(CED supporter RTF) The Research Triangle Park Headquarters Awarded LEED® Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council

Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina and O’Brien/Atkins Associates, PA, announce that The Research Triangle Park Headquarters has been awarded LEED® Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED® was created by USGBC and is the leading rating system for sustainable green buildings.

“The achievement of LEED® Silver for The Research Triangle Park Headquarters reflects RTP’s continued commitment to preservation of the natural environment and the importance of modeling sustainability as RTP enters its second half-century of operation,” said David L. Ward, Jr., Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina Board Chairman.

The 17,000-square foot Research Triangle Park Headquarters, prominently situated amid nineteen mature willow oaks on an 18-acre site in the heart of the 7,000-acre Research Triangle Park, was designed by O’Brien/Atkins and completed in December 2007. The RTP Headquarters houses the offices of the Research Triangle Foundation in the Robert M. Hanes Administrative Center, which connects to the 6,800 square-foot Archie K. Davis Conference Center through a triangular-shaped lobby juxtaposed in the geographic orientation of the flagship research universities from which RTP derives its name and which have been instrumental to its success.  The lobby is clad in pre-patinaed copper and capped with an impressive triangular skylight, highlighted with LED lighting.  From the initial planning meetings for the RTP Headquarters, preservation of the environment through sustainable design and building practices was a high priority.

Research Triangle Foundation Board member Tallman Trask III, Chair of the Building Committee, said, “The RTP Headquarters was designed to be a central gathering place for the RTP community at large.  The open floor plan and state of the art technology blend seamlessly with the many sustainable design features inside and out.”

The sustainable design approach to the RTP Headquarters was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader environment. These features include:

·  Siting the building to take advantage of daylighting and views

·  Restoring 75% of the site to its natural habitat

·  Materials containing recycled content such as copper panels, structural steel, carpet tile, and ceiling tile

·  Regionally produced materials such as brick, copper panels and steel

·  FSC certified wood used throughout the space

·  High reflective white TPO roofing membrane to keep heat out for more efficient air conditioning

·  Sunscreens

·  Low-flow water fixtures that use less water

·  Water efficient landscaping with native plantings placed to reduce heat islands

·  Energy-efficient windows that block out heat and seal in conditioned air

·  Panel fabric in furniture made of renewable corn husks

·  Minimized exterior lighting to prevent light pollution

·  Low-emitting materials used to promote the health of the occupants

"The RTP Headquarters is a project that confirms the value of an integrated approach to design.  From the site design to the building design to the interior design, O'Brien/Atkins' multi-disciplinary design team ensured that sustainability was integral to every aspect of the building.  We are proud to have contributed to a key building in The Research Triangle Park that will set the tone for green design in the region," said Travis Hicks, AIA, LEED AP, and Leah Faile, Associate AIA, LEED AP, design team members from O'Brien/Atkins Associates.

The Research Triangle Park Headquarters provides centrally located meeting and conference space for RTP owners and tenants, university groups, economic development partners and organizations throughout the Triangle.  Since January 2008, the RTP Headquarters has hosted over 120 external meetings in the new facility.

“We hope that the RTP Headquarters’ achievement of LEED® Silver will encourage sustainable design practices for future development projects not only in The Research Triangle Park but also in other science parks around the world,” commented Rick Weddle, President & CEO, Research Triangle Foundation.

The Research Triangle Park will celebrate 50 years of operation in January 2009.  In June 2009, RTP will serve as host to the XXVI International Association of Science Parks’ World Conference on Science and Technology Parks.  The Research Triangle Park Headquarters will serve as one of the venues during the three day conference, the first global carbon neutral conference in the science park industry.  IASP 2009 is expected to draw over 1,000 delegates from science and technology parks around the globe.   

“The Research Triangle Park Headquarters is to be commended for achieving LEED® Silver. This facility is one that both the community and its customers can be proud of,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO, Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The building will be a showcase for high-performance, energy-efficient, healthy design, and an inspiration for others.”

About The Research Triangle Park

The Research Triangle Park is the leading and largest high technology research and science park in North America, covering 7,000 total acres.  Founded in 1959, The Research Triangle Park is developed and managed by the non-profit Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina. The Foundation is responsible for building and maintaining the physical aspects of the Park; attracting and retaining Park companies; and enhancing the competitive position of the Park and the Triangle region.  To learn more about The Research Triangle Park, visit www.rtp.org.

About O’Brien/Atkins Associates, PA, a 100-person design services firm located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, provides architecture, interior design, landscape architecture/master planning, and mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineering services to science and technology, corporate and public clients. For more information, visit www.obrienatkins.com. 

About the U.S. Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. Since UGSBC’s founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 13,000 member companies and organizations, a comprehensive family of LEED® green building rating systems, an expansive educational offering, the industry’s popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (www.greenbuildexpo.org), and a network of 72 local chapters, affiliates, and organizing groups. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.

About LEED®

The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is a feature-oriented rating system that awards buildings points for satisfying specified green building criteria. The six major environmental categories of review include: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovation and Design. Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels of LEED green building certification are awarded based on the total number of points earned within each LEED category. LEED can be applied to all building types including new construction, commercial interiors, core & shell developments, existing buildings, homes, neighborhood developments, schools and retail facilities. LEED for Healthcare is currently under development and is expected to be released in early 2008. Incentives for LEED are available at the state and local level and LEED has also been adopted nationwide by federal agencies, state and local governments, and interested private companies. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org/LEED.