Champlain Investment Partners Awarded LEED-CI Silver

TruexCullins Architecture + Interior Design is pleased to announce that the interior office space for Champlain Investment Partners has been awarded LEED Silver Certification for Commercial Interiors from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The design of this Class A office space was inspired by the surrounding landscape of the Lake Champlain basin and is a celebration of Vermont culture and community. The use of natural and local materials supports the LEED rating system and establishes a true Vermont character for this independent employee owned firm.

The new 13,000 sq. ft. tenant fitup is located within the recently completed Waterfront Plaza building in downtown Burlington, recently awarded LEED Certification for Core & Shell Development. The LEED Core & Shell rating system is designed to be used by developers to certify the core and shell of a project and prepare the building for environmentally conscious tenants. The LEED for Commercial Interiors rating system recognizes high performance green tenant spaces that are healthy, energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

The tenant project earned high marks for its downtown site location; energy efficiency measures; and superior indoor air quality. The project also received credit for utilizing sustainable materials and resources. The building materials and furnishings used in the project contain a total of 24% recycled content, and interior wood products were sourced from well-managed FSC-certified forests.

The reception area features hardwood flooring salvaged from the Vermont forest and Champlain Marble quarried from the region. A billowing ceiling of cloth panels provides a contrasting softness to the space and alludes to the gentle sailboats on Lake Champlain. The design of the workspace promotes teamwork and collaboration with shared meeting and lounge spaces in prime locations and a quiet library for focused work or small group meetings.

The project was led by TruexCullins Principal David Epstein, AIA, LEED AP, and Associate Matthew Bushey, AIA, LEED AP. The developer/contractor was Investors Corporation of Vermont. Additional design team members include: Hallam-ICS, building commissioning; Mountain Air Systems, mechanical engineering; and Pearson Associates, electrical engineering.

TruexCullins awarded International Planning Project

We are proud to announce that the TruexCullins Education Studio has been awarded the contract for Master Planning at the St. John's International School in Waterloo, Belgium. Competing against top firms from around the world, the TruexCullins team was selected for their expertise in sustainable solutions in school design.

Since 2006, the international practice team at TruexCullins has been working with international schools all over the world, including Russia, Ethiopia and Brazil. At the Anglo-American School of Sofia, Bulgaria, an 80,000 square foot addition designed by TruexCullins is slated to receive LEED Green Building Rating System silver certification in August 2012.

Announcing Hotel Vermont

Last night we were thrilled to join Governor Peter Shumlin, Commerce Secretary Lawrence Miller, and local developers Jay Canning and Chuck DesLauriers as they announced the start of construction for the new 126-room Hotel Vermont.

Kim Deetjen and the TruexCullins Interiors studio has teamed up with Israel Smith of Smith Buckley Architects to design the new hotel, named after the original Hotel Vermont that first opened its doors to guests on the corner of Main Street and St. Paul Street.

The new Hotel Vermont is located on Cherry Street, halfway between the Church Street Marketplace and the Burlington waterfront.  The hotel is being built with the goal of LEED Silver certification, and will be Burlington’s first LEED certified hotel.

The hotel lobby features a wood-burning fireplace, a granite-clad central core, and natural materials such as reclaimed antique red oak flooring.  From here, you can step up to Juniper Lounge, which will serve coffee, cocktails, and small plates throughout the day.  The bar opens to an outdoor terrace with an open hearth, overlooking the Burlington waterfront and a green roof garden.

The ground floor will also include a new Hen of the Wood Restaurant, featuring the farm-to-table cuisine of chef Eric Warnstedt.  Chef Warnstedt is the executive chef and co-owner of the current Hen of the Wood Restaurant in Waterbury, widely regarded as one of the best restaurants in the state.

Calling last night’s event a groundbreaking ceremony would be a little inaccurate, as not a shovel was in sight. We do things a little differently in Vermont, so instead of tossing a small mound of dirt for the cameras, the Governor performed a ritual watering of a Cherry tree to signify the commercial growth that the hotel will bring to Cherry Street.

