Sustainable Land Development Today - November/December 2007 - (Page 23) SUSTAINABLE REDEVELOPMENT From Green Buildings to Green Communities A Texas-sized redevelopment project incorporates sustainable practices in what it calls “green urbanism.” By Matt Whelan ty cohesion and aesthetic beauty, sustainable over many genEnergy-efficient systems. Recycled materials and nonerations and valued as a focal point of the larger city.” toxic finishes. Natural light and ventilation. Low-water-use As the plan is implemented, thus far, the project has been fixtures and xeriscaping. These hallmarks of green building able to meet and exceed the goals established at the outset. have become common features in new development of all Mueller’s community design, vertical construction, and kinds. They’re certainly common in Austin, Texas, widely recinfrastructure are all being developed with the focus on susognized as one of the country’s capitals of green building. tainability required to make Mueller the new development So it’s no surprise that in the largest real estate project in model it was envisioned to be. Austin history — the redevelopment of the former Robert All buildings at Mueller have to earn at least a two-star Mueller Municipal Airport — you’ll find many best practices rating (or for single-family homes a three-star rating) in of green building, included in every single home, office, Austin Energy’s Green Building Program, one of the nation’s storefront, and civic building in the community. Catellus pioneering programs and a key influence on the U.S. Green Development Group, the master developer of Mueller, is Building Council’s LEED programs. (A two-star rating is partnering with the City of Austin and its utilities, informed comparable to a national LEED certificaand engaged citizens, as well as local tion; Mueller’s design guidelines incordesigners and builders to make this new “The Mueller Central porate LEED criteria as well as the Green mixed-use urban village a showpiece of Building Program standards.) Many of ‘green urbanism.’ information center, like the Mueller’s buildings as constructed are in This commitment to sustainability has entire Mueller community, fact exceeding these Green Building been a hallmark of Mueller since the earincorporates a variety of Program requirements. liest days of the project. Austin citizens Mueller’s 711 acres will, on full buildfirst began seeking to relocate the thenGreen Building features out, be home to more than 4,600 housing booming airport and crafting a redevelinto its design.” units and nearly five million square feet opment vision for the site, which is only of commercial space — a community three miles from downtown, in the 1980s. with 10,000 jobs and 10,000 residents. These green building Their goal was to create a new development model for Austin standards, in itself, make a huge impact on urban and regionthat would provide an alternative to the ongoing suburban al sustainability. But Mueller, and Austin, are able and willing sprawl that — in the view of many Austinites, then and now to go farther. Individual homebuyers are working with our — was putting the Texas capital’s unique natural environhomebuilders to upgrade to state-of-the-art green-building ment and cultural character at risk. Years later, when Mueller amenities, and one of our first homebuilders, Austin-based was slated for closure, this vision was reflected in the proStreetman Homes, is producing a number of houses that earn ject’s guiding principles, and then in its award-winning masa maximum five-star rating from the Austin Energy program. ter plan and design book (produced by ROMA Design Fewer than 30 single-family homes in all of Austin — a city Group) adopted in 2001. with approximately 300,000 housing units — qualify for this The master plan state that “[The Mueller] development rating. should be planned in a way that promotes energy and water Meanwhile, commercial projects at Mueller have also efficiency, resource protection, reduced auto dependency, exceeded the plan’s requirements and are eligible for premiwatershed protection and green space preservation.The um levels of LEED certification. Indeed, Mueller’s first big Mueller community offers a spectrum of unique opportuniemployment anchor — the new Dell Children’s Medical ties to successfully apply Green Building and New Urbanism Center of Central Texas — is seeking LEED Platinum status. strategies simultaneously. This combination of strategies can It would the first hospital in the U.S. to attain this benchmark. be described as ‘green urbanism’ — the coordinated merging Dell Children’s is one component of an emerging medical of environmental protection, economic prosperity, communicluster that includes physicians’ offices, advanced research www.SLDTonline.com 23 http://www.SLDTonline.com
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