Green Building

The Greenway Tech Centre building was renovated using LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards for certification as a Green Building. LEED is a third party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. These standards promote a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

Crispus Attucks’ goal was to renovate the building in the most energy efficient, environmentally friendly manner without adding costs to the project.  The historic architectural aspects of the building had to be protected and retained because of its location in the local historic district. In addition, we looked to the future for the requirements that businesses will need to stay competitive. All of these factors made the design and renovation of the Greenway Tech Centre a complicated project. Extensive advanced planning and the cooperation of all parties involved in the project made the results even better than anticipated.

A few of the components that were used to qualify for Green Building status are:

  • We reused original exterior windows of the building as frames for the displays in the historic lobby, in the new lobby area of each floor, and in other renovation projects.
  • The new replacement windows were custom made by Graham Architectural Products in York to exactly replicate the original windows but with advanced energy efficiency.  This saved fuel by eliminating long shipping distances and brought revenue to a local business.
  • Additional space in the recess of the original building was utilized to accommodate an additional elevator and the fire stairs plus the many vertical shafts needed for electrical wiring, plumbing, and HVAC conduits.  By using this space we were able to retain the beautiful wooden floors and ceilings and the large open area on each floor as designed for the original cigar factory. 
  • Corn-blasting was used to remove the paint from the wooden ceilings and columns. The process is similar to sand-blasting, but gentler on the wood. 
  • The stairways were made of pre-cast concrete and were installed in about 2 days with the use of large cranes.  This process helped to reduce the need for more expensive steel framing.
  • The pre-cast parking deck has a high albedo content that prevents it from becoming a heat island in the summer.
  • The lighting is designed to eliminate light pollution to areas outside the building.
  • The natural zinc rain screen adds to the beauty of the North side of the building, acts as a thermal block, and helps to reduce the amount of solar heat gain in the building.
  • We maintained strict procedures related to recycling everything possible and using recycled and reclaimed products whenever possible. The new ceilings in the lobby areas are reclaimed wood from old barns in PA and DE.  They also form an innovative structure for the lobby floors that eliminated additional steel framing and used recycled concrete.
  • The stainless steel sunscreen reduced solar gain and significantly reduced the required HVAC capacity and energy usage.
  • Cork flooring, a renewable resource, was used for the floor of the Historic Lobby, Gallery 540.
  • More information about Green Buildings can be accessed at Green Building Association of Central PA.  Information about LEED certification can be accessed at U.S. Green Building

    •  The construction/renovation of the Greenway Tech Centre utilized a construction manager and six prime contractors.

 

High tech, LEED registered, Historic renovation project that is the foundation of the southern gateway into the city of York.