Thornton Tomasetti announced that the Acadia Gateway Center administrative and maintenance facility has received LEED Gold Certification. Fore Solutions, the green building consulting company acquired by Thornton Tomasetti in 2012, provided LEED consulting services for the project located in Trenton, Maine at the gateway to Acadia National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the United States.
Fore Solutions was hired by the mechanical engineer on this project, Allied Engineering in Portland Maine, to provide LEED consulting. In this role, Fore Solutions reviewed the energy model, tracked compliance with LEED throughout design and construction and reviewed and submitted LEED documentation to the Green Building Certification Institute.
The Acadia Gateway Center administrative and maintenance facility is the first phase of a multi-phased project to implement a Transportation Demand Management Plan for Acadia National Park in order to reduce automobile traffic on Mount Desert Island. Phase I of the project consists of a 22,000-square-foot center located on Route 3 in Trenton, Maine that will function first as a bus maintenance and storage facility for the seasonal Island Explorer bus system and as a summertime park-and-ride parking lot for people who want to ride the propane-powered buses onto Mount Desert Island.
The second phase will include a visitor center and intermodal facility for the Island Explorer bus service.
Key points:
- This $14.7-million facility was funded through a combination of federal and state sources, including $11.6 million from the Federal Transit Administration.
- The Acadia Gateway Center is anticipated to reduce more than 10 million vehicle miles per year with the Island Explorer buses. Local bus routes will stop at the park and ride on-site to connect building visitors and staff to the surrounding area. Preferred parking for fuel-efficient vehicles is being provided for employees and visitors.
- Water used to wash buses is collected, filtered and reused – reducing water demand by 88%. No irrigation will be used on-site and temporary irrigation will only be provided for one year.
- The project demonstrates a 38.3% improvement in the building performance rating compared to the baseline building performance in ASHRAE-90.1-2004. Energy efficiency measures include an improved thermal envelope, high-efficiency glazing, reduced interior lighting power density and high-efficiency HVAC systems.
- Solar collectors are being used on the project to pre-heat domestic water for the domestic hot water system. Roof materials with a high SRI (Solar Reflectance Index) value have been installed on the roof.
- Materials with recycled content and local materials were used in the project wherever possible, and 70% of construction waste was diverted from landfills.
- Low-emitting adhesives, sealants, paints, carpet and composite wood materials are being used in the project.
- Accessible temperature and lighting controls have been installed for building occupants. +
Related Stories
| Apr 9, 2014
5 important trends shaping today’s hotel construction market
AEC firms, developers, and investors worldwide are bullish on hotels. Our hospitality Giants share what’s new in this fast-morphing sector.
| Apr 9, 2014
Steel decks: 11 tips for their proper use | BD+C
Building Teams have been using steel decks with proven success for 75 years. Building Design+Construction consulted with technical experts from the Steel Deck Institute and the deck manufacturing industry for their advice on how best to use steel decking.
| Apr 8, 2014
Gehry, Foster unveil plans for Battersea Power Station redevelopment [slideshow]
Phase 3 of the massive redevelopment of the London landmark will include more than 1,300 residential units, a 160-room hotel, and 350,000 sf of retail space.
| Apr 8, 2014
Fire resistive curtain wall helps The Kensington meet property line requirements
The majority of fire rated glazing applications occur inside a building to allow occupants to exit the building safely or provide an area of refuge during a fire. But what happens when the threat of fire comes from the outside? This was the case for The Kensington, a mixed-use residential building in Boston.
| Apr 8, 2014
First look: Zaha Hadid reveals design for dreamy sculptural hotel
Hadid's design, which will become the fifth hotel tower in the City of Dreams entertainment hub in Macau, features a latticed exoskeleton enveloping the building's exterior.
| Apr 8, 2014
Understanding value billing vs. conventional billing
Every company is a sum of the value it delivers to its clients. What differs from one company to the next is how that value is delivered and perceived. All too often, it is based solely on the fee you charge.
| Apr 8, 2014
Science, engineering find common ground on the Northeastern University campus [slideshow]
The new Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building is designed to maximize potential of serendipitous meetings between researchers.
| Apr 8, 2014
40 Under 40 winners: Meet the contractors
Of the up-and-coming AEC professionals to be named to the class of 2014, nine make their living as contractors.
| Apr 7, 2014
40 Under 40 winners: Meet the architects
Of the up-and-coming AEC professionals to be named 40 Under 40 winners by the editors of Building Design+Construction, 21 make their living in the architecture profession.
| Apr 4, 2014
$25 million Orion Jet Center designed by SchenkelShultz now open
As the centerpiece of the 45-acre campus, which is its first phase of a planned 215-acre mixed-use development, the 18,000 square foot executive terminal facility offers spacious passenger areas, administrative space, an executive suite, rental car kiosk, catering and a cafe.
