LEEDing the Way in Community Building Constructions:

Largo Community Center

Charles R. “Chas” Jordan, MPA, LEED Green AssociateApril 21, 2011

Introduction

Chas Jordan LEED Green Associate Acting Facilities Manager and

Assistant Project Manager during Community Center construction

ADMINISTRATOR not a FACILITIES GUY

About the Community Center

~20,000 Square Foot Complex

Predominantly Senior Citizen focused

Located in our downtown corridor

Strong Community Support

Housed a number of specialized community programs (i.e. Dance troop, Playing Card clubs, etc.)

At the time of the project, was roughly 30 years old with a historic “aspect” to it, in an old barn wall from 50 years ago

About the New Building

40,000 square feet

Banquet / Reception and Performance Hall

Two Dance Studios

Black Box Theatre

Meeting Space

Fitness Room

Game and Card Rooms

Full-Sized Restaurant Capable Kitchen

Community Garden

LEEDPlatinumCertified

Building GREEN – Why?

Public Projects = NEED POSITIVE PERCEPTION

Green Buildings “reduce maintenance and operational costs”

Long term benefit to the Environment and the Community

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design quickly becoming a design standard for buildings

Things We Learned

The LEED Process is extensive and technical

LEED is much more than just the construction of the building itself

To really receive high points, it requires financial assistance and private partnerships unless you have strong political backing

The Contractor and the Architect get substantially more out of the process and the certification than the City does

Things We Did as a Result

Received Financial Assistance from the Contractor and the Architect to perform some small requirements for the building to go from a LEED Gold Certification to LEED Platinum

Worked with the Property Owner (given to us by a Nursing Home campus) to develop Bus stops and Golf Cart parking to benefit not only the demographic of the Center, their residents, but also the LEED Requirements as well

LEED – Politically and Economically Feasible?

The Klutho Effect – People still do not believe LEED is really “Green”

City and County Councils becoming more and more weary of the costs associated with the Certification

Is the “Plaque on the Wall” worth it?

January 2010

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November 2010

Conclusion

Received Project of the Year Awards from both the West Coast Branch and the Florida Chapter

Won an Innovation award from the Recreation Management Magazine

Received Awards from the Association of Builders and Contractors and the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects

It has been highlighted by the Department of Energy for its use of Photovoltaics to reduce energy costs

Serves as the City's Crown Jewel for Facilities Construction and its commitment to Sustainability

November 2010