NVAR broke ground for its new NVAR Headquarters building on Monday, May 4, 2009. NVAR’s members work every day to help citizens of Northern Virginia realize their dream of homeownership, and now NVAR will have a home of its own.
NVAR’s new headquarters will be a 24,000 square-foot LEED Certified GREEN building. To be LEED Certified means that the new NVAR building will meet the construction requirements of the U.S. Green Building Council and qualifies to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards.
LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED promotes 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.
The new NVAR headquarters will offer a campus-like setting, underground garage, easy access in and around the building, and state-of-the-art technology that will make all meeting rooms and classrooms efficient and comfortable.
The NVAR community is grateful to Sid Dewberry for his vision and continual support of NVAR, to the NVAR Building Committee, PSA Dewberry Architects and Advanced Project Management, Inc. and the construction company, LF Jennings.
Steps To Achieving Sustainability:
Sustainable Building and Site Design:
• Project site selected to have minimum impact on natural environment and to be near public transportation.
• Premium parking spaces set aside for low fuel vehicles and bicycle storage; changing rooms provided for occupants who bicycle to work.
• Open space exceeds local requirements by 54%.
• Half of parking is underground to reduce impervious site area allowing for more natural water absorption and less run off.
• Building materials were selected for high recycled and low VOC content.
• Use of native plant materials on site allows for minimum site irrigation and maximum water savings.
• Indoor air quality improved by increasing fresh air intake; outside air system design provides 25 percent higher outside air quantities than required by applicable codes.
Sustainable construction practices:
• Prevented pollution during construction by careful stormwater management and erosion control.
• Protected construction materials during construction to prevent contamination and mold.
• Protected cavities and ductwork from dust and debris after close-in to provide uncontaminated airflow upon occupancy.
• Gave preference to construction materials harvested and manufactured locally (within a 500 mile radius.)
• 75 percent of construction waste generated by project will be recycled.
Energy and Water Conservation:
• Energy efficient building envelope and efficient heating and cooling systems contribute to far greater than average energy savings in the operation of the building.
• HVAC system is "chilled water"-based as compared to "self-contained packaged" system.
• Higher efficiency translates to lower overall operating costs and lower energy consumption; calculations show performance that is 40 percent more efficient than current code requirements.
Operational Sustainability:
• Many sustainable operational practices already in place.
• Housekeeping will be “green,” using non-toxic cleaning products.
• Tenant guidelines have been established to enforce recycling and other sustainable practices.
Information provided by Marlene Shade and Justin Prosser