County Lines: Durham Takes the 'LEED'

Lewis Myers
919-941-9790

11/01/2007

Publication: County Lines

Newsletter of the NC Association of County Commissioners

Durham County – A Commitment to Sustainability

In Durham County, planning for three regional libraries meant much more than choosing bookcases and computer terminals.  It has involved thoughtful choices for every aspect of the building process – from carpet made from low-emitting, recycled fibers to photo-integrated light sensors and use of natural light, to waterless urinals.

Durham County has made a commitment to sustainable design.  More specifically, County buildings are being planned with the goal of achieving LEED® certification.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Certification is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).  The LEED rating system evaluates projects within six categories: site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, material selection, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in design.  There are four levels of LEED Certification – Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Durham’s new 25,000-square-foot regional libraries demonstrate the County’s commitment.  The East Regional Library, which opened in June 2006, was LEED certified at the Certified level.  The North Regional Library opened in January 2007 and received Silver certification.  The South Library, scheduled to open in late 2009, is also being built to LEED standards.

The Vision
At the beginning of this decade, local resident Gail Lindsey, who authored many of the LEED standards, helped to make those guidelines applicable to the Triangle region.  The result was the development of “High Performance Building Standards for the Triangle Area.”

Ellen Reckhow, current Durham County Commission Chair and a Commissioner for 19 years, was a delegate to the Triangle Regional Council of Government at that time, and learned about sustainable building design. 

“I brought that information to the Board.  We adopted a policy guideline that we should follow this approach,” Reckhow recalls.

The first building that the County completed with the goal of LEED certification was the Triangle Wastewater Treatment Administrative Building, which opened in 2004.  Although plans for that building were already underway, the County was able to make adjustments and the building was LEED certified.

“During that process, we learned that we needed to start pursuing LEED certification from the beginning,” notes Durham County Engineer Glen Whisler, P.E.

Implementing the Vision:  A Team Approach
Implementing this vision has required a combination of education and teamwork throughout the community.

“We met with a stakeholders group for each of these libraries,” says Durham County Manager Michael Ruffin.  “We want the neighborhoods to welcome these new facilities.  We shared plans and solicited feedback.  Their input influenced the site orientation and how we access the properties.”

The project team received LEED education as well, and spent time at every design review meeting talking about sustainability.

Sustainability with regard to materials includes four categories, explains Philip G. Freelon, FAIA, Founder and President of The Freelon Group.

“First, we consider whether we can use recycled materials.  Second, can the materials we’re using be recycled later.  The third aspect is where the materials originate – using materials from a close proximity to the project saves gas and reduces emissions.  Finally, are raw materials able to regenerate quickly, like bamboo.”

“Decisions to follow specific LEED criteria needed consensus by the project team, because we want the buildings to look good and function well for a long time,” says Whisler.

Even the general services team that maintains the buildings needed to be involved.  For example, the custodian needs to know how to clean the different types of building materials, and what cleaning products are environmentally friendly.

The project team for the three libraries includes Durham County Engineers; The Freelon Group Architects; Coulter Jewell Thames, PA (civil engineers); Engineered Designs, Inc. (mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers); GKC Associates, PA (structural engineers); Alicia Ravetto, AIA (sustainability consultant); The Design Collaborative (library programming consultants); and Durham County Library staff.  C.T. Wilson Construction Co. Inc. was the general contractor for the two completed libraries. 

Alicia Ravetto, a LEED certified consultant, helped the group determine if their choices would earn points towards certification.  Another member of the project team collected and reviewed the large quantities of documentation required for certification.

The Result – and Advice for Others
It will take time to realize energy and water savings with these new buildings.  But the new buildings are a hit with patrons and employees.

“Our users love these libraries,” notes Durham County Library Director Skip Auld.  “The use of natural light and wooded sites, the choice of paint colors and seating, create a sense of a special place.” 

For those interested in pursuing LEED certification, Priscilla Lewis, Manager of Library Facilities recommends, “be as familiar as you can be with green building and be willing to do what it takes to get certified.  Think about the life of the building for cost savings, and think about the benefits of a healthier building for users and employees.”

Ruffin agrees.  “If your county is interested, start small.   The lessons we learned working on the $8 million East Regional Library are saving the County money on our upcoming $105 million Human Services Complex project.”

by Dorothy Waterfill Trotter