Building 55: West Virginia State Office Complex in Logan, West Virginia, is Awarded Prestigious LEED® Green Building Certification

March 2014, (Logan, West Virginia) – McKinley & Associates is pleased to announce Building 55: West Virginia State Office Complex in Logan has been awarded LEED® Certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

This new five story building underscores its major role in the development and revitalization of downtown Logan by uniting office space for various state agencies under one roof, whom were once scattered throughout the city. The 53,200 SF building provides current technology, flexibility for future growth, and security features for existing and future tenants.

The building was designed to be energy efficient and meet sustainable design goals. One of the unique features of the building is the daylight system. The design takes clues from older buildings that were designed to let daylight penetrate deep into the buildings by necessity. To enhance this effect we added “light louvers” which are devices that redirect daylight to the ceiling and diffuse natural light throughout the space. The open offices were placed around the exterior of the building and the enclosed offices along the interior wall so more of the tenants receive quality light. In addition, interior windows allow the daylight to pass to the center offices.

Building 55 achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. By using less energy and water, LEED certified building save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

“Building 55’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and this West Virginia State Office Complex in Logan serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish.”

LEED certification of Building 55 was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include:

– Light louvers (Daylight redirection devices) are used to allow natural light to penetrate deep into the office spaces

– A tight building envelope was achieved with closed cell foam insulation and thermal efficient windows

– The plaza uses recycled brick pavers from the demolished street

– The stained glass window in the main entry was custom designed to reflect the culture and history of the area

By incorporating history, technology, security and structure; this building has successfully created the desired catalyst for the future of Logan.

U.S. Green Building Council

The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, more than 18,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 167,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.

Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

LEED

The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Over 100,000 projects are currently participating in the LEED rating systems, comprising over 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries.

By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

USGBC was co-founded by current President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive. Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has become the preeminent green building, membership, policy, standards, influential, education and research organization in the nation.

For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.