Hipolito Garcia Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse Project Earns LEED® Platinum Certification

Jan. 17, 2013 - PRLog -- DALLAS -- The Hipolito Garcia Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse renovation, built by The Beck Group, has earned highest level of certification possible under the Leadership in Energy Efficient Design ranking system designed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Hipolito building renovation made the building more usable through the improvement of ports of entry and new federal offices.  The neo-classical exterior façade received a facelift and the mechanical and electrical equipment was completely replaced and upgraded.

The U.S. Green Building Council has certified the Hipolito facility with a platinum LEED-New Construction rating, a rating for new construction and major renovations. The building is the first in GSA’s inventory to receive a platinum rating. The energy and water savings contributed heavily to the LEED certification as well as the use of recycled materials, locally produced materials and daylight harvesting.

Hipolito marks Beck’s 35th project to receive certification and its fourth Platinum project in Texas. Beck also provided construction services on the LEED® Platinum certified Botanical Research Institute of Texas, as well as the Shangri La Garden in Orange, Texas, which was the first LEED® Platinum project in the state.  Beck currently has over 48 other projects currently under construction pursuing certification. Beck’s sustainability consulting group has provided LEED® consulting services for over 20 projects for third party architects and construction groups around the nation and abroad.  In 2010, Beck signed the AIA 2030 Commitment, which provides a time-based list of goals a firm must meet toward achieving carbon neutral status.

About Beck’s Sustainability Focus:

The Beck Group’s Sustainability consulting team provides a full range of green building services including research, education, LEED® documentation and consulting both in-house, and for outside clients seeking information or certification on green building and the associated benefits. The Beck Group is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and over 40 percent of Beck employees are LEED® Accredited Professionals. Beck has been fortunate to be involved in some of the first and biggest LEED® projects. Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center was the first LEED®-NC Platinum project in Texas and the 50th Platinum project in the world. Toyota of Rockwall was the first LEED®-NC Gold car dealership in the US. The Ronald McDonald House was the first LEED®-NC Platinum building in the City of Austin and the third in the State of Texas. The Wayne Aspinall Federal Building in Grand Junction, Colorado is seeking to become the first General Services Administration LEED® Platinum Net Zero Historic Preservation Project.

Photo:
https://www.prlog.org/12056515/1