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| Friday, August 29, 2003 |
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Architects tout cost-saving "green" designsBy Tony Illia tonyillia@aol.com Las Vegas -- a city revered for its excess -- isn't particularly known for its earth-friendly buildings. However, a handful of cutting-edge architects are trying to change that. A style of architecture -- very much not a popular design in Las Vegas -- has been dubbed by the environmental building community popular in other states that concentrate more on recycling and energy savings. Green designs strive to conserve energy, minimize water-use and improve environmental quality through innovative architecture.
"It's clear the building with the lowest operating costs will have more options when negotiating with tenants during these turbulent times," says B. Alan Whitson, a national authority on facility design and management. "Turning Green can cut energy costs by 40 percent or more. Upgrading a building's lighting can add $6 per-square-foot to its value." Despite this, few built examples of green buildings exist in Southern Nevada.. However, there are some new green projects on the way, including the $14M Animal Foundation shelter and the $171M Las Vegas Springs preserve. Both jobs utilize the latest in green architecture, and each is seeking certification from the U.S. Green Buildings Council, a Washington D.C.-based coalition that rates projects through a points system called LEED which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Essentially, the system provides a framework for assessing a building's performance in meeting sustainability goals. The new Animal Foundation shelter, for example, will be partially powered by solar panels and cooled through a wind-tower ventilation system. Designed by Henderson-based Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects, the new 14,000-square-foot shelter will consist of 44 energy efficient animal bungalows, a 26,000-square-foot adoption center and a 2,000 square-foot barn, situated on eight acres of city-owned land on North Mohave Road in Las Vegas. The first phase is slated to open by March 31, 2005. "Were trying to raise the public consciousness of green buildings by doing the things that are very visible," says J. Windom Kimsey, a partner at Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects. "As architects, there is a social responsibility to design in a way that conserves our natural resources." The Las Vegas Valley Water District is building the 180-acre Springs preserve, which combines gardens, trails, parks and education facilities. The multi-year job, scheduled to finish in 2005, is seeking the highest possible LEED rating. The preserve uses high-performance sustainable buildings and gardens that emphasize water savings, energy efficiency, and environmental quality. Bound by Alta Drive, U.S. 95, Valley View Boulevard and neighboring homes, the Springs has rare plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world like the endangered Las Vegas bear paw poppy and the desert pocket mouse. As such, a freeway soundwall is backed by straw bails to dampen sound and deflect heat. The straw insulation stabilizes temperatures inside the preserve, creating a microclimate where fragile species can thrive. Poggemeyer Design Group, Inc., is the architect. The preserve also features a 30-acre Wetlands area, created from recycled water, and a 46,000-square-foot Desert Living Center designed by Lucchesi, Galati Architects of Las Vegas. The split-level building will use earth-rammed walls that improve heating and cooling, and angled roofing that will collect rainwater for irrigation and flushing toilets. The living center will be built using renewable materials including shredded denim jeans as insulation and railroad ties as roof trusses. "We've have had a lot more interest in green buildings since we've started this project," says Jeff Roberts, an architect with Lucchesi, Galati. "Although it may cost a little more, clients get excited when they realize that the lower energy costs will effect their bottom line." Other project components include a 50,000-square-foot visitor's center and 24,000-square-foot restaurant-retail area built from reused and low-maintenance items such as weathered-steel siding and recycled glass. Tate Snyder Kimsey is the architect. The buildings will also have waterless toilets, and use lime-based plaster produced from leftover mining materials. Going green has become a widespread national trend in commercial building. Many states, in fact, offer tax reductions to building owners for meeting green standards. Although no such break exists in Nevada, the local chapter of American Institute of Architects (AIA) has formed the Las Vegas Committee on the Environment (COTE) to further the cause. The group will be holding two seminars demonstrating the cost effectiveness of green buildings in Las Vegas from September 11-13. "There is a great deal more interest in green building and sustainability," says Randy Lavigne, executive director of AIA Las Vegas. "People are starting to get the message that how we look at building design can keep our earth green while saving money." Several public agencies, such as the Clark County School District, one of region's largest energy users, have expressed interest in green designs. The District is considering a prototype green school powered by solar panels. Meanwhile, Clark County has created an Energy Management Department charged with saving energy and implementing cost-effective green building practices. "We've done some lighting retrofits on existing building to bring them up to energy efficient standards," says Mike Brinkley, the departments' director. "We are also upgrading our design standards, wherever possible, to comply with the LEED program by incorporating sustainability." The newly created department has a five-year strategic plan, estimated to cost $1M annually. After the initial start-up, the program will be self-sustaining, funding its projects through realized savings from having implementing green building upgrades. For more information on green building and sustainable design, visit www.lv-cote.org. |
