Group Goetz Architects Becomes First Design Firm in Washington, Dc to Receive Leed® Platinum Certification for Its Office
Designated as One of Six Design Firms Nationally for Platinum LEED CI 2.0
NEWS RELEASE… 1/14/10
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lauren Searl (202) 777-0493
Group Goetz Architects (GGA) announced today that it has been awarded LEED Platinum Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for the design of its corporate offices at 2900 K Street in Washington DC’s Georgetown neighborhood. As the first Washington-based design firm to achieve this prestigious designation, GGA continues to serve as a sustainability leader by incorporating sustainable design principles into each of its projects. GGA has taken the lead on sustainable workplace design by achieving LEED Platinum Certification—practicing what it preaches: to provide its employees and clients with highly efficient, healthy workplaces that reduce our carbon footprint.
“GGA’s LEED Platinum certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and GGA serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish.”
To establish its continued commitment to green building, GGA’s design compliments the evolving culture of the American workplace. The new, 16,000 SF office has a completely open floor plan zoned by a “main boulevard”, which runs the full length of the office. This spine separates a high-tech conference center, library and employee lounge from the firm’s design studio. The studio contains spacious communal workspaces for both executives and staff that encourage employee communication and peer relationship building. The firm’s employees enjoy the benefit of 100% natural light penetration as well as day light controlled lighting and individual temperature controls. The open layout and glass exterior also lower energy consumption by reducing the need for artificial and engineered lighting. To improve accessibility to alternative transportation, GGA employees enjoy access to metro, car sharing, shuttle service and bike racks. Staff also have access to a state of the art health club facility and subsidized health food vending machines.
“LEED Platinum certification further demonstrates our commitment to sustainable environments for our employees and clients alike,” said Lewis J. Goetz, FAIA, FIIDA, president and CEO, Group Goetz Architects. “We are proud to lead this charge and encourage others to improve their social, ecological and financial performance by greening their spaces.”
LEED Platinum is the highest level of certification given through a rating system that measures how well a project performs across all of the metrics that matter most: energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other innovative sustainable strategies. Platinum certification requires 42 points or more—GGA achieved 43 points for its design. LEED certification of GGA’s office was based on a number of green design features. The design recognizes that building materials—and the energy required to extract or create them—are not infinite and must be carefully considered throughout the lifecycle of the space. These features include:
Site Selection: 5 points
The site and building incorporated the following sustainable concepts:
- Located in a dense urban area
- Accessible public transportation
- Provided bicycle storage and showers
- Encourage public transportation by providing limited parking
- All building parking is underground
Water Efficiency: 2 points
GGA retrofitted the building bathrooms to incorporate water saving devices that are 20% more efficient
Energy + Atmosphere: 8 points
- Reduced lighting power by more than 35% through energy efficient lighting and lower lighting density
- State of the art lighting controls that are influenced by sunlight and occupancy reduce energy consumption
- Enhanced commissioning to ensure building systems are operating at optimal efficiency
Materials + Resources: 11 points
- GGA committed to a lease of 10 years or more
- Recycled more than 75% of our construction waste
- Reused more than 10% of construction items from previous space
- Reused more than 30% of existing furniture and furnishings
- More than 20% of materials had post-consumer recycled content
- More than 10% of materials were manufactured regionally within a radius of 500 miles
- Certified wood was used on millwork
Indoor Environmental Quality: 12 points
- Monitor carbon dioxide levels
- Monitored and controlled indoor air quality during construction
- Used low emitting VOC in adhesives and sealants, paint, furniture and seating and laminate adhesives
- Used controllable task lighting
- Used individual controllable personal comfort unit for temperature and ventilation
- Provide daylight and views to over 90% of seated spaces
Innovation + Design Process: 5
- Exemplary performance of using over 79% of existing furniture
- Provided tours and sustainability brochures to visitors and staff outlining the green elements of the space
- Light fixtures within the suite include reduced mercury lamps
- LEED accredited professional led and monitored the sustainable effort
- Exemplary performance of using over 58% of resources from the previous office
GGA would like to recognize the team responsible for this award-winning design:
Lewis J. Goetz, FAIA, FIIDA, President and CEO; Elizabeth Cockerham, Chief Administrative Officer; Mansour Maboudian, LEED AP, Principal, Director of Sustainable Design; Rina H.K. Li, LEED AP, Associate, Project Design Leader; Amber Kwasniewski, Project Designer; Laura Madge, Project Designer; Joseph Siewers, LEED AP, Sustainability Coordinator; Gweneth Kovar, LEED AP, Sustainability Coordinator; Max Kun Zhang, LEED AP, Project Designer and Photographer; Bill Eklund, LEED AP, LEED Administrator, Dietze Construction Group; Charles J. Szollosy, PE, LEED AP, CS Consulting Engineers, Inc. and Ryan Meitzler, Mechanical Engineer, C.S.C.E.
Office photos are available online at www.gga.com.
For interviews, photos or additional information, please contact Lauren Searl.
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Group Goetz Architects, a nationally recognized architectural design firm, is headquartered in Washington, DC, providing design excellence and innovation to its public and private sector clients. GGA is known for its quality design and forward thinking in the development of high-performance, flexible and dynamic building environments balancing image, function and financial resources. For more information, contact Lauren Searl at 202.777.0493 or lsearl@gga.com.