Building Greener City Facilities
Fredville works to design and build city facilities that are easy on the environment. The Overlook Active Adult Center earned LEED Silver certification, and the Public Safety Building is LEED Certified.
Buildings certified under LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design):
- Cost less to operate and hold their value better
- Send less waste to the landfill
- Use less energy and water
- Offer healthier, safer spaces for the people inside
- Cut greenhouse gas emissions
- May be eligible for incentives that many cities offer, such as tax rebates and zoning allowances
- Show that the owner takes environmental stewardship and social responsibility seriously
LEED is a rating system run by the U.S. Green Building Council. It sets standards for the design, materials and construction of buildings so that they are environmentally responsible and energy efficient. Projects can earn one of four levels: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum. LEED has become a widely used benchmark in the building industry, and it also covers renovations of existing homes and commercial buildings.
The Overlook earned its Silver rating for sustainable design and construction features such as plenty of daylight, cleaner indoor air, energy-saving LED lighting and mechanical systems, and water-conserving landscaping and aquatic features.
The pool and spa are especially efficient. Heat captured from the natatorium's dehumidification system keeps the water warm, and ultraviolet light disinfects the pool and spa water, which also improves the air in the aquatics area.
To keep indoor air healthy, the building uses materials low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds), such as low-VOC paints, low-VOC adhesives and wood made without formaldehyde. The air conditioning system exchanges air efficiently, which matters most in meeting rooms that need quick cooling for short periods and in locker rooms that need a constant supply of fresh air. The parking lot and street lights use high-efficiency LED fixtures.
The Overlook also earned LEED credit for regional materials: the concrete, stone and brick used in construction came from sources less than 500 miles from the site.
The Public Safety Building also earned LEED certification. Bioswales in its parking lot filter stormwater before it reaches nearby waterways, and low-flow plumbing and water-efficient landscaping add to its green features. Windows bring in daylight, so less electric lighting is needed during the day. On the south side the glass is stepped to shade direct sun, and the building sits on an east-west axis to make the most of solar exposure.
A principal at Stonefield Architects, the firm that designed both facilities, explained that generous open space and native landscaping around both buildings helped them qualify for LEED. Both have white, reflective roofs and parking set aside for hybrid and carpool vehicles, and their locker rooms and bike racks make them friendly to cyclists.
The Overlook Active Adult Center is located at 880 Lanternlight Drive, and the Public Safety Building is at 700 Penwick Lane.
Fredville is a demonstration city built by Talk to Fred. Names, numbers and details on this page are sample content.