Sustainable Building and BIM: Massive Government Office One of Best in Nation

By Zach Mortice

Commissioned in the depths of the Great Recession, Federal Center South, the Army Corp of Engineers’ regional headquarters in Seattle, was funded by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. But stimulus money came with big strings attached—namely strenuous requirements that it had to be built very, very quickly and very, very sustainably.

CAD News & Tips for Govies 5/15

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These and other stories are featured in this week’s CAD News & Tips for Govies is a weekly feature on Acronym that scans thousands of industry articles to present you with a regular source of CAD and GIS news, tips, events, and ideas that impact the public sector:

To Upgrade Now, or Upgrade Later? That is the Question

Green Building Gets Easier with New Tools

When the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) wanted to renovate the Martin Luther King, Jr., federal building (MLK) in downtown Atlanta, a Depression-era building that originally served as the central postal facility for the Southeast, sustainability was an important part of the process. The $62 million renovation and rehabilitation of the MLK building, overseen by architecture firm Lord, Aeck & Sargent, was completed in 2011 and achieved LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Follow the Lead with LEED

With eco-friendly practices being a preference all around the world in every industry - state, local, and federal government should be setting the example to achieve energy cost-saving tactics in their facilities, communities, and environment. According to epa.gov, “Energy used by commercial and industrial buildings in the United States is responsible for nearly 50 percent of our national emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that contribute to global climate change.”

How Green are Your State Buildings? Meet the Top 10 States for LEED Buildings

You may not be surprised to hear that Washington, D.C. leads the nation when it comes to green buildings. According to a report released this month by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Washington, D.C. has the most LEED-certified commercial and institutional buildings in the U.S. In fact, Washington, D.C. had more than 31 square feet of LEED-certified space per person in 2011. “This is a great accomplishment for the D.C. metropolitan region and a testament to the drive, commitment and leadership of all those who live, work and play in our community,” said Mike Babcock, board chair of the National Capital Region Chapter of USGBC. “We also realize there is still more to do and hope to effectively guide the effort by engaging, educating and encouraging the dialogue around the value of sustainability."

Building Energy Modeling –3 Essential Resources for the Public Sector

Energy modeling is a hot topic in new construction projects as well as building retrofit, renovation and facility management. Federal, state and local governments are not only holding private firm construction to higher green standards, but the public sector overall is getting increased pressure to obtain higher LEED ratings and to produce high-rating energy proficiency analysis. (Read more in our earlier article: GSA Moves to LEED Gold for All New Federal Buildings and Major Renovations) If you’re a stranger to energy modeling, green building, or sustainable design, here are three resources that can help bring you quickly up to speed on mandates, implementation tips, and future of sustainable buildings.

GSA Moves to LEED Gold for All New Federal Buildings and Major Renovations

Over the past several years, substantial regulation has been passed mandating the “greening” of federal government buildings. Last month was no exception and saw the declaration of a new “gold” standard. In late October 2010, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) issued a new mandate requiring that all federal building construction projects and “substantial” renovation projects achieve a minimum LEED Gold certification in their quest to improve energy efficiency. Leadership in Environmental Efficiency Design (LEED) is an internationally recognized and widely-accepted third party green building certification program, established by the U.S. Green Building Council, that determines the energy efficiency and sustainability of building projects.