LEED Gold Certification Awarded to Environmental Research and Educational Center on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; Grand Bay Coastal Resources Center’s architecture teaches about sustainable design

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) August 6, 2010 -- JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. – The Grand Bay Coastal Resources Center has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Headquarters for the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NEER) and Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge staff, the $7 million, 20,000-square-foot environmental research and educational facility is the first state government-owned, LEED certified project in the State of Mississippi. It was designed by architecture firm Lord, Aeck & Sargent in collaboration with Studio South Architects.

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LEED Gold Certification Awarded to Environmental Research and Educational Center on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; Grand Bay Coastal Resources Center’s architecture teaches about sustainable design

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The Grand Bay NEER, an isolated reserve on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, comprises some 18,000 acres of marsh, waters and coastal wetlands that are home to several rare plant and animal species as well as numerous commercial and recreational fish species. The land is owned and jointly managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR). Through its research and educational outreach efforts, the new facility supports the NERR’s charter to promote stewardship of coastal resources using
an integrated program of research, long-term monitoring, training and education. And, it does much more.

“Our new facility is one of the greenest buildings in the state of Mississippi, but even more important, it demonstrates our philosophy of environmental consciousness and shows visitors how natural building materials and sustainable design strategies and techniques can be used,” said David Ruple, Grand Bay NEER manager.

To that end, the building itself is “a green demonstration facility that teaches through its architecture what sustainable design is about, showing how to develop land responsibly in sensitive areas,” said Jim Nicolow, director of sustainability at Lord, Aeck & Sargent.

To begin with, the Center was constructed on a previously developed part of the reserve in order to reduce site impact. Because it is located in a hurricane-prone area – floodwaters approximately 10 feet high covered the site during Hurricane Katrina – the building is elevated 19.5 feet above sea level on a framework of galvanized steel trusses that sit atop pilings. Nicolow said this is a more environmentally friendly solution than bringing in dirt fill to raise the site, which would have altered its natural hydrology.

Center saves on water and energy

Water conservation and energy savings were important drivers in the building’s design. According to Nicolow, the Center is projected to use 76 percent less potable water and 53.5 percent less energy than comparable conventional buildings.

To save on water, rainwater falling on the roof is collected in two 6,500-gallon cisterns and used for toilet flushing and washing salt water from the research boats used by the Center’s staff. Nitrogen loading from failing septic systems represents a key environmental threat to the estuary. The Center boasts a greener alternative to conventional septic systems: an on-site, self-contained bio-filtration wastewater system that can treat up to 1,200 gallons of water daily

uses aerobic bacteria to treat the building’s wastewater to tertiary standards. Porous paving systems reduce stormwater runoff, and a series of rain gardens collects excess runoff, helping to reduce soil erosion and the spread of pollutants.

Other water saving features include dual-flush toilets, low-flow faucets, waterless urinals, and restored native pine savanna landscaping surrounding the facility.

The building features several energy reduction strategies and technologies, beginning with its solar orientation. The larger expanses of eye-level windows and upper clerestories are directed to the north and south in order to reduce summer solar heat gains. Tilted awnings on the east and west windows block direct sunlight and control glare, while horizontal sunscreens and roof overhangs help shade the south-facing glass.

Inside, natural light floods 86 percent of the Center’s routinely occupied spaces, with lighting controls harvesting the energy savings by automatically turning off artificial lighting. Operable windows coupled with an innovative “mini-split” air conditioning system allow individual control of comfort in the offices while helping to reduce energy used for air conditioning. A Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) with energy recovery efficiently provides fresh air to the Center’s occupants. The building’s high reflectance Energy Star metal roof reduces excess heat accumulation and was designed at an angle to accommodate a future solar panel array the Center plans to purchase with funds it has applied for through a federal Coastal Improvement Assistance Program.

For more information about the Grand Bay Coastal Resources Center and for hi-resolution photography, contact annielk@bellsouth.net.

Photos copyright 2009 Jonathan Hillyer / Atlanta

More information can be found online at http://www.lordaecksargent.com

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