Charlottesville’s Smith Aquatic & Fitness Center Awarded LEED Platinum Certification
2rw Consultants, Inc. is proud to announce that the City of Charlottesville’s Smith Aquatic & Fitness Center has earned LEED Platinum certification.
The Center is the first LEED Platinum certified municipal project in Charlottesville, VA and the first LEED Platinum certified municipal aquatics project east of the Mississippi River.
2rw, as consultants for the lead architect Bargmann Hendrie + Archetype, Inc. of Boston, engineered the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for this 24,500 square foot facility. The strategic design of these systems - which reduce energy consumption, conserve water, and overall promotes environmentally sustainable building practices - contributed to the Center’s premier LEED rating.
Some highlights of the sustainable systems include:
• A roof-fitted solar thermal system that helps heat domestic water, and automatic low-flow water fixtures that reduce water waste by up to 64%.
• High-efficiency glazed windows that provide daylight to 98% of occupied spaces.
• Ultra-violet and CO2 treatment systems for pool water that improves air quality by reducing chemical usage.
• Construction materials made out of reclaimed or recycled content. 31% of these materials were procured within a 500 mile radius of the Smith Aquatic site. Overall, 99% of all construction debris was diverted from landfills.
The sustainable features of this project, particularly the standing column well heat pump system designed by 2rw, help to minimize the City of Charlottesville’s building operating and maintenance costs. Heat pump technology generates energy by pumping heat to or from the ground, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The combination of high-performing mechanical systems and geothermal heat pump technology greatly contribute to the facility’s energy-efficient operation. Heating and cooling costs are expected to be reduced by 58% annually, compared to a code-minimum building of a similar size and usage.
The Center is the first LEED Platinum certified municipal project in Charlottesville, VA and the first LEED Platinum certified municipal aquatics project east of the Mississippi River.
2rw, as consultants for the lead architect Bargmann Hendrie + Archetype, Inc. of Boston, engineered the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for this 24,500 square foot facility. The strategic design of these systems - which reduce energy consumption, conserve water, and overall promotes environmentally sustainable building practices - contributed to the Center’s premier LEED rating.
Some highlights of the sustainable systems include:
• A roof-fitted solar thermal system that helps heat domestic water, and automatic low-flow water fixtures that reduce water waste by up to 64%.
• High-efficiency glazed windows that provide daylight to 98% of occupied spaces.
• Ultra-violet and CO2 treatment systems for pool water that improves air quality by reducing chemical usage.
• Construction materials made out of reclaimed or recycled content. 31% of these materials were procured within a 500 mile radius of the Smith Aquatic site. Overall, 99% of all construction debris was diverted from landfills.
The sustainable features of this project, particularly the standing column well heat pump system designed by 2rw, help to minimize the City of Charlottesville’s building operating and maintenance costs. Heat pump technology generates energy by pumping heat to or from the ground, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The combination of high-performing mechanical systems and geothermal heat pump technology greatly contribute to the facility’s energy-efficient operation. Heating and cooling costs are expected to be reduced by 58% annually, compared to a code-minimum building of a similar size and usage.