Commercial facility is Wisconsin’s 11th LEED Platinum NC certified building
BROOKFIELD, Wis.–February 16, 2011–ESI (Environmental Systems, Inc.), Hunzinger Construction, Sustainable Building Solutions and Stephen Perry Smith Architects announced today that its Gateway West Sustainable I office building project received LEED Platinum NC (new construction) certification. LEED Platinum certification is the highest certification level under the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) green building program. Located in Brookfield’s Gateway West Commerce Center, Gateway West Sustainable I joins 10 other buildings in Wisconsin that have also achieved the LEED Platinum NC certification.
ESI, Hunzinger Construction, Sustainable Building Solutions and Stephen Perry Smith Architects worked in collaboration, following the LEED protocol, when undertaking the design and construction of the new facility. This process included extensive life-cycle cost evaluation during the design phase. A high-performance building envelope, high-efficiency mechanical system, lighting control system, and a fully-integrated building monitoring and automation system contributed to the building’s high-efficiency energy performance. From an energy performance standpoint, the facility is 44 percent more efficient than current building codes require.
“Through real-time tracking of cost savings and measurement of key performance metrics, this building demonstrates every day that sustainability and profitability are not mutually exclusive when using efficient, intelligent design while remaining focused on business value,” Stephen Perry Smith Architects Matt Mano says.
Sustainability features include incorporating salvaged and recycled construction materials, maximizing natural light usage via windows and light tubes, and minimizing water usage via high-efficiency plumbing fixtures and drought-tolerant native landscaping.
“LEED buildings are high design,” says James Hunzinger, executive vice president/LEED AP at Hunzinger Construction. “The LEED process drives an integrated design and construction process that yields high-performance buildings that are economical to operate, more comfortable for its occupants, and in harmony with the environment that they occupy.”
“These attributes are both tangible and measureable,” he adds. “Collaboration during the design and construction of Gateway West Sustainable I produced a showcase for practical sustainability, which centers on efficient use of resources impacting bottom-line returns.”
At the beginning of the project, the team set criteria that all design decisions resulting in LEED credits, energy efficiency and sustainability had to achieve a simple payback of 10 years or less.
“The fact that we achieved a Platinum rating, while adhering to these criteria proves that efficiency and sustainability can be done in a way that provides bottom-line value to the business,” according to Paul Oswald, president of ESI. “We set out to make this building a working example for other businesses in the areas of practical design, efficient operation, and intelligently applied technology that produce tangible, bottom-line cost benefits for our business and a significantly lower environmental impact.”
ESI provides performance-building solutions for control and automation, systems integration, security, life safety, advanced software applications, energy services and building operations. ESI’s solutions reduce operating costs, improve sustainability and provide a positive return on investment. Visit ThinkESI.com for more information.
Hunzinger Construction Company is a 103-year-old, third-generation, family-owned business deeply rooted in tradition and dedication. Hunzinger is an experienced construction management, general contracting, and design/build firm. As one of the oldest contracting firms in the Midwest, our company delivers quality, stability, and experience. All of our project management, pre-construction and estimating staff are LEED Accredited Professionals.
Sustainable Building Solutions is a value-driven green advisory firm that champions comprehensive, triple-bottom-line results for building owners, designers, and tenants. Our team of experienced LEED Accredited Professionals assist clients with the identification and implementation of project-specific strategies to facilitate sustainability objectives.
Stephen Perry Smith Architects is a full-service architecture, planning, interior design, and LEED consulting firm located in Waukesha Wisconsin. The firm is comprised of passionate individuals that support the goals of providing economical and environmentally friendly design to our clients.