The stars that really stole the evening, however, were Mortimer and Mauve, the 2 pigs who go by the title of “Senior Global Brand Ambassadors”.  Mortimer and Mauve are the company mascots of WhistlePig Farm Distillery, makers of 100 proof WhistlePig Straight Rye Whiskey.  WhistlePig Whiskey is bottled by hand at WhistlePig Farm right here in Vermont’s Champlain Valley and available in select markets in New York, Illinois, and California.  At last night’s event it was served up in “carbon negative” cocktails with ingredients that balance our carbon footprint. 

The pigs milling among the crowd were a great reminder of what can be expected from Hotel Vermont when it opens for business in April 2013: employing world-renowned Vermont companies and artisans; using made-in-Vermont materials and products; and serving locally grown and produced food and beverages to tell the Hotel Vermont story.  It will be a place for travelers that provides a truly unique and authentic “Vermont” experience, exuding comfort and casual warmth.

Stay tuned for more details as the project develops over the coming year!

4 Currier Place grabs LEED Silver

Another TruexCullins project has achieved LEED status!  This time, it is 4 Currier Place, a 35,000 square foot mixed-use commercial building in Hanover, New Hampshire.  This project, built for Dartmouth College Real Estate, has achieved LEED Silver certification for Core & Shell construction by the USGBC.

4 Currier Place is a three-story core & shell development that was built as the first phase of the Sargent Block redevelopment masterplan in downtown Hanover. Sustainable design goals were established early in the design process so that sensible and cost effective green strategies could be employed. The project is now a model for resource efficient, high performance commercial buildings in the region.

From the very beginning of the project, green goals were identified by the owner as a priority for this commercial development.  LEED certification was pursued because this rating system provides a comprehensive checklist for green objectives as well as third party verification that the design is being implemented correctly.

 4 Currier Place achieves a high level of energy efficiency through a number of methods:

• The building features a high-performance exterior envelope to minimize heat transfer and therefore reduce electrical and fuel demand.
• Daylighting and views are maximized while sun control devices are used to control solar gain and glare. Light fixtures are dimmable in response to daylight conditions, and occupancy sensors are used that turn off the lights when the spaces are not in use.
• Innovative mechanical systems are used to minimize energy consumption, including heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.
• Water conservation strategies are employed throughout the building and the surrounding site. Plumbing fixtures are highly efficient to conserve water, and the landscaping incorporates native species that require little or no irrigation.

Other aspects of the design also contributed to its LEED Silver certification:

• The project provides for the health and comfort of its occupants through the use of non-toxic materials and finishes, excellent ventilation, appropriate daylighting and views, and proper acoustical separation of spaces. Indoor climate control provides a comfortable working environment in all seasons, although extreme cooling in summer is not required.
• The project utilizes resource-efficient materials. Not only were durable materials employed, but also materials that require minimal energy to produce and maintain. Many materials were produced locally or regionally, and many have a high-recycled content.
• And what may be the simplest but most important green aspect of 4 Currier Place:  the project is attractive and durable so that it will be around for many generations to come. A well-designed building is a good neighbor to the existing buildings around it and makes a positive contribution to the downtown fabric of Hanover, New Hampshire.

Anglo American School of Sofia Breaks Ground

Our international work remains strong these days, with a variety of projects around the globe.  This week, David is travelling to India for a new international schools project.  Meanwhile, crews are busy at work pouring foundations in Sofia, Bulgaria, on a new 80,000 square foot middle and high school addition to an existing school.  Designed by TruexCullins to meet LEED Silver Certification, the new addition boasts a new atrium, library, classrooms and gymnasium, all clustered around an exterior stone amphitheater.

Environmental features include solar hot water, green roofs, daylighting, regional materials and innovative stormwater management. Classrooms are clustered around common areas designed for small group instruction and as social space.

Great care was taken to create a design that could be implemented with minimum disruption to existing operations. Summer holiday periods will be used for crucial tie-in projects.  The project was also designed to accommodate a theater at a later date.

The project is being managed by Gardiner and Theobold (Sofia office) and built by INOS Construction with Ivo Petrov Architects as design partners.  A big thanks goes to the Sofia team for an outstanding job so far!

Here are some photos of the project, currently under construction:

Heritage Flight Week, Day 5

White and Bright

For the final day of Heritage Flight Week, we take a look inside the main hangar bay, the space that is the heart of the whole operation.

