasure.
ALEX SPILGER, LEED AP, IS SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER FOR BCCI, WHERE HE LEADS PROJECT AND CLIENT TEAMS
FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVES. HE CURRENTLY WORKS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT COMPREHENSIVE
TOOLS AND SYSTEMS FOR EFFECTIVELY MANAGING LEED DOCUMENTATION. SPILGER TEACHES LEED WORKSHOPS
AS WELL AS A LEED PROJECT MANAGEMENT COURSE AT UC BERKELEY.

A GLASS CONFERENCE TABLE WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH THE BOTTOMS OF WINE BOTTLES. PHOTO
BY ERIC LAIGNEL.

www.EDCmag.com

27

STUDIO
By Robin Guenther, FAIA, LEED AP

The Future of Hospitals

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN IMPACTS SITE, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
We are at a moment of radical
transformation in the design and
construction of hospitals and
healthcare facilities. The disciplines
of sustainable design, evidencebased design and Lean process
management are impacting how
hospitals are sited, designed and
constructed. Clearly, the path ahead
for hospitals is to move beyond simply reducing their resource impacts
(i.e., doing less harm) through a
vision of hospitals that do no harm
and heal their occupants, their communities and the planet.
This central idea of healing, or
regenerative healthcare, has the
power to capture the imagination of
healthcare organizations worldwide
and transform the way healthcare
services are defined, organized
and delivered. It has the power to
transform a healthcare infrastructure
that consumes enormous amounts
of fossil fuel resources into a resilient
net provider of clean water, energy
and environmental conditions that
support health. Gary Cohen with the
nonprofit Health Care Without Harm
said it best: The hospital can situate
itself in the ecology of its community
and act as a force for healing.
The Green Guide for Health Care
and the soon-to-be-released LEED
for Healthcare signal the beginnings
of this awareness and journey. Both
these tools are establishing a context
that links sustainable design with the
larger healthcare safety and quality
movements to produce different
and better healing environments.
There is growing acceptance that
optimizing built environments and
clinical systems for only one of these
factors, at the expense of the others,
is untenable our future healthcare
infrastructure needs to be effective,
safe and sustainable.
Mechanical system innovations
like displacement ventilation sys-

28

ed+c

A P RIL 1 0

WE NEED TO HOLD A CLEAR VISION

OF THIS IMAGINED FUTURE AND
RECOGNIZE THAT EVERY CHOICE WE
MAKE TODAY, AS DESIGNERS, HAS A
ROLE IN CREATING THIS FUTURE.
tems, ground source heat pumps or
combined heat and power (a longtime standard practice in Europe,
where energy has been much more
expensive) have the potential to reduce energy demand by as much as
60 percent. A few notable examples:
Gundersen Lutheran health system
is pledging carbon neutrality by
2014; The Embassy Medical Center
& Health System in Sri Lanka will
capture methane from municipal
organic waste to fuel and power a
1,000-bed hospital; Kaiser Permanente and Partners HealthCare are
testing displacement ventilation.
As healthcare organizations and
their designers make the connection
between resource use and human
health, new priorities are emerging.
Tools like Practice Greenhealths Energy Impact Calculator, which uses EPA
data on health issues associated with
fossil fuels to calculate the health
impacts from local energy sources,
is assisting hospitals in greening
their energy supply chain moving
to cleaner burning fuels and green
power. Healthcare organizations can
link green energy choices to health
benefits and track energy-demandreduction efforts against data on
asthma and respiratory illness.
Likewise, the environmental
health issues associated with the
manufacture, use and disposal of
building materials will continue to
be a focus of healthcare organizations and their design teams. In response to demands from healthcare

