Metal Design is Green All the Way
By Laura Funk
AIA’s Sustainable Architectural Practice Position Statement:
"The AIA recognizes a growing body of evidence that demonstrates current planning, design, construction, and real estate practices contribute to patterns of resource consumption that seriously jeopardize the future of the Earth’s population. Architects need to accept responsibility for their role in creating the built environment and, consequently, believe we must alter our profession’s actions and
encourage our clients and the entire design and construction industry to join with us to change the course of the planet’s future"
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From The Metal Initiative:
“From recyclability, to recycled content, from ecosystem depletion at production to end of life reuse, metals lead the way in Green design.”
Once perceived as “space age” or “clinical,” stainless steel environments are now emerging as top choices for green environments, neutral room palettes, and gold award designs--and architects and designers are once again leading this positive new direction.
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AIA: LEEDing the Way:
The history of AIA/COTE tells of the nearly thirty-year journey that AIA committees have ventured to forge the way towards sustainable and environmentally conscious design. Since the formation of the AIA Energy Committee in the early 1970’s--whose dedicated efforts eventually influenced President Jimmy Carter to found the US Department of Energy (DoE) -- today’s COTE (Committee on the Environment) and BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) software package, AIA’s leadership has “greened” the White House, joined with the Union Internatinoale des Architects in signing the “Declaration of Interdependence for a Sustainable Future,” and pioneered the “Top Ten Green Projects” programs awarded annually on Earth day in conjunction with the DoE and the EPA’s Energy Star program.
When it comes to striving for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), every architectural firm begins by “going for gold.” LEED’s Division 5 includes a wide variety of construction materials, including metals, however, metals are unique among them in that they may be recycled and remanufactured indefinitely without losing their structural properties.
Two of the six categories LEED awards credits for are “materials and resources” and “indoor environmental air quality.” Stainless steel offers LEED points in both categories: in the first for its recycled content, ranging from 60%-100%, and also for its end-of-useful-life recyclability into new products; in the second for its negative VOC emissions. Consider the use of stainless, copper, and other metals in interior and exteriors as double bonuses: for you or your firm’s LEED recognition, as well as for your client’s desire to build and occupy healthier environments.
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Some of AIA’s Current Green Efforts:
AIA tops the list of the “Blue Chip Team of Green Partners” on the Green Communities website (www.greencommunities.org),joined by other impressive corporate, financial, and philanthropic organizations all “aiming for nothing less than a transformation in the way communities think about, design and build affordable houses.” AIA’s publication The Environmental Resource Guide has become the standard manual for environmentally conscious design/building, guiding architects and project managers through the new landscape of LEED Design Certification regulations. AIA’s Sustainable Design Resource Guide states that “the use of recycled material also benefits the environment by reducing air and water pollution from manufacturing, environmental degradation through mining, and waste production.“
Recycled materials metals are not often thought of as an environmentally-appropriate material; one need only a cursory understanding of mining industry to have an idea of the embodied energy required to extract, mill, and transport metal. However, the use of recycled material actually benefits the environment by reducing air and water pollution from manufacturing, environmental degradation through mining, and waste production. Steel is the easiest and most commonly recycled of all building materials, generally containing from 46-95% recycled content.
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Green: VOC’s and Clean Surfaces
Today, the awareness of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) and how they affect humans living in enclosed spaces is at an all time high. The prevalence and availability of low VOC paints, carpets, synthetic surface materials, and prepared wood products demonstrates that the demand for healthy living environments indoors has hit the marketplace full force. It has taken both time and a great amount of effort on the part of healthy indoor environment advocates to reach this point.
Popular choices for kitchen and bath countertops are stone, tile, or stained concrete. All three of these have surfaces that provide welcoming environments for bacteria and mold due to their inherent porosity. This porosity in turn requires users to reach for harsh bacteria-killing cleaners and solvents to maintain hygienic surfaces for food preparation, etc., not to mention the VOC’s emitted from grouts, stains, and glues. Finally, only the fly ash content of the cement is generally a recycled content material, and often only averaging 3%.
Compared to other materials, the inherent recycled, hygienic, low VOC emitting qualities of stainless steel and copper are hard to match. With an integrally welded-in sink, both stainless and copper kitchens offer unmatched hygienic conditions through the elimination of joints and gaps. If properly constructed and installed, counter tops and sinks will leave no space for standing water to offer bacteria and molds to flourish. In addition to all of this, copper will bring a warm, radiant glow to any space and copper has a built-in natural chemical mechanism that kills many bacteria and viruses within minutes of contact.
