Green Globes/Alberici Case Study - First U.S. Building to Achieve Four Green Globes

Alberici Corporation Headquarters

Green Globes™ Case Study

LOCATION: St. Louis, Missouri
FLOOR SPACE: 110,000 ft2
BUDGET: $29M USD
CONSTRUCTION DATES: September 2003 to December 2004
OWNER: Alberici Redevelopment Corporation
ARCHITECT: Mackey Mitchell Associates
SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT/ DESIGN MANAGER: Vertegy
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Alper-Audi, Inc.
DESIGN-BUILD MECHANICAL/PLUMBING: Corrigan Company
DESIGN-BUILD ELECTRICAL: Guarantee Electrical Company
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Alberici Constructors, Inc.

Design Achieved Four Globes

In recognition of leadership in the incorporation of energy and
environmental considerations in the planning and construction of this
building.

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PROJECT NOTES

The Alberici Corporation Headquarters is a two-story, 110,000- square-foot Class-A office building in St. Louis, Missouri.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Integrated Design Process (IDP)
• Emphasis on IDP during design development and during integrated project delivery
• Green design facilitation supported aggressive goal setting and
integration of energy and environmental considerations throughout the
design stages

Environmental Purchasing
• Green specifications incorporated (e.g. 100% synthetic Gyp-board, ELMS50 roof membrane, Plyboo, Wheatstalk)
• Environmental purchasing has been integrated, including the procurement of energy-saving, high-efficiency equipment

Commissioning Plan
• Best-practice project commissioning plan includes:
• Engagement of Commissioning Authority
• Review of Design Intent and Basis of Design documentation
• Development of Commissioning Plan

SITE

Development Area
• Constructed on existing serviced site (former steel works)
• Constructed on remediated, previously contaminated land
• Minimization of Ecological Impact
• Best management practices control site erosion
• At least 50% of impervious surfaces shaded to avoid creating a heat island
• Roof is Energy Star compliant; high albedo materials on 100% of the roof surface reflect heat and avoid creating a heat island
• Exterior lighting unobtrusive to preserve nocturnal sky

Enhancement of Watershed Features
• Storm water run-off controlled to prevent damage to the building and vegetation, and to minimize run-off into waterways
• Storm water control plan designed to achieve a 90% decrease in storm water run-off
• Run-off from the roof will be controlled and directed to a pervious
area and two high clay content lined ponds, which retain 100% of rain
water

Enhancement of Site Ecology
• Site-planning documents specify a native prairie planted with trees, grasses and wildflowers indigenous to the region

ENERGY

Building Energy Performance
• Building projected to be 45% more energy-efficient than reference EPA
Energy Star Target Finder building; energy targets are reportedly being
met

Space Optimization
• Floor area optimized to efficiently fulfill functional and spatial
requirements while minimizing the amount of space to be heated and
cooled (e.g. non-leasable footage under stairs is used for storage;
core elements are located in the building center and all elements of
like function stacked on top of each other)

Microclimate and Topography
• Building oriented on site to optimize the effect of microclimatic conditions for heating or cooling
• Design maximizes opportunities for natural ventilation

Integration of Daylighting
• Daylighting is optimized through building orientation and window-to-wall size ratios
• Indicated visible transmittance (VT) of window glazing 0.2
• Electrical lighting integrated with daylighting, taking into account daily and seasonal variations

Building Envelope
• Thermal resistance of exterior enclosure meets Building Energy Code
levels; thermal resistance of R19 for exterior wall and R30 for the roof
• Window glazing with a low U value and window treatments enhance
interior thermal comfort; indicated U value of window glazing 0.31
• Measures to prevent groundwater and/or rain penetration into the
building (best air/vapor barrier practices optimize building integrity;
air barrier materials meet local and national building code
requirements)

Energy Metering
• Sub-metering for major energy uses (e.g. chillers, boilers, VFDs, hot water heaters, lighting)

Energy-efficient Systems
• Energy-efficient equipment includes high-efficiency lighting
fixtures, lamps with step ballast, lighting controls/occupancy sensors,
HVAC equipment with under-floor system and heat recovery, humidity
control and both airside and waterside economizer, boilers (modulating
or condensing), chillers, hot water service systems, building
automation systems and elevators

Renewable Energy Sources
• Renewable energy sources to supply more than 20% of total load;
design includes a solar preheat system for 95% of hot water and a 65kW
wind turbine for 18% of the facility's energy needs

Energy-efficient Transportation
• Easily accessible public transportation; carpooling and/or public
transport accommodated on-site; preferred parking for car/van pooling
and shelter
• Secure bicycle parking and changing facilities

WATER

Water Performance
• Water consumption target of 70% reduction, or less than 0.9 gallons/ft2/year