markets, nonprofit organizations

such as Healthy Building Network
and GREENGUARD are developing
new tools to assess the chemical
components of building materials.
In response, manufacturers
are reformulating building
products to substitute chemicals
of concern with safer and
healthier alternatives. Perkins+Will
recently launched a precautionary
list of chemicals of concern,
(http://transparency.perkinswill.com)
and is actively substituting those
chemicals with safer alternatives.
Imagine if our hospitals adapted
to climate challenges, operated
using on-site renewable energy,
harvested and recycled available
water, and were filled with natural
light so that in extended periods of
extreme weather or infrastructure
crises, vital medical services could
continue without interruption.
Imagine they contain no materials
with known or suspected carcinogens or toxic chemicals.
We need to hold a clear vision of
this imagined future and recognize
that every choice we make today, as
designers, has a role in creating this
future. We have to act on a belief
that every innovative strategy we
implement today that changes hospital design makes a difference and
contributes to making this imagined
future tomorrows reality.
ROBIN GUENTHER IS A
PRINCIPAL AT PERKINS+WILL.
SHE IS A NATIONAL LEADER IN
THE CONVERSATION LINKING
PUBLIC HEALTH, REGENERATIVE
DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY.
GUENTHERS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE THE
DISCOVERY CENTER, THE SECOND LEED-CERTIFIED
HEALTHCARE PROJECT IN THE WORLD. SHE WAS
THE PRINCIPAL AUTHOR OF THE GREEN GUIDE FOR
HEALTH CARE, AND AUTHORED SUSTAINABLE
HEALTHCARE ARCHITECTURE.

PERSPECTIVES
By Nate Kredich

Tool Time
NEW TOOLS SUPPORT CONTINUED GROWTH OF USGBCS LEED FOR HOMES PROGRAM.
The LEED for Homes green certification program has been a crucial
and successful extension of the
LEED family of rating systems.
To date, more than 5,000 homes
have achieved LEED certification and nearly 25,000 homes in
the U.S. are currently pursuing
certification. With high demand
for certification and a growing
nationwide interest in green
residential buildings, the LEED
for Homes program is now supported by a variety of new tools
and infrastructure.

Green Raters

WITH HIGH DEMAND FOR CERTIFICATION

AND A GROWING NATIONWIDE INTEREST
IN GREEN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, THE
LEED FOR HOMES PROGRAM IS NOW
SUPPORTED BY A VARIET Y OF NEW TOOLS
AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

A significant increase in the

demand for highly qualified and
trained verifiers is anticipated in
the coming years, and with the
councils newly launched LEED
for Homes Green Rater program,
the ranks of raters will expand.
Green Raters are set apart from the
crowd because they are verified
by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). The path to
becoming a Green Rater includes
comprehensive training coupled
with an exam. Beginning Jan. 1,
2011, all newly registered LEED for
Homes projects must have a Green
Rater certificate-holder on the verification team. Green Raters play a
critical role in the LEED for Homes
process by overseeing all verification services on a project. Green
Raters may work directly for a LEED
for Homes provider or contract
independently with one or several
providers. Visit www.usgbc.org/
greenrater to learn more about
the LEED for Homes Green Rater
program, register for an upcoming
training, or apply for the exam.

Connecting Professionals
Drawing on the lessons learned
throughout the development

and deployment of the LEED for

Homes program, U.S. Green
Building Councils (USGBC)
newly launched Green Home
Guide is an online resource that
serves as a clearinghouse of information for homeowners and
builders alike. The Web site,
http://greenhomeguide.com,
provides a unique blend of
content and community that
allows consumers to research
locally relevant solutions and
professionals.
Green Home Guide offers three
essential channels of information: Know How, featuring articles
written and vetted by residential
professionals; Ask a Pro, which
encourages pros to interact directly
with their local customer base by
posting answers; and the Find a Pro
nationwide directory, which lists
builders, contractors and service
providers working on green homes
across the country. With Find a
Pros efficient search engine, users
can search for professionals by
specialty and/or location. Green
residential professionals should visit
http://greenhomeguide.com/apply
to post a free directory listing and
be included in future searches for
service providers who can help
the growing LEED for Homes audience fully realize their vision
of green living.

new learning opportunities

to the REGREEN remodeling
program. A new two-day workshop, REGREEN: Implementing
Green Residential Remodeling,
teaches participants how to
identify the green concepts
and strategies that will best
enhance their next remodeling
project. This year, REGREEN will
be on a road show traveling to
more than a dozen cities.
The REGREEN program also
includes a set of remodeling guidelines and strategies,
all supported by a robust
educational program created
in tandem by USGBC and ASID.
REGREEN addresses major
elements of green renovation
projects, including water and
energy efficiency, indoor air
quality and material choices.
The program blends product
selection, building systems integration and proven technologies into a seamless compilation
of green tips, strategies and
case studies for the homeowner,
builder or design professional.
Visit www.regreenprogram.org
for more information
on REGREEN.
For more information on all of
USGBCs programs and offerings
for the residential marketplace,
visit www.usgbc.org/homes.

