Arkansas senior activity center earns LEED certification

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification of the Van Buren Senior Activity Center. With the assistance of Viridian, a Little Rock, Arkansas-based LEED consulting firm, the building was awarded certified level of certification under the LEED for New Construction rating system.

The Van Buren Senior Activity Center is a 12,277-square-foot, multi-functional facility, serving as a community resource for Van Buren, Arkansas, residents. The facility includes a large cafeteria and kitchen, an exercise room, computer room, library, quilting room, pool room and offices as well as a large storm shelter at the back of the building.

“The LEED certification of the Van Buren Senior Activity Center is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of all members of the project team,” says Meredith Hendricks, sustainability project manager at Viridian. “The city of Van Buren should be commended for their outstanding commitment to the community by creating a healthy facility and improving the local environment all with an efficient use of resources.”

LEED is a voluntary third-party verified green building rating system that addresses the site, water, energy, materials, and indoor environmental quality of the facility. The LEED certification of the senior activity center was based on achievements that have a positive impact on the facility itself, its employees, and the broader community. Some of these achievements include:

• More than 90 percent of the total waste generated during construction of the Van Buren Senior Activity Center was diverted away from landfills, allowing for the recovery of recyclable and reusable materials.
• Of the materials used in construction: over 10 percent contained recycled content and at least 10 percent were both extracted and manufactured from within 500 miles of the project site.
• 30 percent reduction of potable water over a baseline modeled comparison due to efficient shower, faucet, toilet, and urinal fixtures.
• 16 percent energy efficiency improvement over a baseline modeled comparison to a similar building constructed to the energy efficiency standard of ASHRAE 90.1-2007. These savings can be attributed to efficient interior and exterior lighting, improved HVAC systems, building envelope upgrades, and efficient hot water heating.
• To provide for continued energy and operational efficiency, all energy systems have undergone fundamental and enhanced commissioning. This process prevents the excessive use of energy while reducing Greenhouse emissions.

Preferred parking spaces and a preferred drop-off location for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles were implemented to help minimize pollution associated with traditional automobile use.

Interior paints and coatings, adhesives and sealants, and flooring systems contained minimal or no Volatile Organic Content (VOC)

“With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer USGBC’s vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation,” says Rick Federizzi, USGBC president, CEO and founding chair. “As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, the Van Buren Senior Activity Center is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement.”

The Van Buren Senior Activity Center was designed by MAHG Architecture and constructed by Crawford Construction. Viridian provided LEED consulting, fundamental and enhanced commissioning, energy modeling, and indoor air quality testing services.