** to view live
building data. *Click
Here* to download the press
release. ** to view News
Channel 8 video.
Florida's
First "Net Zero" Energy Commerical Building
U.S. Green Building Council - LEED
Gold Design
to see this player.
P
R O J E C T O V E R V I E W
As an intervention
in an environment without any sense of place or true historical
president, style and form become dictated by the sustainable
functions of the facility as well as the operational activities
of the occupants. Programmatic flexibility of both private
(interior) and public (exterior) spaces weaves the project
into the local community fabric by providing a place for events
that can develop its identity over time. Re-evaluating the
“standard business model” coincides with the organization
of spatial relationships made possible by recent technological
equipment. The goal of the project is to redefine the model
of sustainable design for small commercial buildings in a
typical suburban American context. The design of this flagship
branch of the recently re-branded credit union aligns with
the client’s mission of financial education and environmental
awareness.
R
A I N W A T E R H A R V E S T I N G
To harvest rainwater,
a multiple-cistern collection system will support both water
closets and drip irrigation. With rain water reuse and low flow
fixtures, calculations show the building will use 80% less potable
water than a conventional design. The landscape design utilizes
“Florida-friendly” plants that require minimal irrigation.
Three 3,500 gallon cisterns will supply the site’s high-efficiency
drip irrigation system with harvested rain water, therefore,
eliminating potable water for irrigation.
P
H O T O V O L T A I C B L A N K E T
The
roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) system is design to produce
116% of the facility’s estimated energy requirement,
qualifying the design at NET ZERO. The “blankets”
of PV modules are significantly elevated above the solar reflective
roof membrane. This creates a double roof condition that dissipates
direct solar heat gain as well as the operating heat of the
PV modules through natural convection between the two roof
layers.
O
P E N D E S I G N A N D
D E L I V E R Y
Large overhangs, exterior sunshades, and interior “clouds”
diffuse the natural daylight that enters through the clerestory.
The insulated Low-E glass pairs minimal solar heat gain
with optimal visible light transmittance. The interior lighting
system includes digital controls and photo sensors that
automatically dim when natural daylight sufficiently illuminates
a space. The open building plan maximizes both daylighting
and views and is also directly related to the credit union's
new service delivery concept.
In contrast to the wall of teller windows, cubicles, and
private offices that have been used in the client's previous
branches, employees will use wireless tablet PCs so that
they can sit down with members in comfortable cafe style
seating to discuss their financial business. Corporate education
will cross-train all employees at this location to reduce
the number of specialized employees required for operation,
thus minimizing private offices. "Member Rooms"
act as small teleconference rooms providing privacy when
needed.
S
I T E C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S
The
previously developed site is located just outside the city
limits of Lakeland in a primarily sub-urban residential area.
An existing 998 square foot ice cream shop occupies the site
with excess paved parking and area for storm water retention.
High tension power lines traverse the site creating a 100’
wide utility easement limiting the potential area for new
construction. The project is designed to wrap around the ice
cream shop, increasing the area’s development density
while minimizing changes to infrastructure and local traffic
patterns. Preserving the existing building can not only be
seen as diverting 100% of its materials from disposal in landfills
through building reuse, but more importantly maintaining current
jobs for its employees and a service to local residents. A
traffic study proved that each business’s peak hours
of operation were antonymic to the other. The credit union
is open until 6:00 pm during the weekdays and Saturday mornings,
and the ice cream shop thrives in the evenings and on weekends.
The cohesive design increases cooling efficiency by reducing
each structure’s exposure to the Florida climate. While
only minor cosmetic changes will be made to the ice cream
shop, the finished project will portray two buildings, two
businesses embracing each other in a symbiotic relationship.
Additional
Information
** to view live
building data and more information on its
sustainable features. *Click
Here* to download formal the press
release. ** to view video report by Jennifer
Lee of WFLA - News Channel 8. *Click
Here* to read more about Straughn Trout's
sustainable design services.
