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Barn Again
It's been said that the greenest
building in the world is the one that is already built. Such was the
philosophy of JDB Engineering and our affiliate companies when we renovated
an old barn in 1989 to serve as corporate headquarters. Our approach was to
recycle as much of the 1936 structure as possible; furthermore, the existing
barn was recycled from a mid-19th century barn that had been tragically
destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt using the same foundation and many of the
salvageable materials. Exposed charred timbers remain, testament to the
recycling of the sturdy first-growth wood.
Known officially as the Concord Corporate Center, but colloquially as “the
barn,” the building makes extensive use of natural lighting. Arched windows
were added to all six facades, while skylights and a massive cupola provide
daylighting to the open loft spaces. The abundance of natural light
minimizes the requirements for artificial lighting. Several rooms also
feature motion sensors. Only a small atrium was originally added, itself
constructed using stone recovered from an old barnyard fence. A 2007
expansion provided additional space to house our growing operation.
The HVAC system employs sustainability concepts as well. A closed-loop water
source heat pump system includes 16 heat pumps that recover rejected heat to
minimize boiler usage. High ceilings and open workspaces assist with
ventilation, and most windows are operable. Individual thermostat control
also enhances the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ).
A standing seam metal roof was employed for sustainability. The roofing
meets the Energy Star solar reflectivity criteria and reduces
heating/cooling energy costs by as much as 40%.
JDBE also incorporated sustainable features within the building interior.
Furniture in the addition was reused and reconfigured from elsewhere in the
building. Through our original purchase of quality furniture with a long
life cycle, we were able to eliminate the need to replace it. Surplus
furniture was donated to staff members, not the local landfill.
Locally-produced ceiling tile with recycled content was used. It is
low-emitting and recyclable. A carpet with minimum 30% recycled content was
also specified. The selected carpet has earned the SCS Sustainable Choice
Platinum/EPP rating and is fully recyclable, low VOC, solvent free, and low
odor. Paints are also low VOC, and a light tone was selected for its natural
reflective quality, further reducing artificial lighting requirements.
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