Green Architecture Sprouting Up In Maryland

Green architecture, otherwise known as sustainable design, is becoming more prevalent in today's commercial office buildings. The State of Maryland not only has mandated that all new public buildings achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating of at least "Silver," but also offers tax credits for building developers that achieve a certain rating for their buildings.

The U.S. Green Building Council has comprised a rating system based on points. A building could be considered Certified, Silver, Gold or, the highest rating, Platinum. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation headquarters was the first building to achieve the Platinum status in Maryland.

The point system looks at every aspect of a building project, including site location (in terms of mass transit availability and commuting distance of employees), natural site amenities (such as wildlife habitats), and building design (such as construction, the materials used and the location of such materials relative to the site, recyclable materials used, mechanical systems, natural lighting components, open floor plan systems, living roofs and ground water mechanical systems). Even simple items such as installing bicycle racks and on-site recycling bins can receive points.

DRBrasher Architects has been involved with three local projects with "green" design principles. Washington Brick and Terra Cotta's new corporate headquarters building, located in South River Colony in Edgewater, is currently under construction. It will have the first "living" roof on a commercial office building in Anne Arundel County. A "living" roof is made up of anywhere from 3 to 6 inches of dirt on top of a thicker than normal rubber roof membrane. Then shallow rooted grasses and plants are installed. These plants can be changed for the different seasons or can be specified for all season weather.

Although the cost of a living roof is more expensive (approximately $10 per square foot) to build than other roofs because of the additional structural costs for the heavier loads, it does save money on energy consumption. The roof reduces heat load in the summer and insulates during the winter months. This allows for smaller capacity HVAC units that are more economical. The living roof also reduces storm water runoff by the plants soaking up the rainwater and removing pollutants. This is a definite environmental benefit.

DRBrasher has also designed a living roof for Maryland Plaza, a new 11-story, 153- unit apartment building in downtown Baltimore. Residents will be able to relax by sitting on the patio on the roof and enjoying green scenery. This project will be the first in Baltimore City as well.

The new headquarters for the Maryland Environmental Service near BWI is trying to achieve a "Silver" rating, since it is a state agency and public corporation. DRBrasher is helping to accomplish this by including: an atrium and skylights for daylight factors, an energy management system, water use reduction, water efficient landscaping, shade to 30% of the impervious surface area, local and regional building materials, recyclable materials, light pollution reduction and a storm water management system.