On Saturday, May 2, 2009 from 5:00 to 7:00pm, AVA Gallery and Art Center is hosting a public reception to celebrate the recently received LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification, awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for the comprehensive renovation of the organization’s Eleven Bank Street building in Lebanon, New Hampshire. The official LEED Gold plaque will be unveiled by the main entrance to the Carter-Kelsey Building, followed by a “LEED-inspired” tour. The project’s head architect – C. Stuart White of the Lebanon-based firm, Banwell Architects – will talk about the various initiatives and improvements that, together, helped transform this old mill building – formerly known as the H.W. Carter Overall Factory – into one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the Upper Valley. In addition to White, many of the other professionals who contributed to making the AVA renovation a LEED Gold-certified building will also be present, including Paul Leveille – AVA’s LEED consultant – of the Jordan Institute in Concord, New Hampshire.
The LEED process is a so-called “integrated process,” during which all the involved parties – in this case Banwell Architects, Trumbull-Nelson Construction, all the engineers, consultants and other construction and design professionals, along with AVA’s board, staff and building committee – worked closely together from the earliest planning stages of the renovation (beginning December 2004), to make this project a “green” and sustainable one. The LEED Green Building Rating System™ places emphasis on quantifiable, measurable and documented environmental benefits. The certification criteria are determined by the number of accumulated points achieved within a series of categories established by the USGBC. These categories are: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy Performance and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation and Design. LEED Gold Certification is the second highest rating level awarded by USGBC, which, in its award letter to AVA, stated that the renovation is “a pioneering example of sustainable design.” The project received 47 LEED points, just shy of Platinum rating (which is 52 and over).
Some of the various measures that were taken to transform Eleven Bank Street into a high-performing, energy-efficient facility include an airtight building “envelope,” thanks to the foam spray insulation between the exterior and interior walls, and the replacement of the 141 ill-fitting windows that were a legacy from the days of the overall factory. In addition, 95% of all construction waste removed in the course of the renovation was recycled (in other words, only 5% went to the landfill). The 41,500 square-foot building is kept at a comfortable temperature during the winter, heated by three small liquid propane tanks that replaced an enormous, unreliable boiler. The building saves considerable energy by not being air-conditioned; it is kept comfortable in the summer thanks to sunshades on the south side of the building and a low-impact air-exchange system. The renovation has already resulted in an impressive reduction in energy consumption and savings; according to the models established by LEED for comparisons of actual energy savings, the AVA building boasts an impressive 71.5% in energy savings compared to that of an average new commercial building. (The project’s mechanical engineer, Bill Root of GWR Engineering, proudly compares the energy- efficient AVA building to “a Prius on steroids!”)
Ultimately, though, one of the renovation’s main achievements was the recycling of an entire building and the successful combination of historic features with new and contemporary approaches to construction, architectural design and environmental sustainability. These accomplishments have received recognition beyond the LEED certification. In June 2008, the renovation project earned a merit award from Plan-NH. This award is given to “exemplary projects that incorporate the principles of smart growth, sustainability, social responsibility, and employ creative approaches to partnership and collaboration.” In addition, in January 2009, Banwell Architects received a Citation Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) – VT Chapter in the Historic Preservation/Renovation Category for the AVA project. The jury specifically emphasized how the architects had “thought through the issues of sustainability and how to integrate it into the existing fabric.” This successful architectural combination of old and new – where the integrity of the building’s past is honored and juxtaposed with contemporary design – makes a visit to AVA’s renovated Eleven Bank Street building a unique and rewarding experience.
AVA’s May 2nd celebration is made possible by the generous support of Peter and Jane Kitchel McLaughlin.