GLA selected as LEED consultants on new Menlo Park office building project..
Oakland, CA, United States, 7/23/2007 –
Gerard Lee Architects was recently selected as LEED consultants on the 4040 Campbell Ave Office building in Menlo Park. As LEED consultant on this project, we initiated a LEED charette to pin point specific credits that could or should be implemented on this new office building. Davidson + Seals are the architects for this project.
Our analysis of the project and the goals of the client, design team and contractor enabled us to identify the proper LEED rating vehicle to register the project with. As a 40,000 square foot office building which the client would not be occupying, we suggested that their best course would be to utilize the LEED CS (core & shell) rating system on this project.
During the LEED charette meeting, GLA suggested certain credits that we felt could be achieved and worked with all the involved parties to identify credits that each responsible party felt they could or would be able to implement. We helped everyone involved understand the differences between LEED NC (new construction) and LEED CS and the advantages of each rating system as it relates to particular project types. For a LEED CS project, it takes a minimum of 23 points out of 61 possible credits for a project to be LEED certified. Our preliminary study indicated that the project could potentially obtain 31 points, placing it well within LEED Silver. It is normal for design teams to try to obtain more points than needed because the process of construction, certification and verification can sometimes result in far less points being granted by the USGBC.
Part of our services as a LEED consultant was to work with each subconsultant design team member, client representatives and contractor to help explain and define the means to achieve certain credits. Our experience with sustainable design and LEED projects enabled us to help direct the project in a manner that balanced first costs and long term operational costs savings.
Here at Gerard Lee Architects , we are continuously striving to stay at the forefront of sustainable building design technology. The principal of GLA is LEED accredited, familiar with sustainable alternative construction and well versed in the LEED design and certification process. We presently are waiting for completion of our business practices assessment for Green Business Certification. We believe that sustainability should be implemented in house as well as in the buildings we design.
To read the press release carried by Newswire today: Read more here
To see our LEED Administration Services description: Read more here