Water Conserving Features
• Minimal consumption of potable water; total water consumption is
metered and sub-meters will be provided for high water-usage operations
or occupancies
• Minimal use of water for cooling towers
• Specified landscaping uses plants that are able to withstand extreme local weather conditions and require no irrigation

RESOURCES, BUILDING MATERIALS AND SOLID WASTE

Systems and Materials with Low Environmental Impact
• Specifications process included life cycle assessment of
environmental burden and embodied energy of foundations and floor
assembly, column and beam or post and beam combinations, walls and roof
assembly

Materials that Minimize Consumption of Resources
• Reused building materials and components (e.g. 65KW wind turbine,
structural steel beams, sheet pile, concrete pre-cast panels, granite
countertops)
• 28% of the building materials used have recycled content
• Materials from renewable sources and/or locally manufactured are
specified and have undergone life cycle assessment; 5% of materials are
rapidly renewable including Woodstalk, Plyboo, ELMS50 and cork; 57% are
locally manufactured, 52% of which are extracted locally
• Solid lumber and timber panel products will originate from certified and sustainable sources; no tropical hardwoods used

Reuse of Existing Building
• At least 50% of the previous existing roof frame is reused

Building Durability, Adaptability and Disassembly
• Building assemblies and materials specified for their durability and
low maintenance (e.g. steel, pre-cast concrete, glass, brick,
galvanized steel panels)
• Design, selection of materials and fastenings allow for easy disassembly

Reuse and Recycling of Construction/Demolition Waste
• Construction, demolition and renovation waste management plan; 93% of
construction waste diverted from landfill; management of all
construction waste carried out according to the plan

Facilities for Recycling and Composting
• 300 ft designated for the storage of recyclable waste

EMISSIONS, EFFLUENTS AND OTHER IMPACTS

Minimization of Air Emissions
• Low-NOx boilers and furnaces (i.e. heat input of 1,200,000 BTU/hour)

Minimization of Ozone-depletion
• Refrigeration system avoids ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and
potent industrial greenhouse gases; ozone-depleting potential of
refrigerant equal to 0

Control of Surface Run-off and Prevention of Sewer Contamination
• Measures taken to intercept and/or treat contaminated water to
prevent pollutants including toxic materials, oils and suspended
materials from entering sewers and waterways

Pollution Minimization
• Compliant storage tanks will prevent soil and surface water contamination materials

Storage and Control of Hazardous Materials
• Secure, appropriately ventilated areas for storage of hazardous and flammable materials

INDOOR ENVIRONMENT

Effective Ventilation System
• Air intakes and outlets positioned at least 32 feet apart and inlets will not be downwind of outlets
• Air intakes located more than 60 feet from major sources of pollution
and at least the minimum recommended distances from lesser sources

• Sufficient ventilation provided to obtain an acceptable IAQ, in
accordance with ANSI/ASHRAE 62.1-2004 using the Ventilation Rate Design
Procedure; reported design ventilation rate is 53 cfm/person
• Mechanical systems provide effective air exchange (i.e. compliance to
ASHRAE completed ADPI calculations for each major space in accordance
to ASHRAE 2001 fundamentals chapter 32)
• Indoor air monitored for CO2
• Mechanical ventilation system capable of flushing the building with 100% outside air at ambient temperatures above 32°F
• Filters with minimum efficiency of 65% arrestance or 40% atmospheric
dust-spot efficiency for air distributed to occupied spaces

Source Control of Indoor Pollutants
• Measures taken to minimize accumulation of moisture and prevent
growth of fungus, mold, and bacteria (mold was professionally
remediated during construction; moisture is controlled through good
envelope and cooling/dehumidification)
• Easy access to the Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) to facilitate
their maintenance and drainage to avoid the accumulation of debris
• Humidifiers specified to avoid the growth of microorganisms (i.e. compliance with ASHRAE 55-1992)
• Measures taken to avoid pollution at source (e.g. print rooms,
chemical storage areas and restrooms ventilated directly outside the
building)
• Wet cooling towers designed and located to avoid the risk of Legionella
• Domestic hot water system designed to prevent the occurrence of Legionella
• Interior materials specified that are low-VOC emitting, nontoxic, and
chemically inert (e.g. paints, caulks, adhesives, composite wood and
carpets specified to be low or no VOC)

Daylighting
• Direct ambient daylight to 80% of primary spaces
• Ambient natural lighting achieving a daylight factor of 0.2 for work
places and or living/dining areas requiring moderate daylighting, and
0.5 for well day-lit work areas
• Views to the building exterior or atria from all primary interior spaces

Lighting Design
• Measures taken to ensure that spaces are free of excessive direct or
reflected glare, as defined in IESNA RP-5, 1999, Recommended Practice
of Daylighting
• Design integrates local lighting controls related to room occupancy,
circulation space, daylighting and the number of workstations in office
areas

Green Globes Rating

Alberici Corporation Headquarters achieved an overall rating of 93%.