Snipes Academy of Arts & Design Receives LEED Gold Certification

Local School Designed by SfL+a Architects Awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification

Wilmington, NC, September 26, 2012 --(PR.com)-- SfL+a Architects (http://www.sfla.biz) has announced that the Snipes Academy of Arts & Design has received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustainable building design and construction. Snipes, a 89,850-square-foot educational facility, serving 600 K-5th grade students, was designed to earn LEED Silver certification, but achieved LEED Gold certification based on the number of sustainable design and construction initiatives that have positively impacted the project and the greater Wilmington community. Some of the environmentally-friendly features include: bicycle storage, access to public transit, and preferred carpool parking in consideration of alternative types of environmentally-friendly transportation; bioretention, rain gardens and rainwater collection in cisterns for irrigation; an EnergyStar roof; a 48.6 percent reduction in water usage through low flow fixtures and waterless urinals; high-efficiency lighting, lighting controls, and daylight in all instructional areas, and an energy efficient HVAC system contributing to a 31.2 percent reduction in annual energy costs; and a healthy indoor environment, achieved through the use of low VOC products and a Green Cleaning Program.

Snipes Academy of Arts & Design opened in 2010 and was funded in part by the 2005 Local School Bond Referendum. The new building achieved LEED certification for efficient energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. By using less energy and water, LEED certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to a healthier environment for local residents, workers, and the community at large.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a certification of distinction that provides independent, third party verification that a building, home or community has been designed and constructed using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.In order to achieve LEED Gold certification under the LEED for Schools 2007 rating system, a school must earn 44 to 57 out of 79 possible points. For more information on the LEED certification process and LEED for schools, visit http://www.usgbc.org.

Quotes:
“SfL+a Architects is extremely proud of the LEED Gold certification achieved by Snipes Academy of Arts & Design,” said Robbie Ferris, president and CEO of SfL+a Architects. “This building promotes a partnership between education and sustainability, and we hope that it will serve as a model for the construction of future schools.”

Details:
- LEED Gold certification for Snipes Academy of Arts & Design was based on a number of green design and construction initiatives that have positively impacted the project itself and the greater Wilmington community.

About SfL+a Architects:
SfL+a Architects is a firm designed to provide state-of-the-art architectural solutions to educational institutions. Founded in 1982, the company has emerged as one of the most highly regarded architectural firms in the Southeast, offering expert services in architectural planning, design, construction, land planning and interior design. The firm has offices located in Raleigh, Fayetteville and Charlotte, N.C. The sister company of SfL+a Architects is FirstFoor K-12 Solutions, LLC, a North Carolina development company pioneering public-private partnerships to develop educational facilities. The two companies are comprised of talented professionals, each possessing 15-20 years of experience in banking, finance, construction and property management. For more information, visit http://www.sfla.biz.

About USGBC
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Emily Packard
MMI Public Relations
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emily@mmipublicrelations.com
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