Saturday, August 27, 2011

Island Gateway takes the LEED: KiDiMu gets silver - Bainbridge Island Review

By JESSICA HOCH
Bainbridge Island Review Staff Writer

Aug 26 2011


The Island Gateway project is raising the bar for green building in Kitsap County.

The Kids Discovery Museum was recently stamped with the green building seal of approval with a LEED (eldership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, which serves as the benchmark for eco-friendly building. The museum achieved the silver certification, which makes it one of the first buildings in Kitsap County to receive simultaneous interior and exterior ratings.

Eventually all eight projects in the gateway project will be LEED certified, according to Asani's project manager Craden Henderson, which will make it one of the first complexes in Kitsap County and the state to do so.

"With LEED Silver certification, the building itself becomes a learning opportunity and an example of good stewardship of the environment," said KiDiMu's Board President Diane Crowder.

The certification is a national building design standard created by the nonprofit trade organization the U.S. Green Building Council, and was created for better environmental and health performance standards. It rates design, construction and operation of buildings in a host of categories such as new building, core & shell and several others.

The KiDiMu certification is the first of the Island Gateway project, and the other buildings are expected to follow suit as construction finishes. The tenants inside the complex had the option to pursue LEED certification for their building interiors individually.

LEED is a point-based system where building projects earn points for specific building criteria. The number of points determines the level of certification the project receives. A building that is LEED "certified" is the lowest rank followed by silver, gold and platinum as the most prestigious.

With KiDiMu's silver certification, for both the core and shell and the commercial interior, the museum will add to its curriculum. Krzysztofa McDonough, communications and marketing coordinator. said the museum will add a self-guided "Green LEED Tour" to showcase initiatives such as the building's "living roof" and compost systems.

Last Saturday, KiDiMu celebrated the double certification by offering $1 off admission price for attendees who walked or biked. That day, 72 percent of museum guests walked or traveled by a "parent-operated vehicle" (stroller), according to McDonough.

KiDiMu's walkable location from both the ferry and town center; its water and energy saving design; and use of recycled and non-toxic building materials all played a role in the certification, according to Susan Sivitz, the museum's executive director.

"It is fun for tenants who have an interest in the environment since we've basically created a core building that allows them to have a really sustainable interior if they are interested," said Henderson. "Right now the Bainbridge Art Museum building is slated to receive a gold certification, which speaks to how hard they worked on their sustainability initiatives to use products without harmful chemicals, create efficient lighting, etc."

Henderson said that although LEED is a wonderful standard for buildings, Asani tries to do more than just comply with criteria. He estimated that 98 percent of everything that came off the Island Gateway site, including some 2,000 tires, was recycled to avoid the landfill. With such close proximity to the ravine near State Route 305, Henderson said it represented a unique challenge.

"We put in some pretty extensive measures to ensure that the water quality entering the ravine is significantly better when it enters the sound," said Henderson. "Most developers can tell you, they haven't been able to figure that one out," said Henderson.

According to the Green Building Council the cost per square foot for buildings seeking LEED certification falls into the existing range of building costs, and that building sale prices for energy efficient buildings are as much as 10 percent higher, per square foot, than conventional buildings. One 2008 study said LEED buildings command rent premiums of $11.33 per square foot over their non-LEED peers and have a 4.1 percent higher occupancy rate.

Many cities across the country encourage green building through their building permit process. Though Bainbridge has an incentive program for residential green building with the Housing Design Development Program (HDDP), it does not yet offer any for commercial development. Chris Wierzbicki said the city doesn't yet have any plans to develop a green commercial program.

Henderson said the team is energized to see the environmental planning payoff, and is confident that the remaining buildings will see either a gold or silver award.

"We are really proud of the group as a whole for the work that's been done," said Henderson.

Bainbridge Island Review Staff Writer Jessica Hoch can be reached at jhoch@bainbridgereview.com or (206) 842-6613.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

URBAN FARMING!

Here’s a fantastic article on innovative urban farming out of necessity.  It shows that food production certainly can take place close to home, with a little creativity!  With community garden spaces at the Grow Community we'll seek to nurture this kind of connection with our food supply within a communal, semi-urban setting!  It can be done!

