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Sited on 31 acres of the Chesapeake Bay shoreline in Annapolis, Md., the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) new headquarters, stands as a global model of energy conservation and sustainable building techniques. The Center earned the highest rating of any office facility by the U.S. Green Building Council, making this facility the nation’s “greenest” office building. A corporate supporter of CBF, Clark Construction Group, LLC recently completed construction of the $7.2 million, 32,000-square-foot facility. A. James Clark was recognized at the dedication for the company’s longstanding support.
U.S. Green Building Council’s Platinum Award
Owned by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and designed by SmithGroup of Washington, D.C., both groups embraced the “cradle-to-cradle” philosophy, which emphasizes the use of materials that are recycled, recyclable, or both. The CBF created the Center, a 32,000-square-foot office building as home to its 90-person headquarters staff (previously spread over four buildings) as well as an education and training center for students and volunteers. Based on a unique building philosophy, the Center features a wide array of features, modern and ancient, complex and simple, to reduce the negative environmental impacts normally associated with office buildings. The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Environmental Engineering Design (LEED) implements a rating system that provides direction and definition for sustainable design and construction. To date, the Philip Merrill Center has received the only platinum rating from the Council.
The building cost approximately $6.3 million; with parking, landscaping and decking the Center’s cost is $7.2 million. Although unconventional products were used to construct the facility, the costs associated with the sustainable design were not prohibitive. The Center cost $199 per square foot, with “green” design features accounting for $46 of the $199. The building is truly an extension of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s mission to save the environment.
Reduce, Re-use and Restore
Every aspect of the building was designed to reflect CBF’s mission to “Save the Bay” through resource restoration and protection, environmental advocacy and education. For example, the building’s beams are parallam-strand lumber, which is constructed from new growth, regenerable wood. Concrete from demolition of the site’s previous buildings is now being used in roadbeds. Natural ventilation takes advantage of the bay breezes to cool the building without relying completely on air conditioning. When sensors determine the outdoor climate is suitable, the mechanical system shuts down and motor-operated windows open. Computerized lights tell employees when, in the interest of energy efficiency, they should open or close windows. Approximately 30% of the building’s energy load is provided through building-integrated or directly connected renewable energy sources. Solar panels provide electricity and hot water for showers and laundry. Substitutions for materials and systems were not acceptable unless they met strict environmentally friendly standards.
In addition to the architect, the project team included Synthesis, Inc. of Columbia, Md., project manager; Shemro Engineering, Inc. of Bethesda, Md., structural engineer; Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. of Laurel, Md., civil engineer; Karene Motivans of Shepherdstown, W. Va., environmental consultant, site master planner and landscape designer; and J. Harrison, Architect of Annapolis, Md., LEED documentation and consultant. SmithGroup also designed the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.
Clark Construction Group, LLC is headquartered in Bethesda, Md.
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