Sustainable Land Development Today - October 2008 - (Page 11)

and especially for the 170,000 people who donate to its operation every year. Accessibility had been a challenge at the previous site. That mindset evolved into discussions of how to make the new facility an example of a successful and sustainable commercial project. Planning began in 2001 and design work on the new complex got underway in 2002. It culminated in a 345,000 square foot complex, half of which was contained in an existing structure. The organization purchased the building, which had never been occupied due to the economic downturn early in the decade. An additional building to house studios was constructed across the street on a former brownfield site and the two were joined by a connecting 480-foot by 50-foot, two-story high structure. With an eye on LEED certification, the new construction was completed with 90 percent recycled steel. The new studio complex features motion-sensitive office lighting, UV-filtering glass and motorized sunshades on some windows to help conserve energy, while waterless urinals and dual-flush toilets will decrease water consumption by as much as 30 percent. On the ground, care was taken to decrease the impact of construction on the surrounding environment. Thirty-six trees were planted around the studios and a rainwater retention tank was installed to allow stormwater from the site to slowly infiltrate the soil rather than rush into the city’s storm sewer system. Additionally, retention chambers were installed under plants and ground cover to further enhance stormwater collection and infiltration. On the roof, initial plans went in several directions. “To start off with, we wanted a greenroof and we wanted solar,” said Dave Norton, WGBH’s Physical Plant Director. There were also discussions about wind energy generation. “We produce television and radio programming about the state of the environment and new energy technologies — so this was a way for us to put our money where our mouth is,” Norton said. Financing the Plan The primary challenge to achieving the rooftop combination was financial. Neither the solar energy system nor the greenroof were included in the building’s budget, so Norton helped find the funding. A $57,000 grant from National Grid covered the cost of the greenroof, but the greatest expense was the solar array. A quarter of that component was provided by a $250,000 matching grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. The organization had turned down the request when it was first approached in the early days of the project, but later changed its position. “One of the reasons, I think, is that solar is one of the most proven of modern energy technologies. We were able to Circle 193 • or www.SLDTonline.com/webcard www.SLDTonline.com 11 http://www.otterbine.com http://www.SLDTonline.com/webcard http://www.SLDTonline.com

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Sustainable Land Development Today - October 2008

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