Stainless—Design Flexibility:
As an interior design choice, stainless steel is the new neutral: it is not only hardworking and easy to maintain, but offers a neutral quality like no other material by subtly reflecting its environment without adding another color to the palette. Also, by reflecting both natural and artificial light it adds a sense of space to galley kitchens or small bathrooms while serving to cut down the costs of illuminating interiors.
The malleability of metal means that it can be shaped to round any corner or flared into handles, hoods, or holders. It can support mirrors, glass, stone, and rocks. Once welded and polished, seams are invisible making for smooth transitions
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The Future:
While stainless steel and copper remain seen mostly in modern residential kitchens or medical and hospitality facilities, progressively designed public and private spaces are exhibiting the growing awareness of the “green design” benefits of these materials. This latter case is the result of the design community’s forging ahead to build a better environment by utilizing stainless steel in commercial and residential spaces. The flexibility, strength, malleability, aesthetic, and health benefits of stainless steel and copper used for interior and exterior finishes significantly beat competitively used materials. Endless formations, endless recyclability, endless design possibilities.
--Laura Funk is a freelance writer and marketing consultant. |
The top honor, The H. Dean Rowe, FAIA Award for Design Excellence, was bestowed upon the firm Jonathan Parks Architect for their historic renovation of The Cohen House in Sarasota, Florida. The house was originally designed in the 1950’s by architect Paul Rudolph, who is known internationally as one of the major architects in what is labeled, the Sarasota School of Architecture. The house also earned accolades in 1956 from Architectural Record. Relying on original blue prints and National Historic Trust guidelines, the firm removed additions not original to the design, replaced windows and restored original terrazzo flooring, mahogany walls and furnishings in the 2,300 SF house. The jury commented that this project shows that “these mid-century icon buildings that are all too often threatened and eliminated can find new life.”
An honor award was presented to BECK for their design of the future 10,000 sq ft. Walker Brand Communications (pictured right) headquarters. The building, when complete, will be LEED Certified, meaning it meets nationally-recognized standards related to energy-efficient design. The building is very open with a transparent glass façade and an open interior to encourage collaboration. The jury commented that “the building is just beautiful and well designed, very open” and that it is an “exciting project with the translucent materials and subtropical aesthetic.”
USF School of Architecture Student, Derek Jensen, was recognized with an Honor award for his conceptual design of a new Safety Harbor Museum. The design was largely influenced by the proposed project site located along Tampa Bay. The volumes and spaces flow down toward the bay ‘like water’. The jury commented that “the design is really sophisticated for a student project; the handling of materials, the sensitivity to the site and the way in which the student understands the importance of light, makes this project worthy of an honor award.” 
Merit Awards were also presented to six projects. One familiar Tampa project was recognized for its distinctive attention to detail. Gould Evans was recognized for their design of the Ford Amphitheater Sound Wall – visible from I-4 on the Florida State Fairgrounds. The 72 ft wall stretches 450 feet. Its shape is in response to engineering sound analysis which indicated varying height requirements and a V shaped sound trap. The jury commented “there is a lot of attention paid to detail. The design uses steel and corrugated metal in such a sculptural way” and that the project is “creative and fun”
A Merit Award was also presented to St. Petersburg based Wannemacher Russell for their additions and renovation of the North Shore Pool Complex in St. Petersburg. The firm added a new entry building, classroom building and pump building as well as renovated the existing pool house. The new entry provides a welcoming perspective that is focused on the pool. The jurors commented that “this project demonstrates how a small project with likely a small budget can make a big impact.” And, “it shows how architecture can make a difference even in a small scale project.”
Holmes Hepner & Associates Architects were recognized with a merit award for their design of the Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union Call Center. This nearly 40,000 sq ft state-of-the-art call center will serve 215 employees and is located on the existing campus of the credit union’s corporate headquarters in Tampa. The design was shaped by the buildings use,incorporating natural lighting, a flexible open floor plan and operable sun shades. The jury commented that “the design takes advantage of the views and light and creates a very pleasant working environment.”
HUMPback House, a project by Phillip Crosby of DUAL:Workshop also earned a merit award. The design is a conceptual prototype for attainable urban infill housing in the University Park neighborhood of downtown St. Petersburg. The houses were designed for a 25 ft wide lot, utilizing densification to increase affordability. The jury commented that “a lot of thought has been put into these floor plans and how people live today. This project is very nice…truly modern and forward looking.”
Architecture student, Luke Carlson was awarded a Merit award for his thesis design of a conceptual high school called Collective Individuality. The school was designed to promote interaction between students in groups to enhance learning. The jury commented that “this is a very thoughtful project in terms of creating space for students. The organization of buildings around an exterior space creates good movement and a good learning environment.” 
