The minimized parking area requirement provided an opportunity to reduce the footprint of the below-grade level, which provided significant savings in the costs for excavation and temporary soil shoring. Due to the large footprint and the reduced parking requirements for the Station - located near the light rail station - it was not necessary to utilize the entire footprint for parking for the residential and retail areas. With the responsiveness of each individual, the roadblocks usually associated with design/construction revisions quickly dissipated and, as a result, the team effort paid off.Ī project of this size and type typically consists of one to two concrete levels of below-grade parking, one concrete level of at-grade retail (possibly combined with parking, depending on the building footprint), and five stories of wood framed residential space. However, it didn’t take long to realize that the entire design/construction team on this project had a focus toward building the project with an eye for cost-savings. As a result, nobody wants to stir the pot with cost-saving suggestions. It is not uncommon for a project to be built strictly based on the original design or bid, likely because revisions often result in longer lead and approval times or increased construction costs. Several opportunities for positive impact on these parameters as it relates to sustainability quickly emerged. Working together, the team identified key areas that affected the project’s value either by reducing construction cost, reducing construction risk, reducing lifecycle cost, or increasing project value. While the team discussed LEED goals, economic requirements were a priority. Designing and delivering a sustainable project is not just about adhering to a point system but looking deeper for resources that can be used efficiently and in innovative ways.Īt the first design meeting with the architect, contractor, and developer, it was clear that all team members were committed to being involved and working together from start to finish. As a result, the project team had to find other ways to embody the notion of sustainability.īy the end of the design and construction process, not only did the team attain the LEED accreditation goals, but also saved the project construction time and money.
Certified lumber, one of the contributors for LEED accreditation, is not cost-effective for framing on this size of project and there is only so much you can do with concrete to improve the sustainability (for example, increasing fly-ash content, using local materials, or using tested non-potable water). Due to the nature of this type of structure, LEED accreditation is often difficult to attain. From a structural engineering perspective, the building was pretty conventional: five stories of wood framing over three stories of concrete.
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