Southface Eco Office— the power of the products Compiled from interviews with Eco Office Product Donors From its inception, the Southface Eco Office has been an exercise in collaboration. This summer, thanks to a talented design team led by Lord, Aeck & Sargent, our dedicated Eco Office Contractor’s Consortium and a host of donors who have committed products, services and dollars to the project, the Eco Office is finally taking shape.

EPIC Metals Corporation makes the Epicore roof deck system

Of the dozens of off-the-shelf technologies being used in the Southface Eco Office, several companies shared their insights recently with Southface as the first of an ongoing series of articles about our donors. The
following are highlighted here:

From the outside in…
In virtually every training we conduct, Southface teaches the importance of building science as applied to the building envelope. PolySteel, EPIC Metals and GC&PA are among the companies whose generosity will provide Southface’s Eco Office with exterior products, both what people will be able to see and those items that are “behind the walls” to create the envelope of the building. The result will be one of the most efficient buildings in the world.

PolySteel forms will be an integral part of the Eco Office foundation and wall system

If you are familiar with the current Southface Energy and Environmental Resource Center, you know that our building’s lower level is made from insulated concrete forms (ICF). With an existing demonstration of this technology on our campus, our first thoughts on construction of the Eco Office shell did not include ICF. However, as steel prices began a dramatic rise, PolySteel, a company with whom Southface has had a relationship since the early 1990s, approached the Eco Office Contractors about a donation to our project. American PolySteel’s motto is “we are building a better world,” and after learning more about the product, the Eco Office design and construction team embraced the idea of PolySteel insulated concrete forms for the exterior walls of the Eco Office. Though this will be PolySteel’s first LEED project, the product is frequently used in light commercial applications and can assist in meeting the criteria established for certain LEED credits. For the Eco Office, PolySteel will be especially helpful in reaching our energy efficiency goals.

PolySteel is excited about the marketing possibilities for the Eco Office, saying “it is a sustaining marketing opportunity in ongoing, everyday use.” Will Oliver, President of PolySteel Southeast says, “I see the Eco Office as a prototype building that embodies many features and systems that make a contribution to building green. Each system or practice could stand on its own, but together make a greater contribution. The Eco Office presents an opportunity for all of these systems to be evaluated as to their marketability and acceptance by the general population.”

Another exterior feature of the Eco Office is a product from EPIC Metals Corporation. The company mission is to provide architects and engineers with exposed, long-span roof/floor deck ceiling systems that address architectural aesthetics, acoustics, and sustainability.

EPIC Metals creates long span, acoustic roof and floor deck ceiling systems that can be specified to contain up to 100 percent recycled steel. Also, EPIC Metals Roof Deck Systems can incorporate energy saving Solatube Skylights without the expense of additional structural framing, contributing daylighting options to the building. EPIC Metals has been involved in LEED projects including:

Neither the EPIC Metal nor PolySteel donations would be possible without the support of the Georgia Concrete & Products Association (GC&PA), a trade association representing firms that make ready mix concrete or products such as concrete pipe, concrete block, pavers and similar products. GC&PA member firms are donating the necessary cement, flyash and aggregates, as well as delivering the concrete necessary to build the Eco Office. Concrete construction is ideal for high performance buildings and is the material of choice for many LEED-certified structures.

The following GC&PA member companies are supplying donated materials or services to the Eco Office: Buzzi, Cemex, Holcim, Lafarge, Lehigh, National, Boral Materials, ISG (Headwaters) Resources, Hanson, Vulcan, TUCCO, Walker Concrete, RMC Allied, Ready Mix USA, Ernst, Morgan Concrete, Fairburn Concrete and Fowler Flemister. PolySteel is also a GC&PA member.

“GC&PA and its member companies are proud to be part to the sustainability movement and especially proud of Southface’s leading role in providing leadership, training and expertise for green building,” says Gordon Kenna, GC&PA Executive
Director. One of the concrete industry’s environmental initiatives, Cool Communities, was involved in the construction of the current Southface Resource Center in 1996. Kenna adds, “We are especially pleased that when Southface planned for their sustainable, high performance office space, they could count on concrete.”

Acuity Headquarters in Conyers

ABL believes the biggest benefit of being a part of the Eco Office is “watching the collaborative process in action. The full benefits of ‘building green’ will be realized only if the industry converts the linear process used in the past to one where the interdependencies of the different building systems are taken into account during all phases of the project including planning, design and construction.” – Richard Heinisch, Manager, Technical Services, Acuity Brands Lighting

Shedding some light on the project…
In green building, a key design component is the orientation of the building for passive solar design and daylighting. The Southface Eco Office’s daylighting case study was featured in Environmental Design + Construction Magazine (March, 2004). Lighting and daylighting heavily influence a building’s energy needs and employee productivity. Acuity Brands and Nysan Shading Systems are actively involved in this part of the Eco Office.

Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) has chosen to participate in the Eco Office because lighting in and around commercial buildings represents a significant proportion of the energy used in this country. It also presents a tremendous opportunity to save energy while providing building occupants with good visibility to better perform their jobs and a pleasant and safe environment in which to function. Lighting also presents challenges in that lighting designed with only the energy parameter in focus can result in reduced productivity and security of its occupants, more than negating any energy-based savings. Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) feels a strong commitment towards promoting lighting that is both energy efficient and “good for people.” The Eco Office provides the commercial building industry an opportunity to demonstrate how ‘green’ can be good for both the environment and the bottom line.
ABL is not new to green, having worked on multiple green projects including:

ABL believes great companies show integrity by consistently behaving in ways that reflect their core values; sustainable business practices are fundamental to the company’s operation and success.

Richard Heinisch, Manager of Technical Services, comments, “Sustainability, while experiencing tremendous growth in recent years, is still in its infancy. Projects like the
Eco Office demonstrate, in general, the potential of this market and, specifically, the important role lighting has in a building being truly sustainable.”

Heinisch also views this collaboration as “mutually beneficial.” Contributions like those from ABL will allow the Eco Office to be optimized as a demonstration of sustainable techniques while promoting the type of energy-efficient, high quality technologies that will help our communities to be more sustainable. ABL looks forward to including the Eco Office project on its LEED web site (www.acuitybrandslighting.com/sustainability/leed) and its Greenbuild 2005 exhibit.
For the last few years Nysan Shading Systems has focused research and development towards new sustainable products and systems. As recently as 2002, Nysan launched a new solar control division, Arc Structures, specializing in solutions that manage light, glare and energy with products specifically designed for the exterior of the building. In 2003 Nysan launched the GreenScreen® solar shading line, the first PVC Free sunscreen fabric designed for roller shades. From this point, Nysan has introduced a comprehensive campaign of awareness and education in conjunction with the American Institute of Architect’s continuing education program to increase understanding of the benefits and advantages of solar control. When the opportunity was presented to work with Lord, Aeck & Sargent Architecture on the Eco Office, Nysan was eager to help design integrated solar control solutions for both the interior and exterior to work in conjunction with this exciting, ground-breaking project.

Nysan shading systems will be installed at the Eco Office. Nysan has been an exhibitor at past Greenprints tradeshows.

Nysan echoes others’ belief that the collaborative nature of the Eco Office makes it an outstanding project. “The willingness and collaboration from so many sources - architects, designers, suppliers and manufacturers - working together to build a sustainable, efficient and innovative project is remarkable,” says Jason Warnock, Nysan director of sales and marketing.

Nysan’s role in the Eco Office project includes a well-rounded selection of products, all of which have been used in the past, but the Eco Office will be the first comprehensive application. Intelligent solar tracking software will coordinate and operate all these systems. “The ability to work with so many great partners and track the progress of these systems will be of greater benefit for our organization in the long run,” Warnock adds.

Nysan believes green building and sustainable design is perhaps the most important area of development for their organization. Nysan has been a leader in the advancement of numerous products and solutions design to manage light and energy along the windowed wall. Nysan has been involved with the USGBC since 1999 and a member since 2001.

Movin’ on up – and down…
Innovative, dedicated, responsible and reliable – that’s how KONE Inc. describes the Eco Office project – and why the company is pleased to be a part of it by donating an EcoSpace™ elevator. The unique system is energy efficient and space saving, does not require a machine-room and is oil free. KONE also uses environmentally friendly adhesives and sealants, paints, coatings and carpets as well as composite wood and agri-fiber products in its elevators.

Viewed by many as a premier sustainable construction supplier, KONE has been a long-standing member of the USGBC, and has participated in many LEED projects, including Capital Area East End Complex in Sacramento, Rinker Hall in Gainsville, Florida and the Arthur M. Blank Family Office in Atlanta. “The Eco Office – a learning center committed to the education of building professionals – offers KONE the benefit of participating in a consortium of like-minded organizations who are committed to furthering the development of sustainable solutions,” says Tim Disher, Assistant Vice President and Regional Sales Manager. “KONE believes this unique partnership provides first-hand insight into how construction systems can and should be effectively integrated to produce the best possible facility for our customers and the environment.”

KONE believes that partnering opportunities such as the Eco Office will continue to push the construction industry toward more integrated and holistic solutions – furthering a shared sustainable vision in the future.

Bringing it all together…
These are only a few of the exemplary companies whose products and services are making the Eco Office a reality. Southface is honored and proud to partner with all of our product and service donors on this exciting endeavor. If you are associated with a company interested in exploring opportunities to participate in the project, or if you are an individual interested in lending personal support, visit us online, in person, or call to learn more. You can also become a part of Southface’s success today by making a pledge to our future.