|
REI's Pittsburgh Store Receives United States Green Building Council's
LEED Silver Rating for Commercial Interiors
Just in time for its first birthday, REI's Pittsburgh store has been awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) Silver® rating from the United States Green Building Council.
LEED is the recognized national standard for green building in the United States. A point system—which rates a project on everything from light pollution to use of recycled materials—determines whether a building achieves one of four LEED ratings: "Certified," Silver, Gold or Platinum.
Most new REI stores include many elements of "green" design, but the Pittsburgh store stands out with a few special features, including:
- Locally manufactured and high recycled content materials.
- A contract to purchase electricity generated by wind power.
- A minimum use of paints, coatings or carpets that emit chemical fumes.
- Secure bicycle storage for employees and customers who wish to ride to work or shop.
- And coming this fall, a self-guided tour of the store's "green" features, available to customers and employees alike.
The 26,500 square-foot, two-story store is the second REI store to receive LEED certification. In 2004, REI earned LEED-CI Gold for its Portland, Ore., store - the first retail store in the nation to receive that designation.
"When a company like REI takes the lead on green building, they are demonstrating not only that there is commercial value in this approach, but that they care about more than selling gear," Scot Horst, LEED Steering Committee chair. "They also care about people and ecology."
Green construction is one of several initiatives where REI is making progress in reducing the cooperative's environmental footprint. For more than 10 years, the aesthetic design of REI stores has reflected a commitment to do more with less. The steel is exposed and not painted; ductwork is exposed rather than covered with sheetrock; and concrete is not painted or covered with additional materials. This allows reduced use of construction products while creating an authentic, natural look that has become the hallmark of REI stores.
The design team for the REI Pittsburgh store includes:
- Architecture and design-Mithun Architects/REI
- LEED Accredited Professionals-Mithun Architects
- Mechanical-Sound Mechanical Consulting
- Electrical and lighting-Hultz/BHU/Cross Engineers
- Construction-P.J. Dick Incorporated
- Project coordination and fixturing-REI Store Development team
|
