Brock Environmental Center

Project Details

Project Description

From the AIA:
The Brock Environmental Center is a hub for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Hampton Roads office, supporting their education, advocacy and restoration initiatives. The Center is designed to express CBF’s mission of collaboration to protect one of the nation’s most valuable and threatened natural resources – the Chesapeake Bay. CBF aspired to manifest true sustainability, creating a landmark that transcends notions of “doing less harm” towards a reality where architecture can create a positive, regenerative impact on both the environment and society. The Center surpasses LEED achieving zero-net-CO2 emissions, zero waste, and Living Building Challenge certification from the International Living Future Institute.

2017 AIA COTE Top Ten Jury Comments:
This is one of only a dozen projects to be certified to the Living Building Challenge, achieving net-positive water, waste, and energy while addressing health, materials, and equity. It also achieved LEED Platinum. The building design was inspired by a biophilic design response to the site on Chesapeake Bay, providing a resilient design approach by raising the building to respond to future storm surges. This project broke new ground by becoming the first project in its state to gain approval for potable use of rainwater. Design for wellness is exemplary through avoidance of red list ingredients in materials, along with natural ventilation, daylight, and views. The team undertook a thorough post-occupancy evaluation that informed changes and then created a process to communicate lessons learned.

BY THE NUMBERS:
Predicted lighting power density (watts per square-foot): 0.69 watts/sq.ft.
Actual Consumed Energy Use Intensity (Site EUI): 14.12
Percentage (by weight) of construction waste diverted from landfill: 92%
Percent reduction from National Average EUI for Building Type: 100%
Percentage of materials incorporating health criteria such as HPD or Red List compliances: 100%