Industry News
Research found that the average
capital cost premium for LEEDcertified hospitals less than 100,000
square feet was 1.24 percent, and for
hospitals more than 100,000 square
feet the average cost premium was
0.67 percent, based on analysis of 15
LEED-certified hospitals.
The study used data collected
from interviews with project teams
representing 15 LEED-certified
hospitals completed between 2010
and 2012. The research expands upon
a 2008 study, which examined the
capital cost premiums of 13 LEEDcertified healthcare buildings.
The results of the study can be
found in "Sustainable Healthcare
Architecture, Second Edition,"
co-authored by Guenther and Vittori,
published by Wiley and available on
Amazon.com.
www.mcdmag.com
LEED Gold for Alabama hospital
The Benjamin Russell Hospital for
Children expansion is the first healthcare facility in Alabama to gain LEED
Gold status.
KLMK Group served as project
manager, Hoar Construction in partnership with BE&K; served as construction
managers and HKS, Inc. in partnership
with Giattina Aycock Studio, served
as architects. Giattina Aycock Studio
oversaw the green aspects of the project. Children's opened the $400-million, 670,000-square-feet expansion in
August 2012. A partial list of sustainability initiatives includes:
> Materials from recycled raw materials were used for construction and
30-40 percent of the construction
waste was recycled. Natural materials, including recycled mirrors and
seashells, were used in the terrazzo
flooring in public areas of the hospital.
> Up to 30,000 gallons of condensate are collected from the building's
air conditioning system and used for
irrigation and also to cool equipment.
> The rooftop garden of the Benjamin
Russell Hospital for Children is planted
with sedum, a low-maintenance, heatand drought-tolerant ground cover
native to Alabama. The rooftop landscaping reduces heat absorption and
stormwater runoff and also provides
insulation and oxygenation.
November/December 2013 | Medical Construction & Design
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