The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), a global scientific learning and research center, has received the LEED Platinum certification from the US Green Building Council for its new headquarters.
Botanical Research Institute of Texas Headquarters
The BRIT building is the first in Tarrant County to be awarded the LEED Platinum rating. A minimum score of 52 is necessary to achieve the platinum rating, according to USGBC, and the headquarters scored 56 points.
The BRIT headquarters is a two-story building located on 5.2 acres. It covers an area of 70,000 ft2 and saves energy worth $37,000 annually. The roof of the Archive Block has a 52 kW photovoltaic system that provides around 14% of the energy requirements. Water conservation measures and low-flow fixtures have helped the building save 51% of its water requirements. The center has brought down its requirements for potable water for irrigation by 95% using rainwater harvested from the hardscape and the roof.
H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture and Corgan Associates have designed the building, while Balmori Associates designed the campus landscape. The Beck Group constructed the green building and theGreen Team acted as sustainability consultants.
The BRIT headquarters received 11 out of 14 points in the LEED’s Sustainable Sites category, 4 out of 5 points in water efficiency, and all 17 points in energy and atmosphere category, 7 of 13 points in usage of materials and resources, and 12 of 15 points in indoor environmental quality.
Source: http://www.brit.org/