May 21 2008
Stantec today announced that a new, 89,000-square-foot building under construction at the Brooklyn Navy Yard will feature energy-saving solar and wind-generated power as part of a renewable energy pilot program. The building, expected to be completed summer 2008, will be occupied by SurroundArt, a fine arts services firm that will make the building a part of its new Museum Resource Campus.
SurroundArt
In partnership with National Grid Energy Services, the Perry Avenue building will test photovoltaic, or PV, solar energy production. PV technology uses solar cells or panels to convert sun energy into electricity. The energy captured by the PV panels will serve the general electric pool of the building, working in parallel with the grid to reduce the building's use of conventional fossil fuel sources of electricity. Wind turbines on the roof will also contribute to the building's base electrical supply and are tied to the main electrical switchgear.
Combined, the alternative energy sources are expected to decrease reliance on traditional energy sources by as much as 5 percent. High-efficiency designs for the building shell and building systems will reduce energy consumption further.
Designed by Stantec architects, the Perry Avenue building is designed to meet the standards for Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. To achieve this rating, the building also incorporates such features as the use of recycled rain water in toilets, reflective roofing and pavement to reduce surface temperatures, recycled building materials, high-efficiency lighting fixtures, natural ventilation systems, and special accommodation for bicyclists and low-emission vehicles.
"The Perry Avenue building will stand as a proud example of green construction and design in an industrial setting," said Joseph Donovan, architect and principal at Stantec. "We are committed to sustainability and applaud the efforts of SurroundArt and the Brooklyn Navy Yard for embracing the cause."
The three-building SurroundArt Museum Resource campus includes the new Perry Avenue building, another 71,000 square feet in Building Three at the Navy Yard and the adaptive re-use of the historic, century-old Paymaster Building. Stantec's role is as architect of the exterior of the Perry Avenue building, while Steven Kratchman Architect has been selected for interior and campus design.
Stantec is involved in hundreds of renewable energy projects across the US and Canada, including studies, design, and environmental work for a number of large-scale wind farm projects. The firm is also helping to develop a new process to convert waste fats, oils, and greases into useful energy, and has designed scores of LEED-certified buildings, including offices, schools, water treatment plants, manufacturing facilities, residential complexes, and other structures.
"Stantec brings tremendous experience and know-how in green building design to the Perry Ave. project and we could not be in better hands," said SurroundArt CEO Michael Murray. "We are extremely proud and excited to move into what will be the nation's first multi-story, multi-tenanted LEED Silver Industrial Building."