Located in Chapel Hill, the North Carolina Botanical Garden’s Education Center recently celebrated the project’s completion with a dedication ceremony. Although the building is going through the final stages of the LEED certification process, it is expected that it will be the first LEED Platinum building in North Carolina.

 

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue attended the building’s dedication, which was designed by Frank Harmon, FAIA. The Education Center features a group of green buildings that are interconnected with breezeways and covered porches.

 

“All systems and materials in the Education Center were designed to minimize environmental impact and support human health. Green technologies include photovoltaic panels, above- and below-ground rainwater cisterns, bio-retention ponds, geothermal heating and cooling, natural day-lighting, and low-flow plumbing. Construction materials were obtained from within a 500-mile radius, including lumber milled from the site. Recycled components include steel beams made out of scrap metal from automobiles.” Source: Frank Harmon Architect PA

 

North Carolina Botanical Garden is located at 100 Old Mason Farm Road. This conservation garden center features display gardens, nature trails, an arboretum, a biological reserve, and much more. Additionally, the center hosts several educational programs for children, families, schools, and members of the public.

 

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) building in Washington, DC was recently awarded LEED Gold certification as well as verification from the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

 

The organization’s new building combined too existing structures, including a townhouse that was built in the late 1800s. This townhouse was a protected historical building so the project was a challenge for designers but the Council on Foreign Relations is pleased with the results, including the Gold level LEED certification.

 

Several eco-friendly measures went into the CFR building including water-efficient landscaping, a rainwater capture system, diverting construction waste from local landfills through recycling efforts, an indoor air filtration system, and automatic lighting.