Architects are calling the third version of the popular green-building rating system, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a significant improvement over earlier releases. LEED 2009, which covers new construction, schools, core and shell, commercial interiors and existing buildings, “is a step forward,” says Greg Mella, a principal of SmithGroup, Washington, D.C., and a member of the American Institute of Architects committee on the environment. Under LEED 2009, rolled out late last month by the U.S. Green Building Council, credits are standardized on a 100-point scale. Credits also have been reweighted. Mella deems that important because it recognizes the connection
The third draft of the nation’s first standard for high-performance buildings, currently out for public comment through June 15, has stricter energy conservation provisions and reflects input from a broader cross-section of experts, according to its developer. National laboratories currently are using energy modeling to determine how much more savings could be generated using the latest version of the proposed standard compared to previous versions. “I would anticipate [savings would go] up at least another 5%,” says Kent Peterson, chair of the committee writing American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standard 189.1, and principal of P2S Engineering Inc.,
Structural engineers from Keast & Hood are a bit baffled in the belfry of historic Independence Hall in Philadelphia. As part of a planned $4.3-million renovation, triggered by leaks in the landmark’s tower, the local firm discovered that several lines of iron rods, which run vertically down the center of the tower’s 2.75-in.-thick wooden siding, have significantly deteriorated. But the team doesn’t know why the rods are there in the first place, so they don’t know if they need to be repaired or replaced. Photo: National Park Service Philadelphia tower built in 1828. Photo: National Park Service Purpose of rods
This summer, Sears Tower will have a new face to match its new name. Although Chicagoans are less than thrilled about Willis Group Holdings moving in, the new view atop “Willis Tower” may render them speechless. Image: SOM Sears Tower’s observation floor will extend visitors beyond the curtain wall. Image: SOM Innovative glass boxes will provide gut-wrenching views from Chicago’s tallest tower. Just outside the glassed-enclosed, 103rd-floor skydeck, construction is under way to offer visitors a view of the city at all angles, including straight down, by means of four laminated, structural-glass modules that will extend more than 4 ft
The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has said that it is allocating $742.5 million in economic-stimulus funds to speed construction of 11 transit projects in nine states. The DOT plan, announced on May 7, distributes funds to projects for which the Federal Transit Administration has multi-year, full-funding grant agreements. The aid, contained in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, doesn't represent an increase in DOT's total funds for the projects, but gets anticipated federal money to the transit agencies sooner than expected and allows work to proceed more rapidly. The ARRA measure provides a total of $8.4 billion for FTA capital
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on May 8 that it would distribute $111.9 million in grants bolstered by funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help communities clean up Brownfield sites. The grants include $37.3 million from the Recovery Act and $74.6 million from the EPA Brownfields general program. The grants will help to assess, clean up and redevelop abandoned, contaminated Brownfields—sites where expansion, redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act of 2002 expanded the definition
Foundation work for a signature bridge is under way as part of a $2.2-billion Interstate corridor project in Connecticut. Critical elements include constructing the nation’s first extradosed bridge and beefing up commuter rail service in what Connecticut Dept. of Transportation officials say is the largest single construction effort ever undertaken by the agency. Photo: URS New Q-bridge (above) section foundation is located between existing I-95 and vertical-lift Tomlinson Bridge. Photo: Aeropix Photo: Raito Inc. Supertop rig drills 200-ft-long steel casings into rock. The 7.5-mile-long I-95 New Haven Harbor Crossing Corridor Improvement Program, extending from the Long Wharf area in New
Two years ago, only cows occupied the hilly 922-acre expanse just outside Branson, Mo. But aggressive construction, including moving nearly 12 million cu yd of earth has transformed it into the nation’s first privately financed and operated commercial airport.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority can proceed at full speed with its $7-billion capital program, thanks to being the nation’s first transportation agency to sell more than $1 billion in taxable bonds that come with a 35% reimbursement from the federal government under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Build America bonds (BABs) will contribute $1.375 billion to the authority’s 10-year capital program, along with $375 million sold in traditional tax-exempt bonds. Photo: Aileen Cho / ENR Gutierrez-Scaccetti (right) and Raczynski lead $7 billion in planned capital projects. Photo: New Jersey Turnpike Authority A broadened investor base means the
California’s push to increase renewable energy’s share of the power market is showing results. Construction of the first phase of a new 400-MW solar power project in the California desert will begin in late 2009 once a contractor is named. Photo: Brightsource Energy Inc. Flat mirrors mean lower cost for BrightSource’s solar plant, piloted in Israel’s Negev Desert. Oakland, Calif.-based BrightSource Energy Inc. this year has signed contracts with Rosemead, Calif.-based Southern California Edison Co. and San Francisco-based Pacific Gas & Electric Co. for a total of 2,200 MW of power from seven planned solar plants at locations in California
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