FLATWATER CHAPTER U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
EDITORIAL	november 20, 2007
Welcome to our monthly Newsletter!  Connector Building – Metropolitan Community College Omaha, Nebraska The Flatwater Chapter held a tour of the new “Connector” Building on the Metro Community College south campus on Friday evening, October 26. The Flatwater Chapter presented Metro Community College with an award for “Community Leadership” at the beginning of the tour. Stan Horrell, project manager, received the award. Metro Community College was recognized for community leadership for the early recognition of the need to have a sustainable campus and their numerous contributions to the betterment of Omaha. When Metro Community College’s Board of Governors adopted a requirement that new construction would meet a minimum rating of LEED Certification in 2002 they were the first Omaha organization to enact policy that recognized the importance of sustainability. This was quite a milestone and will have significant impact on future generations within Omaha as Metropolitan Community College is the largest community college in the state of Nebraska. Metro Community College (MCC) has developed partnerships with Metro Area Transit and the City of Omaha by building a Public Library and the Transit Hub on the Campus that have created a strong connection to the community through offering public access. Metro Community College has continued to promote sustainability by supporting the Local Flatwater Chapter by providing meeting space for Flatwater Chapter workshops. They also have provided space for the City for a recent Green Roof Symposium and will provide space next year for Restore Omaha. The Connector will serve as the dynamic core of the Campus, providing classroom space, computer laboratories, learning laboratories, faculty offices, a café/food court, a commons, and student service functions. The North side of the building is glass wall to bring daylight and views to the student body and faculty as well as to place “education on display”, one of the College’s strong concepts for the project. This building will also create a new ‘spine’ on the south side of the campus, serving as a physical link between the existing Mahoney and ITC Buildings and forming the nucleus for a new pedestrian mall that will serve as a new ‘gateway’ to the surrounding community. The total area of the new building 76,000 SF and the building is over 500 feet long. The building is seeking a LEED rating of Certified for the Building. Within the site category, the building acquires credit for its location within the city and proximity to public transportation. Because the Connector Building will be a hub for several of Metro Area Transit bus lines that will dramatically increase ridership to the campus as well as throughout the community, the project is seeking an Innovation Credit. Landscaping and irrigation systems were designed to reduce potable water use by 50%. Due to the tremendous length to width ratio of the building saving energy was difficult but the project was able to acquire a 32% reduction in energy use. To ensure proper indoor air quality the entire building underwent a two week flush out prior to occupancy to remove toxins that result in off gassing of new material. Construction waste management during the Building Phase diverted more than 90% in weight in construction debris from the landfill. MCC’s decision to implement green strategies in its new buildings will serve them well as several studies have shown that incorporating “green” building design methods including daylighting and views into school buildings enhance the education experience of the students as well as their performance. The tour was sponsored by the Architect: Bahr Vermeer Haecker Architects and the Contractor for the Connector Building: DR Andersen. The Flatwater Chapter deeply appreciates their generosity. Other members on the project team include Alvine Associates, Inc. Mechanical and Electrical Engineers Studio Insite – Landscape Architects Kirkham Michael – Civil Engineers Kirkham Michael – Structural Engineer ( now Performance Engineering) Auerbach and Glasow – Lighting Consultants Hawkins – Bus Route Contractor US Asphalt – Phase I Parking Lot Contractor	archived 2007 newsletters: October 5 AUGUST 31 august 03 july 06 june 01
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Position opening: Communications Officer The Flatwater Chapter, of the U.S. Green Building Council is seeking one or more qualified volunteers for the chapter’s Communications Officer. Interested Flatwater members are asked to email, Tim Hemsath, Vice-Chair at, themsath@gmail.com, describing their abilities and interest to handle the either all or some of the responsibilities outlined below. This volunteer position will remain open until filled. Duties and responsibilities: The responsibility of the communications officer is to oversee the external communications of the chapter. Volunteer should be or immediately become a due paying member of the chapter. Specific duties include: - Management of all outgoing email correspondence for the public list-serve and members distribution list, periodic check of incoming emails to Flatwater email address - Dissemination, graphic design and content composition of monthly newsletter - Web content creation and management, graphic design of the Flatwater website, http://chapters.usgbc.org/flatwater - Attendance at programmed events is encouraged to document activities and assist in the promotion and development of the chapter - Participation in a few board meetings offering circle reports regarding the status of chapter communications The communications officer plays a vital and valuable role to the members of the chapter. Term of service for this position is one year, renewable for additional one-year terms upon request to the Board of Directors. Leadership training, mentorship, advancement and access to specialized chapter resources are benefits of this position. Communications Officer serves at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT
Click here to sponsor and/or volunteer for this event.
NEWS AND EVENTS
December 14 – LEED for New Construction Technical Review Workshop – Omaha, NE See above Newsletter Highlight for additional information Register On-line More to come in 2008!
CONFERENCES	LINKS
February-March 2008 - Restore Omaha	flatwater USgbc egb Lincoln Joslyn castle institute For Sustainable Communities gREEN OMAHA COALITION