Citygate certification simple for developers

Fully understanding the principles of the Green Star tool and applying them carefully at the pre-planning stage of the development has meant that the team have achieved a highly productive outcome in a record time, says NZGBC Chief Executive Alex Cutler.

“The building is a best practice result that will deliver an efficient, healthy and productive work environment – something that tenants are increasingly focussed on,” says Ms Cutler.

“Third party confirmation with the Green Star rating allows tenants to place trust in the building, aligning their procurement decisions with organisational values.”

McConnell Property’s Aidan Donnelly says everything about the 5300sq metre Grade A building has been constructed with a mind to providing an efficient, light-infused workspace for up to 400 workers – “a beautiful, functional building that explicitly addresses the corner location and one that is future-proofed so we can respond to our customers’ changing needs,” he says.

The six level building will have four levels of office space and ground floor retail, opening out into 738m squared of landscaped open space, with art displays and cafe seating on the paved courtyard planned for the new public area.

The building, due for completion in early July 2013, features extensive use of low E double glazed glass with high U-value and shading co-efficients, thermo mass insulated panels and a fresh air VRV heat recovery system that enables smart temperature control and allows energy to be transferred within the building. Some of its other green features include a Building Management System, energy efficient lighting systems, recycling facilities, and bicycle parking.

It is expected the design of the building will lead to a reduction of energy usage of about 5-10% annually – a cost saving to tenants that is expected to be significant over time.

Mr Donnelly says despite extensive pre-planning, he was still pleasantly surprised that the building achieved its four-star rating with a minimum of fuss, and believes that the rating will become an increasingly important tool as the property and construction industry moves to keep up with new codes and regulations around building green.

“We wanted certification because it provides certainty to the occupiers at Citygate and they can take comfort that McConnell Property has delivered on what we said we would in terms of the building’s design and sensitivity to the location. As a result I think Citygate will prove to be more flexible and adaptable to change and more productive for these businesses.

In a hydrology class last fall, University of Delaware students saw firsthand the lasting impact of storm runoff: deep gullies carved into the ground by rainfall over several decades. These gullies start at drainpipes that open into the woods near Laird Campus, and during storms they collect water and flush sediment into White Clay Creek.

Luc Claessens, assistant professor of geography in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment who studies human effects on watersheds, used the field trip to connect classroom material with real-world experiences. Now he is working with UD staff and students to develop a comprehensive plan that would improve stormwater drainage at the site, supported by a UD Sustainability Fund grant.

“What we’ll do is come up with a design for green infrastructure for this part of campus,” Claessens said. “It is a unique setting for all participants to learn about the challenges and opportunities of reducing environmental impacts.”

Nature’s stormwater management system is to absorb rain into the ground, but roads, parking lots and other hard surfaces cover up this environmental sponge. Construction is currently regulated by the state to reduce flow and pollutants, although prior to 1990, common practice was to direct runoff into wooded areas — which is what largely caused the gullies near Laird Campus.

During rainstorms, the sediment-laden runoff sweeps right under the scenic Pomeroy Trail and creates mocha-colored plumes of sediment into the White Clay Creek, which is a National Wild and Scenic River. Claessens collected water samples during Hurricane Sandy that showed high levels of sediment, which can pose problems for aquatic life and make drinking water taken from the creek more expensive to clean.

Claessens is collaborating with Gerald Kauffman, director of UD’s Water Resources Agency, to create hydrologic and hydraulic engineering designs for the project. Other UD resources include Environmental Health and Safety and Facilities for assistance with outreach and landscape aspects.

Several students are also involved. Last fall Claessens advised a UD student team entry for the EPA Campus RainWorks Challenge to design a preliminary green infrastructure plan for the Christiana Towers area. The interdisciplinary team included graduate students in geography (Asia Dowtin), water science and policy (Matt Bachman and Kate Miller) and energy and environmental policy (Craig Dsouza).

This spring Claessens and Kauffman are advising an interdisciplinary team of five UD-WATER undergraduate interns on this project, including majors in environmental science (Megan Mauger), environmental studies (Devika Banerjee), environmental engineering (Kate Aulenbach and Virginia Thornton) and biological sciences (Megan Shaffer). The interns are funded by the Delaware Water Resources Center, which is directed by Tom Sims in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. A recent addition to the team is Alex Soroka, an incoming graduate student in water science and policy who works with Claessens.