Forging New Ground in Brownfield Redevelopment

Sustainable Design Principal Bill Odell and Designer Mara Baum facilitated a day-long design charrette with representatives from local, state and federal agencies; non-profits; and the private sector to apply LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) principles to the adaptive reuse and renovation of the Laclede Power Plant Building and other St. Louis brownfields.

Originally constructed in 1901, the Laclede Power Building was converted from a power plant to a transformer and switch house in 1945. It was decommissioned in 1978 and has been vacant for 25 years. Trailnet Inc., a not-for-profit organization, is developing the building as the primary trailhead for the 200-square-mile Confluence Greenway and Mississippi Riverfront Trail.

“This is a groundbreaking event; never before has such a diverse group of St. Louis building and related professionals convened with the goal of brainstorming sustainable development options for buildings on brownfield sites,” Baum says. “Ultimately, our goal is to stress the importance of responsible building practices, including the benefits of green building design. We will use the lessons learned to broaden the region’s awareness of the LEED™ Rating System and explore the benefits and applications of green building techniques to other brownfield or ‘distressed’ properties in our region. The results from this event will be shared with local, state and national leaders who are working to rebuild our cities.”

The charrette participants scored the Laclede Power Building using the LEED™ Rating System; under hypothetical circumstances it received 45 points, the equivalent to a Gold rating.

Participants included representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Energy, Missouri Energy Center, St. Louis Development Corporation, Gateway Center for Resource Efficiency, St. Louis Regional Green Building Council and other local architecture and engineering firms.

Learning About LEED™

St. Louis’ Green Group has been presenting a series of professional development lunches for the entire office. Presentations held every other Wednesday feature various aspects of the LEED™ Rating System. Every second and fourth Thursday feature more in-depth discussions of sustainable topics. In conjunction with these seminars, employees are being enlisted to serve as “Green Project Advocates,” providing the green voice on projects.

Walking the Talk

St. Louis employees are in the process of “greening” the office. Current initiatives include:

• Working with the Regional Chamber and Growth Association to create a more effective and inclusive recycling program for the Metropolitan Square Building, where HOK occupies the sixth floor and portions of the ninth and 20th floors. The plan is currently under study through a grant from the State of Missouri.
  
• Recycling product samples by donating them to the local children’s museum for art projects.
  
• Purchasing office supplies and other products that are packaged in a responsible manner.
  
• Leasing new Energy Star photocopiers with advanced functions intended to minimize paper use.
  
• Phasing out unnecessary plastic and Styrofoam shipping containers and materials from the mail room.

Educating the Educators

Senior Design Technician Tim Gaidis presented an overview of HOK’s sustainable design initiatives for about 50 educators at a sustainability conference at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Gaidis served on a panel that fielded questions about sustainable corporate practices.

Top 10 for Edificio Malecon

The Edificio Malecon office building in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was named to the 2002 Top 10 Green Projects List by the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment. Project team members from the St. Louis office include: Ripley Rasmus, Lyle Hodgin and Terry Mattison.

St. Louis News Roundup

• Architects Tim Gaidis and Allen Schaffer, and Director of Interior Design Bob Blaha attended the EnvironDesign6 sustainability conference in Seattle. The annual event featured keynote speakers, concurrent workshop sessions, a Product Learning Center and networking opportunities to deliver information about real-life challenges and concrete solutions in environmental stewardship.

• Following the EnvironDesign6 Conference, “The HOKey-Dokeys” made their worldwide debut in front of 10,000 screaming virtual fans (and a camera) at Frank Gehry’s Experience Music Project in Seattle. The band consists of Allen Schaffer (keyboards), Andrea Moeder of HOK Houston (drums) and Tim Gaidis (guitar). Never missing an opportunity to spread their environmental message, the group jammed to a heavy-metal version of "It Ain't Easy Bein' Green."

• Several St. Louis employees joined the newly launched St. Louis Regional Green Building Chapter, a part of the U.S. Green Building Council. Professional Practice Group Director Mary Ann Lazarus, Senior Interior Designer Sue Harken and Designer Mara Baum serve on the Programming, Membership and Outreach Committees respectively.

• Architect Andy Clinch earned his LEED™ accreditation.

Contact Bill Odell, HOK St. Louis