By: The Columbian is moving to a new headquarters in downtown Vancouver. Completed early this fall, the project added $30 million to the $300 million already invested in a redevelopment area. Publisher Scott Campbell was able to assemble enough downtown property to keep all operations there. The idea was to erect an office building, with the newspaper as anchor tenant.
With the newspaper occupying four of six floors in a 118,000-square-foot building, the project sought to adhere as closely as feasible to U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria, aiming for gold certification - the second-highest level. LEED is a voluntary standard for developing "high-performance, sustainable buildings," based on energy requirements related to location, design, construction, materials, systems, and services.
Campbell says he "didn't want to spend a fortune just to make it LEED-certifiable," but was willing to spend on whatever would pay for itself. The LEED premium came to "maybe 10%," he adds. LEED "touches all elements of the building," Campbell says, citing its recycled materials, efficient infrastructure, nonpolluting interior finishes, bicycle storage, even a ground-source heat pump, "which was about a million-dollar premium" but will "eventually pay for itself" by cutting energy costs.
Helping put the project beyond gold-certification requirements are interior and exterior water efficiency, energy efficiency exceeding code by 40%, non-fluorocarbon refrigerants, 95% recycled construction waste, local and recycled building materials, Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood, indoor air quality, CO2 monitoring, and green housekeeping.
The Columbian's new home has a microwave radio link to its plant, a block and-a-half away: Vacated space at the older offices will provide room to expand packaging and "at least 20,000 square feet to lease out," he adds.
***
Related'Chronicle-Telegram' Earns LEED Points For New Building.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here