Sustainability Services
Architecture
For more than 30 years, Heery architects have proactively been providing environmentally conscious design solutions to clients around the nation. Georgia Power’s headquarters in Atlanta, GA, designed in 1978, is still recognized for the design that led it to be 35% more energy efficient than other comparable buildings. Central to Heery’s success is its unique ability to call on its LEED AP peer professionals in engineering, interiors, program management, construction-at-risk and more. Having these professionals in-house allows the design team to identify, discuss and resolve sustainability related issues in a timely, cost effective manner.
If you decide to target LEED or other sustainable certifications, Heery architects will collaborate with construction team members early in the project to determine a team approach that leads to a building that not only meets your design aesthetic goals, but meets certification requirements as well . Our staff will also track the status of sustainable design decisions and potential LEED credits to minimize construction, schedule and cost impacts. Depending on your needs, our team can submit the necessary materials to the proper certification agencies.
Interior Design
The interior design of a space has a dramatic impact on how the space is experienced by all who engage within that environment. Recent studies have documented increased productivity levels within spaces designed with sustainability in mind.
Heery’s background of environmentally conscious design solutions extends to its extensive practice in interior design. At the onset of all interior design projects, Heery’s interior designers work closely with the people who will live and work in the space, as well as other design team members, to determine sustainability opportunities and identify if the client wishes to pursue LEED certification. From designing a space layout to maximize daylighting capacity, to reducing heat gain, to working with engineers in identifying efficient HVAC and lighting systems, Heery’s designers address numerous details to achieve energy conservation. Additionally, designers select specific furnishings, fixtures and finishes after taking into consideration their potential recycled materials content, off-gassing and operations and maintenance requirements.
For all projects seeking LEED certification, Heery’s designers begin the project with a LEED charette involving all project team members. The purpose of this meeting is to familiarize all team members with the LEED process, to review the checklist of potential LEED points the project might attain and to determine which points might be achieved. Working through this checklist allows everyone on the team to voice opinions, concerns, potential cost implications and viability of achieving a specific point, aligning everyone on the team with working toward a LEED certified project.
Engineering
Heery’s engineers will take the lead in coordinating LEED and other sustainably designated projects. Our staff has coordinated many LEED projects using the USGBC New Construction, Existing Buildings, Campus and Commercial Interiors Programs. We have served as LEED consultants for military, health care, utility, labs, federal, daycare centers and pharmaceutical clients. Not only have we have worked with school districts to help them meet the criteria for high performing schools, we have worked with a variety of state agencies to help districts obtain additional funding for their sustainable projects.
Heery is one of the few design firms in the US with a multi-disciplined in-house team which has LEED accredited professionals in all disciplines. From the creation of our energy group in the 1970s to the development of the multi-disciplined team that serves clients today, Heery has 29 years of experience delivering top quality sustainable designs. We offer in-house expertise in energy analysis, envelope analysis, engineering studies, cost estimating, life cycle cost analysis, sustainable design, energy efficient designs, alternate energy systems design, water savings studies, combined heat and power systems design, and building commissioning to name a few services. This expertise means clients can count on in-depth sustainable consulting that always meets or exceeds expectations.
Key to our success is working with clients to define sustainable goals at the project’s inception and incorporate those goals in contract documents. We then verify that all team members implement these goals throughout the design and construction phase, and ensure that your building, operates optimally and according to design intent, is within the budget, and attains the certification desired.
Commissioning
Sustainability is a concept that must be included in a project’s earliest planning phase. Heery commissioning agents believe sustainable design requires the commitment of a fully-integrated team dedicated to bringing that goal to life, not only during the design and construction process but after the keys have been handed over. Heery also believes it can provide the greatest insight and system support when its team is brought in prior to design. Before the initial concepts are generated, Heery asks owners to put program requirements into words. What will the hours of operation be? How much daylighting is required? What conditioned ambient temperatures are required? What are fresh air requirements? How long must systems last? By helping owners understand what they want in terms of performance, they can better communicate to designers and engineers who will then design a facility that meets the owner’s requirements.
Whether a client chooses to meet the criteria for LEED Certification or high performing schools, or simply wants to design to the standard without achieving formal certification, Heery’s commissioning agents are focused on helping clients install the most cost and energy efficient systems that work at peak efficiency. Beyond the systems themselves, Heery works with operations employees to ensure they understand the operations and maintenance of systems to maintain peak performance.
Heery has performed commissioning services for a wide range of construction disciplines including K-12 schools, higher-education campuses, data centers, libraries, wineries, office buildings and healthcare facilities, many of which have been LEED Certified. In fact, we often exceed LEED criteria by doing such things as: tuning HVAC plant performance to actual heating and cooling loads, creating energy models for equipment evaluation, and performing “what if” drills and scenarios for the facility operators benefit. Our team works with local and state agencies to help owner’s understand and apply for grants that enable them to defray the costs of installing energy efficient systems. Our commissioning agents can support the design process with assessments of computational fluid-dynamic models to achieve the most energy-efficient building with the lowest operating costs and highest occupant comfort possible.
Program Management
As Program Manger, Heery assumes the role of facilitator for all aspects of your project through design and construction. Developing and establishing effective management procedures and controls to deliver a successful project on time and on budget is our overarching goal.
A successful project also includes effective management of your project’s environmental goals. It has been proven that indoor air quality, natural light and energy management impact operational expenses as well as personnel performance. Our team will help you clearly define these goals in contract documents during the pre-construction phase and, as your on-site representative, will verify that contractors are implementing these concepts correctly throughout the construction phase.
Heery’s in-house design and constructability review teams, estimators, schedulers and on-site construction managers are well versed in the effective sustainable building principles, practices and emerging concepts being used in the building industry. We have tremendous experience working on LEED certified projects. Whether or not a project is seeking formal recognition through organizations such as the US Green Building Council, our team, as part of our commitment to sustainable design and construction advises clients on sustainable design issues and their impact on program costs or schedule as you develop solutions that meet your facility requirements.
CM-At Risk
Heery’s CM-At Risk team recognizes the importance in taking the lead in meeting owners’ sustainability goals. Our goal, whether you’re seeking LEED or other sustainable certification, or simply want to adhere to environmental guidelines, is to work with the owner, program manager and design team to provide valuable input into the environmental aspects of the project at the earliest stages. In implementing local, state and federal Environmental Protection Agency requirements, Heery works diligently to identify opportunities to increase efficiency of production, protect fragile ecosystems, and reduce the carbon footprint during the construction process.
In developing bid packages for subcontractors, Heery carefully highlights sustainability requirements and writes specific language into the contracts to ensure both an understanding of requirements, as well as participation from all parties. Creating an interactive team approach has proven effective in spurring innovative ideas that lead to extra LEED points and project savings.
By working closely with environmental agencies and health and safety officers, we get involved in a variety of construction phase activities to enhance and preserve the environment. Our team has successfully maintained nesting patterns while moving trees, protected moose habitats through careful road and site development, and ensured the preservation of salmon spawning habits while managing the creation of new fishing piers. We also manage erosion control, water quality protection, and air and noise emissions of construction equipment.
Because our construction managers are well versed in sustainable design and construction, we are adept at maximizing waste reduction through efficient site management that carefully considers staging areas, incoming materials, and the possibility for recycling. On a recent LEED gold project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Heery consulted with researchers at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) to provide pulverized drywall (gypsum) to increase soil fertility at a nearby farm. This reduced landfill waste and resulted in overall project savings. Our team works hard to share our experience with other contractors and consultants to ultimately raise the bar in the sustainable construction arena.