Remodeling Green

NATE KREDICH JOINED THE

USGBC IN MARCH 2008 AS
VICE PRESIDENT OF RESIDENTIAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT. HE SPENT THE PRIOR
FIVE YEARS WORKING IN
THE PRODUCTION HOMEBUILDING ENVIRONMENT AS THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
AND GENERAL MANAGER OF CREATIVE TOUCH
INTERIORS, A NATIONAL TURNKEY PROVIDER OF
DESIGN CENTER AND INSTALLATION SERVICES,
WHICH WAS PURCHASED BY HOME DEPOT.

Beyond the new construction

market, USGBC recognizes that
a serious commitment to greening the existing housing stock is
key to reaching environmental
and carbon-reduction goals.
As a third new addition to the
LEED for Homes set of tools and
features, USGBC and its partner,
the American Society of Interior
Designers (ASID), have added

www.EDCmag.com

29

STUDIO
By David Johnson, AIA

California Greenin
EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED BY CALIFORNIAS NEW GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS.

DAVID JOHNSON, AIA, IS DIRECTOR OF WILLIAM

MCDONOUGH + PARTNERS WEST COAST
STUDIO IN SAN FRANCISCO. AN ACCOMPLISHED
ARCHITECT AND PLANNER, JOHNSON ALSO
ADVISES INSTITUTIONS AND DEVELOPERS ON
EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO BECOME MODEL
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DYNAMIC CONTEXT OF
CALIFORNIAS AB-32, SB-375 AND ANTICIPATED
PROGRAMS FROM THE CALIFORNIA STRATEGIC
GROWTH COUNCIL, A BODY FOR WHICH HE WAS
A NOMINATED REPRESENTATIVE.

WHAT ARE WE, AS A SOCIET Y,

WORKING TOWARD?

The recently passed California Green

Building Standards (CalGreen)
will raise the baseline for new
construction and have an enormous
positive impact, given CalGreens
widespread application. This new
code from the California Building
Standards Commission, which takes
effect January 2011, will continue
Californias legacy of environmental
leadership. However, as we integrate
these new requirements within the
wide range of existing green standards, codes and rating systems,
we are constantly faced with the
question: Is what were doing green
enough? In other words, if we meet
the requirements of CalGreen, LEED
or any other rating system, are we
laying a path toward a sustainable
future? Another way to approach
this question is to step back and ask
ourselves: What are we, as a society,
working toward?
At William McDonough + Partners, we have summarized our intentions as a vision for a delightfully
diverse, safe, healthy and just world
with clean air, soil, water and
power economically, equitably,
ecologically and elegantly enjoyed.
What if we take this vision as the
end goal for the green building
movement? What does it suggest
in terms of new opportunities for
California as it moves forward?

Clean Air and Clean Power

While efficient, low-emission buildings can be characteristics of the
outcome, they are not the goal. Instead, a safe, healthy and just world
starts with communities that are
powered using renewable sources.
Achieving renewably powered
communities will mean tackling the
much-harder questions of community-scale infrastructure to encourage
effective and efficient production
and distribution of power; broaden-

30

ed+c

A P RIL 1 0

ing the use of load-shifting and smart

grid technologies; and integrating
renewable energy production into
the fabric of our cities. Urban areas of
California are endowed with a moderate climate as well as abundant
solar, wind and tidal resources. From
a technological standpoint, there
are building typologies (houses,
schools and even some offices) that
could rely solely on renewable power
under these conditions.
The next level of leadership will
be to identify obstacles preventing
designers and developers from
making the switch to clean power.
Partnerships with utilities that examine new production and service
models, additional incentives for renewable production, and targeted
use of state purchasing power are
opportunities to transform the
market, create new economies and
realize a positive energy future.

Clean Water
Our end goal for water is not to use
the least amount possible but to create communities that reinforce the
natural water cycle of each unique
place. For California, this can mean
creating nearly closed-loop conditions for potable water at the community scale that rely on renewably
powered water treatment infrastructures. It also suggests eco-intelligent
stormwater management practices
that support watershed quality and
restore groundwater flows.
Next-generation leadership
that will take us closer to meeting
community needs while supporting
ecological health include incentives for water providers to create
nonpotable supplies; requirements
for buildings to anticipate stepped
water use and, where appropriate,
rainwater capture; investment in new
treatment technologies; and regional
stormwater management plans.

