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Contributing to a healthy environment.

Washington Medical Plaza
Green Design Narrative
Statement of Project Architect: Omniplan
03.24.10

U.S. Green Building Council website

Green building practices can substantially reduce or eliminate negative environmental impacts and improve existing unsustainable design, construction and operational practices. Green buildings are designed, constructed and operated in a manner that minimizes the impact on the environment, protects the health of its occupants and utilizes resources efficiently. Benefits of green design include reducing operating costs through energy and water savings, increased occupant productivity and well-being, and reducing consumption of resources and generation of waste during the construction process. Precedent Equities believes that designing a healthy, environmentally responsible building is even more essential when the purpose of the building is to deliver health care services.

Washington Medical Plaza has been designed with LEED® Silver Certification as its goal. The project's urban location and reuse of a previously developed site are indications that the project's initial conception is consistent with LEED® Sustainable Site Guidelines. In addition, the project maximizes open space on its urban site by placing all of the parking underground, beneath the building. The design also follows the LEED® guidelines for controlling the heat island effect of development and reducing light pollution at night.

Washington Medical Plaza is also planned with water efficient landscaping, requiring approximately 50% of the water typically used to irrigate landscaped areas. The building restrooms incorporate water efficient fixtures to reduce water consumption by approximately 30% compared to conventional facilities.

The energy performance of the design has been optimized to reduce energy consumption by as much as 17.5% and steps to measure and verify that performance over time are also a part of the design. In addition, over 35% of the electricity used in the building is projected to be from "green power providers."

The quality of the indoor environment of Washington Medical Plaza will be enhanced by monitoring the delivery of fresh air and by controlling chemical and particulate pollutant sources. Additionally, the design calls for low-emitting materials for all adhesives, sealants, paints, carpet systems, and composite wood products, eliminating the toxic off-gassing that can be present in conventionally constructed facilities.

The materials utilized in constructing the project will be, to the greatest extent possible, sourced regionally (within a 500 mile radius) to reduce resources involved in shipping them to the site, and the majority of all wood-based materials and products will be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, indicating that they have been produced by environmentally and socially responsible forest management practices. Washington Medical Plaza will target having 20% of the materials for the project incorporate recycled content, and during construction, management strategies will be employed to divert approximately 75% of the construction waste from disposal.

Through green design, Washington Medical Plaza demonstrates a commitment to the health of both its occupants and the greater environment, which we all inhabit.