April-June 2008 (Quarterly Newsletter)
Design & Construction
Green Green and More Green
 |
|---|
Green Buildings….LEED Certifications…High-Efficiency Products…and more. Yes, building green is here and will affect every trade on residential and commercial jobsites. Understanding emerging technologies, changing standards and code requirements is becoming more complicated everyday. And, those in the construction industry who think the “green” movement is a fad are starting to see that our industry faces irreversible market trends that demand a focus on environmental stewardship. Contractors and Subcontractors will see a virtual explosion of work available in this new area.
On April 16, 2008, at the ACT Business Meeting, Architect Phil Swaim, President of Swaim Associates, Ltd., and representatives from Pima County and the local chapter of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) will discuss why it is important for the construction industry to learn as much as possible about sustainable design and construction practices. The demand for green building is increasing at a rapid rate. Both Pima County and the City of Tucson require that all new buildings receive LEED Silver Certification, and are establishing green building programs for private commercial and residential construction as well. These recommendations and standards will affect all construction - from the rooftops to interiors to landscaping to the recycling of construction waste. It's the future! For more information about this meeting and to obtain reservation details, visit the ACT website at www.actaz.net.
 |
|---|
Pima County is pleased to announce that the County's first LEED certified construction project is nearing the end of the design phase and is expected to be bid for construction in May 2008. The project is the Construction of the Jackson Employment Center which will be a 6,000 square foot single-story building located on the southeast corner of 26th St. and 3rd Ave in South Tucson. It will house several offices, classrooms, a meeting room, and storage space surrounding a central courtyard. The proposed construction budget for the project is $1.3 million. The Jackson Employment Center will utilize sustainable design features including solar panels, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and high-efficiency mechanical units and will be the first building for Pima County to seek LEED Silver certification from the US Green Building Council. Pima County anticipates publishing minimum requirements in the solicitation to verify general contractors' LEED qualifications and/or experience.
To promote general contractors' and subcontractors' knowledge of the LEED building and certification process, Swaim Associates, Ltd., the architect of record on the Jackson Employment Center, in coordination with Pima County and the USGBC, will offer a half day seminar, free of charge, to all interested contractors and subcontractors. This seminar will be held on Friday, May 9th, 2008, from 8-12 AM at the Pima County Public Works building located at 201 N. Stone Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701, in the lower level large conference room. Please plan on a small fee for garage parking in the downtown area. All contractors interested in the Jackson Employment Center project are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this exciting opportunity.
A kind thank you to Mr. James J. Kuliesh, Executive Director, Alliance of Construction Trades, who contributed most of this article.
New Employee:
Connie Sanzo, Commodity/Contracts Officer joined the Design & Construction team in February. Connie comes to us from the City of Tucson and has extensive Design & Construction experience. Welcome Connie!