Sustainable construction continues to develop each and every day, with more demand for cleaner and greener spaces. More owners and developers, both public and private, are turning to a more sustainable form of construction. Sustainable construction isn’t just about the creation of a building that has a low environmental impact; it also offers financial benefits to the owner and improves the way people live.
South Line at Perry Place
One KBS project, South Line at Perry Place, is the fourth phase of the adaptive reuse redevelopment of the former Brown and Williamson Tobacco plant in downtown Petersburg. The project joins two existing communities – Perry Street Lofts and Cameron Building Lofts – on the Brown and Williamson campus, both of which were constructed by KBS. Adaptive reuse — the renovation and reuse of pre-existing structures for new purposes — is ideal for minimizing land use and urban sprawl.
South Line is 183,662 square feet and includes a new clubhouse, public deck, parking garage, fitness facility and business center. The renovation involves the adaptive reuse of two former manufacturing and warehouse facilities located on the west side of Perry Street. The first two floors will be devoted to artists’ working and living spaces, studios for non-residential users, gallery and exhibition spaces and classrooms. The current leasing office located in Perry Street Lofts is being replaced by the office in South Line. The 226 apartment units include features such as upgraded kitchens, granite countertops, hardwood flooring and 15-foot ceilings.
In addition to reducing the environmental impact through brownfield development, South Line at Perry Place is example of many other sustainable construction techniques such as:
1. Resource Efficiency: Through the implementation of a Construction Waste Management plan, all construction debris is disposed in a facility that diverts at least 75% of construction waste from a landfill to a recycling facility. Additionally, the project requires various construction materials to be manufactured with a minimum of 25% recycled content as well as materials with minimal to zero VOC’s. These two requirements reduce waste in landfills and reduce pollution associated with the project.
2. Energy Efficiency: Eligible plumbing fixtures are Water Sense certified which limits the amount of water usage. To help reduce consumption of energy, the building will have Energy Star appliances, light fixtures and mechanical equipment. The combination of Energy Star and Water Sense products help significantly reduce energy consumption.
3. High Performance Building Envelope: Air sealing is one of the most important processes to achieve an energy efficient building. This includes sealing unit demising walls and the associated components which include sealing framing to adjacent surfaces, penetrations such as electrical boxes and plumbing pipe and ductwork. Lastly, exterior windows have a performance requirement related to U-Value and SHGC factors that also reduce energy consumption. The end result is an well insulated building with limited air leakage that leads to lower energy consumption of the building.
With a little creativity and the expertise to overcome inherent construction challenges involved with adaptive reuse projects, property owners can enjoy some of the most effective sustainable projects in the construction industry.
