Pieper O'Brien Herr Architects is committed in the pursuit of sustainable buildings. The firm is a member of the United States Green Building Council and has LEED accredited professionals on staff. We believe the best conceived designs should not only incorporate green elements that help sustain the environment, but also those that help reduce the total cost of ownership.
Sustainable highlights of the LEED Platinum facility include:
- Energy use was reduced 34% compared to a similar code-compliant building.
- Interior water consumption was reduced by 42% by installing ultra-low-flow fixtures.
- Outside water consumption was eliminated.
- Renewable energy purchased off-site further reduced annual energy consumption 35%.
- High-efficiency cooling systems contributed to the energy reductions.
LEED was an important consideration from the outset. The project team held a LEED charrette to determine project sustainability goals. With a plan in place, the team worked hard to ensure every goal was accomplished. The sustainability high points are: Daylighting, automated lighting controls, use of recycled products, low VOC paints, waterless urinals and many other features. The project was awarded LEED GOLD certification from the United States Green Building Council and remains one of the largest LEED GOLD courthouses in the Southeast.
AIA Award for Excellence - Energy Conscious Design
