Sustainable construction
We take tremendous pride in helping to ensure our projects meet green building practices. Advantages for such practices include lower operating costs, increase asset value, conservation of energy and water, reduction of wastes as well as greenhouse gas emissions, and perhaps, help owners qualify for tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives.
Contract Construction has extensive experience in sustainable design and construction, including numerous LEED and Green Globe certified projects. Our first LEED project (USC Green Quad Dormitory) was the first LEED certified dormitory in the United States. Our company president, Greg Hughes, was actively involved with the revision to Sustainable Design Legislation to revise the wording following the tenth year of its existence. The ultimate goal of this Sustainable Legislation Committee is to maintain sustainable efforts and to reduce the costs to the State Universities.
SOME OF OUR GREEN PROJECTS
University of South Carolina Green Quad Dormitory
At the time of its opening, Green Quad (formerly known as West Quad) was only the second newly constructed college or university residence hall in the country to be LEED certified, the largest in the world at 176,000 square feet. This four building complex was completed in 2004. It houses 504 students and includes a learning center for environmentally friendly and energy efficient design. This building is equipped with Energy Star appliances, reflective roofing, motion controlled lighting, recycled furnishings, low flow plumbing, and a partial green vegetated roof that aids in stormwater runoff. In August 2005, this building was awarded LEED Silver certification from the United States Building Council.
Please click here to access the accompanying story for this project.
Midlands Technical College Northeast Campus
Engineering and Science Classroom Facility
80,000 square foot, five story structural steel framed brick veneer classroom facility. Work includes specialized HVAC and Plumbing systems and research laboratories. This project achieved LEED Gold Certification by the US Green Building Council in April of 2014. It was the first building on the Midlands Tech Beltline campus designed to achieve LEED Silver certification for green building construction.
University of South Carolina Long Family Football Operations Facility
This 110,000 SF one-of-a-kind facility includes over 33,000 square feet of dedicated weight room and training space; a room for hydrotherapy treatments; nutrition and flexible dining areas; coach and staff offices; meeting rooms; locker rooms; and a players’ lounge. The building achieved two Green Globes, and incorporates large expanses of glass to capitalize on exterior views towards the adjacent Williams Brice Stadium.
Meadow Glenn Elementary School
Completed in 2011, this elementary school includes 124,829 square feet with terrazzo flooring, certified wood products, commissioned HVAC systems, efficient restrooms, recycled and regional material usage in the drywall, ceilings, carpets, brick, etc; and an onsite recycling center. This project achieved LEED Silver Certification by the US Green Building Council.
Bignon Gameday Center at Williams-Brice Stadium
The Green Building Initiative awarded the University of South Carolina’s Bignon Gameday Center at Williams-Brice Stadium Two Green Globes certifications. The building, which is part of the Springs-Brooks Plaza improvements at the Gamecocks’ Football stadium is a 12,000 sq. ft. support building which houses the University’s gameday apparel store, support staff offices, ticketing offices and police area. This certification was awarded based on the project’s sustainable features which include reduction in energy and water use along with utilizing sustainable construction methods and detailing.
Rocky Creek Elementary School
The new elementary school includes 124,829 square feet with terrazzo flooring, certified wood products, commissioned HVAC systems, efficient restrooms, recycled and regional material usage in the drywall, ceilings, carpets, brick, etc; and an onsite recycling center This project achieved LEED Silver Certification by the US Green Building Council. Langford Elementary School. This new elementary school includes 111,000 square feet with regional and recycled flooring, highly reflective roofing to lower HVAC operating costs, and a recycling center. Clearing debris was made into mulch for landscaping the school grounds. This project achieved LEED Silver Certification by the US Green Building Council.
WHY BUILD GREEN?
By adopting green building strategies, we can maximize both economic and environmental performance. Green construction methods can be integrated into buildings at any stage, from design and construction, to renovation and deconstruction. Because some benefits of green building programs, such as decreased landfill costs, help to offset the increased costs of administrative costs for tracking and reporting, the net result is that the methodologies we use allow us to deliver green certification to owners with virtually no added costs over traditional methods – and that is cost-effective and appropriate for every project.
Other benefits include:
Reduced operational costs.
Reduced carbon emissions and waste.
Energy saving/efficiency.
Improved indoor environment and quality of life = improved productivity.
Greater life cycle value.
DID YOU KNOW?
In the United States, buildings account for:
39% of total energy use
12% percent of the total water consumption
68% percent of total electricity consumption
38% percent of the carbon dioxide emissions