Aviation is an energy-intensive industry, with a heavy carbon footprint.  In fact, the aviation industry as a whole accounts for 3% of all global carbon emissions.  As you’ve seen over these past few days, the Heritage facility has taken extraordinary measures to counteract this impact and promote a sustainable model for the industry.  This is evident in the main hangar bay, where aircraft is stored, repaired and maintained.

The main hangar bay is designed to maximize daylighting and exterior views for the benefit of the maintenance workers.  Twelve overhead skylights and large expanses of glazing on the east and south walls provide abundant natural light and allow for views to the exterior.  Large scale ceiling-mounted circulation fans at the high hangar bay minimize stratification of conditioned air and improve indoor air quality.  Finally, all the interior surfaces in the 32,000 sq.ft. hangar were painted white to maximize the ambient light level and minimize the need for artificial lighting through much of the day.  Many days, the artificial lights aren’t even needed, and further power is conserved by relying solely on natural illumination.

A building energy model was used to compute the projected energy savings from all of these energy and environmental initiatives: the efficiency improvements to the building shell, the mechanical and electrical loads, and the power generated by the on-site renewables.  According to the model, the Heritage Aviation facility is realizing a 38% energy savings over a standard commercial building of the same size.  Actual data from the first year of operation indicates even better energy performance.  The facility has now been in operation since January, 2010, and during this time, the building has seen a savings in gas and electricity consumption of 54% over a conventional office/warehouse building.

Beyond the very real financial savings are a number of intangible longterm benefits, including employee retention and morale.  The end result is a quality facility that benefits the employees, clients, and community.

Heritage Flight Week, Day 4

A Vermont Landscape rendered in carpet

 

Today we look at how the interior furnishings, finishes, and lighting support the environmental mission of the Heritage Aviation facility, while creating a high-quality, contextual experience that is a welcoming respite for travelers stopping in Vermont.

The furniture in the lobby and elsewhere in the building is hand-crafted by Vermont artisans, with local wood and low-VOC finishes.  Custom detailed FSC-certified wood veneers and locally-quarried stone clads the walls for a look that is gorgeous and green.

As you walk through the building, you will notice a unique pattern underfoot.  The main circulation and function spaces are treated with a modular carpet tile by Tandus called Manufactured Landscapes.  These 24” x 24” earth-toned tiles are arranged with a conscious randomness, so that the lines and textures form an abstract representation of an agricultural landscape, as it would appear when viewed from a passenger’s window of a chartered jet flying above.  The modular tile is also an “Environmentally Preferable Product”, with a third-party certified platinum rating.  The carpet and backing contains 48% recycled content, 10% post-consumer.

The interior lighting and mechanical systems are designed to save energy, while providing individual comfort and control.  In fact, those two things go hand in hand.  Individual lighting controls are provided at all workstations, conference rooms and staff rooms with dimmable circuits and daylighting controls that can be overridden locally.  Individual thermostat controls are provided at workstations, as well as at all conference rooms and staff rooms.  We find that providing this level of lighting and thermal comfort control by individual occupants promotes productivity, comfort and well-being.

Heritage Flight Week, Day 3

A Porous Parking Lot with a Monster Tank

We continue with Heritage Flight Week with a look at how this Aviation facility is dealing with storm water management.  For typical buildings, rainwater falls on the roofs, driveways and lawns and is channeled away: a valuable resource that is treated as a waste product.  At Heritage Aviation, 100% of the rainwater that falls on the site is captured, treated, and reused.

The south parking lot at Heritage is not your typical sea of asphalt.  This parking lot has a porous concrete surface that is designed to absorb all of the rain that falls on it,  eliminating the erosion and polluting affects typically caused by excess stormwater runoff.  The surface is capable of absorbing all the rainfall based on a 100 year storm.  At 87,117 sq. ft., this is the largest pervious parking lot in Vermont, and it is one of the largest in New England.

Runoff rainwater from the roof flows into a huge 35,000 gallon underground storage tank.  This includes rainwater from the high hangar roof and anything more than the 1" retained at the lower vegetated roof.  The captured rainwater is then used for landscape irrigation and for washing aircraft.

The last piece of the puzzle is a bioswale (rain garden) stormwater collection area that captures any remaining rainfall, when the underground storage tanks are full.  All of these strategies together fully protect the site from storm water runoff and foreign contaminants.