Clean Air and Clean Soil

Waste diversion/recycling and indoor air quality are often regarded
as separate issues, but they are
inextricably intertwined. Safe,
healthy and just communities will
have eliminated the concept of
waste. Instead, materials will flow
in biological or technical metabolisms and return safely to soil or
to industry in an endless cycle.
Products following this cradle-tocradle cycle are designed to support human and ecological health.
And instead of going to landfill (or
becoming downcycled, a slight
detour en route to landfill) at the
end of their useful life, they create
soil or become feedstock for new
products ultimately eliminating
the need for landfill sites.
Californias Green Chemistry
Initiative is an incredibly important
step in this direction. In the construction industry, higher standards
for material content, recyclability,
design for disassembly, and positive
effects on human and ecological
health are all opportunities for innovation and leadership.
CalGreen is an important
first step. It may lead toward
integration of selected water
and material concerns within
the larger regulatory framework
of the construction industry
much like Title 24 did for energy
concerns. Its wide influence will
undoubtedly result in significant
gains on solid waste, emissions
and water-use goals established
by the state, and it will become a
model that many other states will
follow in their search for guidance
on green concerns.
However, we all need to be
diligent to ensure that we are
working toward the right things
and not just doing the wrong
things really well.

INFORMATION

SHOWCASE

FOR FREE PRODUCT INFORMATION ON THESE COMPANIES PLEASE VISIT WWW.EDCMAG.COM/WEBCARD

PROFILE SMART

CREE LRP-38: THE LED REPLACEMENT FOR HALOGEN PAR38s

The Profile Smart with integrated rinse station from

Available in volume, the energy-efficient Cree LRP-38

Caroma is a high-efficiency dual-flush toilet featuring a

has a power input of only 12 watts and contains no

1.28-gallon flush for solid waste and 0.8-gallon flush for

mercury. The Cree LRP-38s low heat, low UV, and

liquid and paper waste. This clever system directs fresh

exceptional color qualitya CRI of 92 @ 2700Kis

water through the integrated faucet for hand washing

designed to replace 50W-90W halogen PAR38s in retail

and then drains into the tank for the next flush. The

and display settings and last 50,000 hours in open

large trapway virtually eliminates blockages.

track fixtures or 35,000 hours in non-IC commercial recessed downlights. The tightly-focused beam delivers
a center beam candlepower of 4,000 with a beam angle of 20 degrees.

CAROMA | 800-605-4218 | WWW.CAROMAUSA.COM

CREE | 919-991-0700 | WWW.CREELEDLIGHTING.COM

Reader Service No. 10

Reader Service No. 12

SYDNEY SMART

COOL ZONE ROOFING MEMBRANE

The Sydney Smart HET provides significant water

The bright white Duro-Last Cool Zone membrane

savings over other toilets and averages just 0.9

has long provided environmental benefits to facili-

gallons per flush. This saves up to 44 percent more

ties throughout North America. Its exceptional re-

water than a single flush 1.6-gallon toilet and up

flectivity and emittance characteristics help reduce

to 74 percent more than a 3.5-gallon toilet. All

electricity costs and lessen the urban heat island

Caroma toilets have a large trap through way,

effect. In addition, white equals green, as in:

nearly double the industry average, virtually elimi-

Environmental responsibility;

nating blockages and overflows.

Money youll save by reducing your roofing systems life-cycle costs;

The best system to be installed under your rooftop garden.

CAROMA | 800 605 4218 | WWW.CAROMAUSA.COM

DURO-LAST | WWW.WHITE-EQUALS-GREEN.COM

Reader Service No. 11

Reader Service No. 13

ECONOMICAL TILE RECYCLED CONTENT

SIGN UP
TODAY FOR
eNEWS!
ED+C and Sustainable Facility each feature a monthly
eNewsletter that brings the latest industry developments
to readers desktops. Inside, youll find all the news and
information that simply couldnt be squeezed into print.
Past editions of the eNews are archived on ED+C and
Sustainable Facilitys websites.

