Designed by Michael Bennett of Fort Worth's Bennett Benner Pettit Architects + Planners, Erma Lowe Hall is TCU's latest facility to receive LEED Gold Certification as established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).
LEED Gold Erma Lowe Hall - TCU Studio B (former gymnasium). (Photo: Business Wire)
The state-of-the-art facility is home to TCU's School of Classic and Contemporary Dance. Sustainable features include energy saving design elements such as large windows to take advantage of day lighting, timers and motion sensors for all interior and exterior lights, locally sourced materials, as well as reduced water consumption thanks to low-flow fixtures, and a 50% reduction in water necessary for outside irrigation. Additionally, 75% of the original building, built in 1921 as the university's gymnasium was reused and 75% of all construction waste was diverted from the landfill, including brick removed during demolition which was salvaged for reuse.
"Erma Lowe Hall was an especially meaningful project – not only for its positive environmental impact, but also for its contribution to TCU's dance program," Bennett said. "Sustainable design is a focus of our firm. We take this commitment and responsibility to our community and the environment very seriously."
Bennett Benner Pettit has also provided design services for other sustainable projects such as the LEED Gold Certified Tarrant Regional Water District Annex, completed in 2009, Westlake Academy, Rogers Road Pavilion – now known as the acclaimed Woodshed Smokehouse, and the new Tarrant County Jail which is currently under construction and anticipated to receive LEED Gold certification.
"We incorporate sustainable features into our work whenever possible," Bennett said. "Although these measures benefit the environment and the community at large, building owners have the opportunity to reap the economic benefits over the life of the facility by choosing to build sustainably."
The USGBC administers the LEED program, which qualifies projects designed to stringent standards intended to reduce facilities' impact on the environment. The GBCI grants LEED certification up to Platinum level certification via third party review.
A recognized Princeton Review "green" school, TCU is in the process of updating its older facilities to make them more sustainable while ensuring all new construction projects are designed to LEED standards.
Contact Monica Napier for additional or high resolution project photos.
About Bennett Benner Pettit
Bennett Benner Pettit is a multidisciplinary design firm, offering architecture, urban design and planning, economic development, interior design, and landscape architecture. Their objective is to create projects that make a positive difference in the environment, improve communities and heighten the capabilities and brand value of their clients. With the personal attention of its leaders, Bennett Benner Pettit applies keen insight, problem-solving skills and a collaborative approach to complex situations, helping them to understand the fabric of the communities in which they work and thoughtfully design in concert with their clients. Bennett Benner Pettit is based in Fort Worth, Texas.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50228045&lang=en
Contacts:
Bennett Benner Pettit
Monica Napier, 817-335-4991
mnapier@bbptx.com
