Taconic Region Headquarters Earns LEED Platinum Certification

May 6, 2011 - PRLog -- Barton & Loguidice, P.C (B&L) is proud to have provided engineering and landscape architecture services for the first public building in New York State to receive Platinum-level LEED® certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for a new construction or major renovation project. The Taconic Region Headquarters project encompasses the adaptive-reuse and transformation of the old Staatsburgh School Building into a benchmark sustainable office building.  The building is owned by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and is located in Mills-Norrie State Park in Staatsburgh, New York.

LEED Platinum is the highest USGBC level of LEED certification for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. There are only 11 LEED Platinum buildings currently certified in New York State.

B&L’s staff provided a variety of design services for the project including the mechanical, electrical, fire protection, site/civil, environmental and landscape architecture designs. These designs featured targeted sustainable systems such as a geothermal based HVAC system, rooftop photovoltaic energy generation, enhanced indoor lighting & HVAC controllability, and high efficiency lighting systems with day-lighting control.  As a result, OPRHP estimates that the building uses 70 percent less energy than the average office building in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The sustainable site design and landscape architecture designed by B&L included porous site paving, stream/habitat restoration, onsite stormwater management, and native species landscaping (zero irrigation) – all elements that helped the project reach the LEED Platinum level.

OPRHP provided the architectural, plumbing, and structural engineering services for the building.  Features including energy efficient windows, innovative insulation methods, and use of low VOC-emitting products (such as glues, paints and carpets) improve air quality.  A high percentage of recycled content was utilized for new materials such as carpet, demountable partitions, and ceilings.  Renewable materials such as cork flooring were also utilized and water conservation was achieved  with low-flow sinks, dual-flow toilets, and waterless urinals as a part of the renovation.  

The project received innovative design credits for the stream restoration which created a unique wildlife habitat with enhanced public accessibility.  Previously the stream had been diverted into a drainage pipe and exhibited a deteriorated stream bank.

The project design achieved exemplary performance in the areas of site improvements, energy performance and recycling.  As a part of the site design, a reinforced turf overflow parking area was incorporated that contributes to maximizing open space at the site. Incorporating several aspects of energy conservation and efficiency, the energy performance of the building exceeds the exemplary performance threshold by achieving a 54% improvement in overall energy efficiency.  Recycling was also maximized during the construction of the project with over 97% of construction waste and debris recycled for alternative uses.  

On March 26th, Barton & Loguidice was presented with a 2011 Gold Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC New York) through the organization's Engineering Excellence Awards program for the Taconic Region Headquarters project.  

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.  The USGBC rating program confers LEED designation on buildings that demonstrate a meaningful commitment to the principles of environmentally sound and sustainable design.

Through the Engineering Excellence Awards program, ACEC New York recognizes and celebrates engineering achievements that demonstrate the highest degree of skill and ingenuity among member firms.

More information and background of the project can be found on the OPRHP website here: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/newsroom/press-releases/relea...

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Barton & Loguidice provides transportation, environmental, solid waste, water/wastewater, facilities, and planning with 200 employees in Syracuse, Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, Plattsburgh, Ellenville, and Newburgh, New York, and Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.