Metropolitan Ceramics ENVIROQUARRY tiles are

suitable for indoor and outdoor use in any climate
and are among the most economical of all floor
finishes with a life cycle of 50-plus years.
ENVIROQUARRY is a ceramic tile with a pre-consumer recycled content of more than 50 percent.
ENVIROQUARRY is -inch thick, extremely durable, and kiln-flashed for random
color variation and added appeal.
METROPOLITAN CERAMICS | 800-325-3945 | WWW.METROCERAMICS.COM | INFO@IRONROCK.COM

Reader Service No. 14

UNDERFLOOR SERVICE DISTRIBUTION

Tate access floors with underfloor service distribution
offer one of the best solutions for achieving high
performance and sustainable indoor environments.
This single strategy improves daylighting, energy efficiency and indoor air quality, while adding individual
comfort control for building occupants. Access floors
enable intelligent modular design that may contrib-

VISIT WWW.EDCMAG.COM AND WWW.SUSTAINABLEFACILITY.COM

AND CLICK ON ENEWSLETTER TO SUBSCRIBE.

ute to LEED certification and promotes a healthier work environment. Cost competitive,
Tate offers lasting value that can adapt and evolve throughout the life of a building.
TATE ACCESS FLOORS, INC. | WWW.TATEACCESSFLOORS.COM

Reader Service No. 15

www.EDCmag.com

31

L
a
c
I
n
H
c
Te
let s get

Further your technical education and industry knowledge at the AEC Store.

AEC STORE
The AEC Store is owned and operated
by BNP Media. As an information
company, we created the AEC Store to
make it easy for industry professionals
to conduct one stop shopping for all
their educational, training or personal
information needs. Our store allows
you to save time by not searching
bookshelves, but rather by clicking on
a category specic to your needs. The
list of categories makes it easy to nd
precise topics.

To place your order visit

AECStore.com or call
Stephanie at 248/244.1275

Our online store gives you access to technical journals and research that form the cornerstone of Architecture,
Engineering and Construction Industries.
NEWEST ADDITIONS

Leed Practices, Certication and Accreditation Handbook // $97.20

Written by an architect with over 30 years of international experience, this book provides architects, designers, building
owners, and construction engineers with an easy to understand guide to the nuts and bolts of LEED project and personal
certication. Written in plain and easy to understand language, this hands on book is designed to assist readers with all
aspects of LEED certication. The handbook provides readers with design strategies for sustainable site selection, and
design process for high performance building and commissioning. Other important topics include green materials and
products selection as well as strategies for ensuring Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), water efciency and sanitary
waste disposal. This handbook also offers readers a multitude of forms with expert guidance for their completion.

Smart Buildings Systems for Architects, Owners and Builders // $107.95

Smart Buildings Systems for Architects, Owners and Builders is a practical guide and resource for architects,
builders, engineers, facility managers, developers, contractors, and design consultants. The book covers the costs
and benets of smart buildings, and the basic design foundations, technology systems, and management systems
encompassed within a smart building. Unlike other resources, Smart Buildings is organized to provide an overview
of each of the technology systems in a building, and to indicate where each of these systems is in their migration
to and utilization of the standard underpinnings of a smart building. Written for any professional interested in
designing or building smart Buildings systems, this book provides you with the fundamentals needed to select and utilize
tilize
ize
ze th
the
he m
most
ost
ost
up to date technologies to serve your purpose. Case studies are used to provide examples of systems and the common problems
encountered during installation.

EDC_AEC Store_TechnicalAd_Half_0310.indd 1

3/16/10 9:53:39 AM

ADINDEX

To request free information from ED+C advertisers, simply go to

www.EDCmag.com/webcard and enter the corresponding circle
numbers listed below or fill out the card located in front of page 7.

AEC Store
www.AECStore.com
Page 32

Construction Specialties
www.c-sgroup.com
Page 9 | Circle # 43

MBCI Group
www.mbci.com/newest
Page 2 | Circle # 134

nora systems, Inc.

www.nora.com/us
Page 3 | Circle # 26

U.S. Green Building Council

www.usgbc.org/LEED
Page 35 | Circle # 65

AIA Convention 2010

www.aia.org/convention
Page 21

Franklin International/Titebond
www.TitebondGreenChoice.com
Page 20 | Circle # 77

Metal Construction Association

www.insulatedmetalpanels.org
Page 5 | Circle # 176

Pine Hall Brick

www.pinehallbrick.com
Page 25 | Circle # 80

W.R. Meadows
www.wrmeadows.com
Page 4 | Circle # 135

Accelerated Building Technologies

www.accel-E.com
Page 17 | Circle # 123

Insulated Panel Group

www.ncilp.com
Page 13 | Circle # 197

NeoCon Worlds Trade Fair 2010

www.neocon.com
Page 33

Prosoco
www.prosoco.com
Page 25 | Circle # 79

Armstrong Ceiling & Wall Systems

www.armstrong.com/healthzone
Page 36 | Circle # 3

Invisible Structures, Inc.

www.invisiblestructures.com
Page 12 | Circle # 76

NEOPERL, Inc.
www.neoperl.com
Page 24 | Circle # 78

Special-Lite
www.special-lite.com/sustain
Page 11 | Circle # 75

First-time advertisers.

ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION Volume 13, Issue 4 (ISSN 1095-8932) is published 12 times annually, monthly, by BNP Media II, L.L.C., 2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084-3333. Telephone:
(248) 362-3700, Fax: (248) 362-0317. No charge for subscriptions to qualified individuals. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in the U.S.A.: $104.00 USD. Annual rate for subscriptions to
nonqualified individuals in Canada: $137.00 USD (includes GST & postage); all other countries: $154.00 (intl mail) payable in U.S. funds.
Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2010, by BNP Media II, L.L.C. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not
responsible for product claims and representations. Periodicals Postage Paid at Troy, MI and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION, P.O. Box 2148,
Skokie, IL 60076. Change of address: Send old address label along with new address to ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION, P.O. Box 2148, Skokie, IL 60076. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608.
GST account: 131263923. Send returns (Canada) to Bleuchip International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON, N6C 6B2. For single copies or back issues: contact Ann Kalb at (248) 244-6499 or KalbA@bnpmedia.com.

32

ed+c

A P RIL 1 0

When you are through with this magazine, please do not throw it away. There is no away. Please pass it on
to a friend or colleague who you think might appreciate, learn and/or be inspired by this information.

JUNE 1416 THE MERCHANDISE MART CHICAGO NEOCON.COM

PRODUCED BY

PARTING

Home is Where
the Health is
By Robin Rogers, LEED AP, GACP

Six million households live with

physical housing problems, according to the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development.
Issues include allergens such as
paint fumes, dust mites, mold and
formaldehyde. These offenders can
trigger asthma attacks, respiratory illnesses or allergies in the 23
million asthma sufferers in America,
according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
The Smith family, of Selah,
Wash., experienced these issues

firsthand. After remodeling

an older home, asthma and
related problems emerged in their
younger children. The Smiths
tapped into a convergence of
shared interests. Their builder and
the local home builders association were on a similar trajectory
toward sustainable building.
Working with the Steve Weise
Co., the Smiths focused on indoor
air quality, but they also wanted
the project to achieve sustainability
overall in its site development,

energy and water use. Weise was

a true advocate for their needs as
he kept an eye on the end goal of
building a healthier home while
maneuvering through the competing interests of quality versus
budget choices. Sustainability
consultant Brenda Nunes, of the
Sustainability Foundation, played a
key role in guiding materials selection. As the developer of a five star
Built Green home in Roslyn, Wash.,
Nunes understood the challenges
and opportunities as they related to
green trends, choices and budgets.
With a focus on healthy products and overall sustainability, the

home will certify to the Northwest

ENERGY STAR Homes program for
energy efficiency and qualifies for
the EPA Indoor airPLUS program
for indoor air quality.
Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of the project is that
by implementing new healthy
home principles, as well as a diet
of appropriate foods and probiotics, the Smith kids are now
medication-free and living in a
healthy environment.
For the complete story on the project,
visit the Web Exclusive Editorial section
of www.EDCmag.com.

Reader Service No. 65 www.EDCmag.com/webcard

CEILING&WALL

SYSTEMS
Between us, ideas become reality

Potential LEED Credit Area Contribution

EA Credit 1 Optimize Energy Performance
MR Credit 2.1, 2.2 Construction Waste Management
MR Credit 4.1, 4.2 Recycled Content
MR Credit 5.1, 5.2 Regional Materials
EQ Credit 4.1 to 4.5 Low-Emitting Materials
EQ Credit 4.4 Low-Emitting Materials
EQ Credit 8.1, 8.2 Daylight and Views
Calculate LEED Credits at armstrong.com/greengenie

come clean
Health Zone Ultima is a fine-textured ceiling system
with a water-repellent surface that welcomes repeated
scrubbing for infection control. Its excellent acoustics
promote privacy and enhance the healing environment
while no added formaldehyde, high recycled content and
100% recyclability protect the global environment. Visit our
site to learn more about cleaning up and quieting down.
CEILING

Health Zone Ultima

LOCATION

Lancaster General
Women & Babies Hospital
Lancaster, PA

armstrong.com/healthzone 1 877 ARMSTRONG

Reader Service No. 3 www.EDCmag.com/webcard