Building 21:

Going Green at the CDC

By Debra Wood

Seeking to incorporate as many sustainable features as possible into the centerpiece of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Edward R. Roybal campus in Atlanta, Building 21, Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates shepherded the agency's new headquarters and emergency operations facility through U.S. Green Building Council's LEED silver certification.

"For the CDC, it was critical that the building reflect an organizational commitment to environmental health," says Micah Rosen, associate principle of TVSA of Atlanta and project manager for CDC Building 21.

Rosen considered the entire 12-story, 364,379-sq-ft building as one cohesive system with elements that work together to conserve energy and provide a healthy work environment.

The exterior sunscreen reflects light up into the windows above but shades the lower portions of glass to decrease the amount of heat entering the building. It works in conjunction with the interior daylighting system that allows light to project deep within the building, decreasing the amount of artificial light required. Although the building was too deep to earn LEED points for the interior reflective system, the owner believed in its long-term merits.

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"We looked at the most efficient systems and systems with appropriate paybacks and kept it within their budget," Rosen says.

Likewise, a grassed roof on the cafeteria did not earn LEED points, but the CDC opted for it to cut down on the long-term need for roof replacements. Other elements counted toward LEED certification, such as a landscaped green space that helped the building blend into its residential surroundings and provides a space for workers to get some fresh air. Terrazzo flooring uses renewable aggregate, and the carpeting has recycled materials.

The CDC's decision to make this building strictly office space with no laboratories allowed it to install an energy-recovery system that warms or cools incoming air by placing it in close proximity to outgoing air, thereby decreasing the amount of energy required to heat or cool the building.

During construction, Skanska USA Building of Atlanta diverted 79% of construction waste materials from landfills. More than half of the materials purchased contained recycled content, and 20% of the materials came from within a 500-mi radius of the building.

"Big picture is that sustainability was the goal, and LEED was the useful metric," Rosen says.

Team Box:

Owner: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta
Construction Manager: Skanska USA Building Inc., Atlanta
Architect/Engineer: Thompson Ventulett Stainback & Associates, Atlanta