July 16, 2009

HEADLINE NEWS

Sustainable Design Helps Slash Energy Consumption
The Newark Center for Health Sciences & Technology at San Francisco’s Ohlone College has achieved a 69 percent reduction in electricity use and 72 percent reduction in natural gas consumption thanks to its green design and construction strategies. The LEED Platinum-certified building also achieved net-zero energy consumption for a five-month period.

Designed by Perkins + Will, the Newark Center helps make Ohlone College home to the largest collection of photovoltaic panels in the Silicon Valley, according to Green Building News. The solar panels cover 35,000 square feet and generate 710 megawatts of power.

Other green design features at Ohlone College include:
• a geothermal system that cools and heats water as needed before it enters the college’s main HVAC system
• landscaping that features drought-tolerant plants that require 20-30 percent less water
• building insulation made from recycled denim materials
• low-emission paints and FSC-certified hardwood for flooring and finishing

In 2010, LEARNING BY DESIGN’ s fall edition will focus on green design and technology. This is in addition to its general excellence edition in the spring that also features the nation’s best green design projects at the pre-K to 12 and college/university levels.

USGBC Announces LEED Certification Overhaul
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has rolled out a revamped LEED accreditation system, which translates into a more rigorous process for professionals in the design and construction field to earn and maintain LEED credentials. The new system introduces a three-tiered structure that includes LEED Green Associate, Accredited Professional, and Accredited Fellow. The Accredited Fellow is the most advanced credential, recognizing professionals who have made significant contributions to green building practices.

Legacy APs – professionals who attained the LEED AP credential prior to May 2009 – must opt into the new system’s maintenance requirements, code of ethics, and disciplinary policies within two years to retain accreditation. The new accreditation process will ensure that architects who work on projects bound for LEED certification are up to speed on the latest requirements. Educational facility design projects that seek LEED certification receive points for working with architects who are registered LEED APs.

Additionally, the the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) will now administer both the LEED credentialing and certification process. GBCI will work with third-party certification groups to evaluate project submissions.

For more information, go to www.usgbc.org.

Nation’s Top Education Design Competition Underway
July 29 is the early bird submission deadline for the spring edition of LEARNING BY DESIGN 2010. Published in April, the General Excellence edition features oustanding design projects, including pre-K to 12 schools, colleges and universities, and specialized educational facilities. It will also include a special section for green projects. A jury of architects and facility planners review projects against design criteria for publication and bestows awards of excellence in both pre-K to 12 and postsecondary categories. Read more.

By submitting projects by July 29, architecture and design firms can take advantage of discounted submission fees, which cover costs associated with judging the entries and publishing the magazine. Plus, firms that submit projects to both the spring and fall editions of LEARNING BY DESIGN in 2010 receive a special Combo Rate.

Download the LEARNING BY DESIGN 2010 Call for Entries for details.

FEATURE ARTICLES

Shared spaces throughout East Hall at Olin College in Needham, Mass., feature open and flexible designs that create comfortable environments for studying and socializing.

College Freshmen Head to Modern Dorms
Scores of high school graduates will soon leave the comforts of home and move into residence halls at colleges and universities throughout the country. But gone are the days of small, single-window rooms arranged along double-loaded hallways.

Today, students and their parents consider residence halls a key factor when choosing a postsecondary institution. In response, colleges and universities are designing and constructing modern residential facilities that feature flexible spaces, abundant lighting, and infrastructure that supports technology.
Read more

Outstanding Green Schools Receive National Recognition
An elite group of 20 educational facilities - ranging from pre-K to postsecondary institutions – was chosen for the Green Special Section of LEARNING BY DESIGN this year. A jury of architects and facility planners selected these projects for publication and presented awards to five of them. Check out profiles and photos of the award recipients as well as all the outstanding green projects published in the latest issue of LEARNING BY DESIGN.

The 2010 design competition is now underway. The spring edition is LEARNING BY DESIGN’s general excellence edition, and the fall edition will focus on green design and technology. Enter both editions by October 1 and earn the Combo Rate. Download the Call for Entries, which includes details about submitting oustanding projects.