Slowly but surely, America is switching from consumer to conserver. Old buildings are being renovated and new building are being built that capitalize on sustainability. Here are some of the front-runners in sustainable design.
Wayne N. Aspinall Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse
After receiving a grant in 2010 to renovate the historic courthouse, the building was completely remodeled to become a space that would last a lifetime. It utilizes a geothermal system for heating and cooling. The building succeeded in becoming net-zero energy. From the light fixtures down to every toilet, everything was thought about when it was being redesigned.ย During construction, they used spray foam insulator in the walls that reduced energy consumption by 11%. The building has a LEED Platinum certification.
John & Frances Angelos Law Center
The Buildings structure lets in as much light as possible. Sunlight makes rooms appear open and inviting. It was important for them to use the environment as much as possible to fill their needs. There is on-site water harvesting system that offsets the water usage of the structure, plus gardens that use native plants to be low maintenance, and less water intensive. During construction, the crew was able to save and recycle 50% of the building. It applied for, and received LEED Platinum rating.ย
Gateway Center โ SUNY-ESF College of Environmental Science & Forestry
SUNY is a college campus that is committed to sustainability. The ESF building is LEED certified with energy saving technology. The Building is so efficient that it produces more energy than it uses, which is impressive for a building with 50,000 square feet of space. The Gateway building is home to an event center, a new and larger College Bookstore, an exhibition gallery, a college cafeteria, a sustainable green roof made from native plants with a walkout observation deck, roof-mounted photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, and a fitness center.
Arizona State University Student Health Services
ASU has succeeded in renovating and adding to their building of Health Services. They have created a lush green landscape that adds to the atmosphere of the campus. The structure was built to allow a lavish amount of sunlight into the rooms. The building does not look or feel like a hospital. It does not possess the clinical feel that most hospitals or care centers. During construction, use of natural materials was given preference and importance.
Apple Campus 2
While Steve Jobs was alive, it was his dream to build Apple Campus 2, a modern building to house the Apple HQ. This design was his brain child, his dream. Although he is gone now, the people he left behind are determined to make his dream see fruition. They are putting finishing touches on the design for the Apple 2 Campus.
The campus has been described as resembling a UFO. In some respects, it does. The technology that will be going into this building is nothing short of amazing. When the campus is built, it will be 80% green space. They will use native plants to enhance the natural landscape. The campus will run entirely on alternative energy. Due to the intelligent construction of the building, it will not require heating or cooling through artificial means for the most part of the year.