Urban Farming Movement Sweeps Across Havana, Cuba Providing 50% of Fresh Food


by Helen Morgan, 08/18/11
Urban agriculture is a refreshing sign of people localizing food production by bringing it into the city. But in Havana, Cuba, the farming movement has evolved as an amazing response to the loss of food imports and agricultural inputs towards the end of last century. Following dramatic political changes, and the ensuing economic, ecological and social crisis, agrarian production was seen as key to food security. This movement towards urban cultivation systems continues to sweep across the city, and according to recent reports, now over 50 per cent of the city’s fresh produce is grown with its boundaries.


 

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

KiDiMu LEEDs THE WAY

Bainbridge Island’s Kids Discovery Museum Receives LEED® Silver Certification Award from the U.S. Green Building Council, Placing it Amongst the Nation’s Leading Buildings in Sustainable Design


Bainbridge Island, Washington - August 15, 2011  - The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has recognized the Kids Discovery Museum (KiDiMu) with a Silver certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The Museum now meets LEED Silver standards for both - Commercial Interiors, and Core and Shell. As part of the new Island Gateway cultural center, KiDiMu provides an outstanding play and learning environment for children in a facility that demonstrates smart and sustainable design and construction.

Designed, developed and built by Coates Design, Asani, and PHC Construction, the KiDiMu building provides an environmentally-healthy and ecologically-friendly public space for Bainbridge Island and visiting families alike.

The new facility not only enables the nonprofit children’s museum to be a sustainability leader and save money, but it also aligns with its mission to educate. This is such an exciting time for the Museum and our community. With LEED silver certification, the building itself becomes a learning opportunity and an example of good stewardship of the environment.” said KiDiMu’s board president Diane Crowder.

While discovering KiDiMu, families can explore various aspects of the building that make it earth-friendly. They can even take a self-guided “Green LEED Tour” of KiDiMu. In addition, many of the museum programs and camps feature the subject of environmental education. It is a delight to see families climb up the pathways to check how the rooftop garden is doing, or get visiting children excited about planting seeds or composting. In our new home, the lessons learned have a better chance to sink in,” Crowder added.

By using less energy and water, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

“The new building is a “smart” solution for KiDiMu, Bainbridge Island and the planet,” said Crowder. “The certification is a great honor and a “seal of approval” for a job well done. We feel fortunate to have had the community support and expertise of the Island Gateway team to help us succeed.” 

The KiDiMu building’s location, within a walking distance from the ferry and the center of town, its water and energy saving design, and recycled and non-toxic building materials all play a role in reaching LEED certification, which holds the highest national standard for building design that implements strategies for better environmental and health performance.

“We’re very excited about the LEED Silver rating for the KiDiMu.  This will make it one of the first buildings in Kitsap county to receive both the interior and exterior LEED rating.  There couldn’t be a better space for a kids museum!” said Asani project manager Craden Henderson.

As the Island Gateway moves forward in gaining LEED certification for all its buildings, including the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, KiDiMu’s LEED Silver award provides real satisfaction and encouragement for the Island Gateway team, and sets a standard for sustainable building design and development throughout the Bainbridge Island community.


Friday, August 12, 2011

Bicycles, Pie and Fresh Bread!

This Sunday is the annual Bike 4 Pie event on Bainbridge Island. Who doesn't love bicycles and pie!

To show our support of pedal power, the Grow Community has put together a team for the family ride! Riding a bike reduces the consumption of fossil fuels, while promoting a healthy lifestyle. That’s what the Grow Community is all about.

Also check out this great New York Times Opinion piece on the Dutch and their commitment to the bike.  Although it seems they prefer to bike for bread. Each to his own.

The Dutch Way: Bicycles and Fresh Bread

As an American who has been living here for several years, I am struck, every time I go home, by the way American cities remain manacled to the car. While Europe is dealing with congestion and greenhouse gas buildup by turning urban centers into pedestrian zones and finding innovative ways to combine driving with public transportation, many American cities are carving out more parking spaces. It’s all the more bewildering because America’s collapsing infrastructure would seem to cry out for new solutions. 

Geography partly explains the difference: America is spread out, while European cities predate the car. But Boston and Philadelphia have old centers too, while the peripheral sprawl in London and Barcelona mirrors that of American cities. 

More important, I think, is mind-set. Take bicycles. The advent of bike lanes in some American cities may seem like a big step, but merely marking a strip of the road for recreational cycling spectacularly misses the point. In Amsterdam, nearly everyone cycles, and cars, bikes and trams coexist in a complex flow, with dedicated bicycle lanes, traffic lights and parking garages. But this is thanks to a different way of thinking about transportation...