Atlanta Downtown Improvement District

Southface served as LEED Administrator for the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District’s commercial office space renovation, and facilitated the LEED certification process. Southface also consulted with the project’s design and engineering staff throughout the construction process.

The Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID), founded in 1995 by Central Atlanta Progress, is a community improvement organization committed to creating a livable environment in Downtown Atlanta. Located in the historic Olympia Building, one of a handful of Depression-era buildings still standing in the city, ADID’s LEED Silver office space houses Atlanta’s Ambassador Force. The Ambassador Force is a group of 67 men and women who assist Atlanta residents and visitors with activities, directions, medical assistance and safety. The force serves 200,000 people a day, many of whom visit the ADID office.

The newly renovated space serves as a demonstrable example of what can be accomplished in a green office renovation in a highly visible, high traffic area of Atlanta. LEED Silver certification has also helped to establish ADID as a leader, among more than 400 property owners in Downtown Atlanta in environmental responsibility. Its high profile and respected position in the community allows ADID to promote the value and importance of green buildings to the future of Downtown Atlanta.

Environmental Strategies Implemented

Site:

• Bicycle storage, showers, proximity to public transit and no designated parking spaces encourage the use of alternative transportation.

Water Efficiency:

• Dual-flush toilets, low-flow faucets and a low-flow shower result in indoor water savings of 43%.

Energy Efficiency:

• Lighting power density for this facility is now 16% lower than the building code requires.

• Lighting controls, such as occupancy sensors, photo sensors, dimmers and local switches, have been added to reduce energy use.

• The office has been sub-metered, and energy costs are not included in the base rent.

• No ozone-depleting refrigerants are used in the facility.

Materials:

• 58% of construction waste was recycled.

• 66% of building materials were regionally manufactured.

• 100% of the original furniture was reused.

• The organization committed to a ten-year lease, which conserves resources associated with tenant relocation.

Indoor Environmental Quality:

• CO₂ monitoring ensures proper ventilation.

• A construction indoor-air-quality management plan reduced air contaminants during construction.

• Low-emitting finish materials kept indoor air contaminants to a minimum.

• Task lights for individual workstations allow occupants to control their lighting.

• A thermal comfort survey is issued bi-annually to ensure occupant comfort.