Schmidt Copeland Parker Stevens - Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 19, 2002
PANZICA CONSTRUCTION COMPANY & SCHMIDT COPELAND PARKER STEVENS PARTNER TO GO GREEN
Nature Center to Demonstrate Environmental Message Through Example
Cleveland, Ohio, July 2002 – Panzica Construction Company, the managers of the renovation and expansion of the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, has begun implementing a unique array of green building designs, which were completed by Schmidt Copeland Parker Stevens, the architecture and landscape architecture firm who designed the project.
Material recycling and reuse has been a cornerstone of the “green” building practices for this project, which includes demolition and new construction. The waste minimization components of the project are part of an important study being conducted by The Cleveland Green Building Coalition and the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District to develop strategies for the reduction of construction waste.
During the demolition phase, debris was source-separated onsite into five dumpsters for recycling and re-use.
“Drywall was removed from the wood framing underneath and separated for re-use at the EcoVillage housing development project on Cleveland’s west side,” explains Max Kozlowski, Project Superintendent, Panzica Construction. “Many of the bricks and some doors and frames will be re-used in the new construction projects here at the Nature Center. The materials that we can’t reuse in the project, but are still usable, have been removed and will be reused on other sites, including ceiling fans, kitchen cabinets, furnaces, light fixtures, and other materials.”
In addition to the efforts to reuse building components, materials from the project will also be recycled, including varied metals such as copper and aluminum, which were separated into a dumpster to be recycled as scrap metal. Concrete, dirt, glass, metal, cardboard and general waste from the demolition were also sorted into dumpsters.
“Our goal is to determine the impact construction waste recycling can have on landfill space,” explains Sadhu Johnston, Executive Director, Cleveland Green Building Coalition. “Through aggressive recycling and waste reduction utilization initiatives at this construction site and others in the Cleveland area, the study hopes to further understand how much waste can easily be diverted from the landfills. The other project sites in the study are: The Cleveland Environmental Center, the Metzenbaum Federal Courthouse renovation, and the Cleveland Ecovillage townhomes.
Avoiding disturbance of the natural environment during construction is a high priority for the Nature Center. Schmidt Copeland Parker Stevens’ landscape design outlined a strategy for protecting the trees in the immediate areas surrounding the building. The trees in the area near construction have been protected with temporary fencing and mulch to help ensure their survival.
Trees that had to be removed to make way for new construction were chipped and converted into organic mulch for the Nature Center to use in the future.
“The useable wood from a 36-inch red oak tree that was removed has been milled for planned furnishings and art for the new building,” explained Nancy King Smith, Executive Director for the Nature Center. “Local, skilled, woodworker volunteers will create tables, chairs and benches once the wood has been dried.”
The Center will feature various water- and energy-efficient products, most importantly a Geo-thermal HVAC system, which consists of pipes buried in 300 ft. deep wells in the existing parking lot, minimizing site disturbance, a heat exchanger, and ductwork into the building. Since geothermal heating and cooling systems operate by moving heat from, or to the earth, they will actually produce more heating or cooling energy than they consume in electricity use. This advantage allows geothermal heating and cooling systems to use 25% to 50% less energy than traditional heating and cooling systems. This approach also taps an inexhaustible source of renewable energy.
Other energy-efficient products items include resource efficient mechanical equipment, lighting, and appliances; installation of high performance windows; low flow plumbing fixtures in all restrooms and waterless urinals in the Men’s room. These items will conserve resources while reducing overall operating costs.
“The Nature Center was very deliberate in the way that they undertook this project,” explains Mark Benton, Project Manager for Schmidt Copeland Parker Stevens. “Their goal was to expand the building with the smallest possible footprint that would allow them to meet their program needs. They also placed great emphasis on employing a strategy that could serve as a model for homeowners- providing visitors with a look at materials and strategies that they could consider implementing in their own home renovation efforts.”
About Panzica Construction Company
Panzica Construction Company embraces green building techniques as a leading-edge approach to construction and planning that results in reduced expenditure of natural resources, less waste and pollution, enhanced health, and increased profitability. We are fully committed to this sensible and responsible philosophy, and continually realize its benefits firsthand.
Panzica seeks to demonstrate green building techniques and processes necessary to achieve optimal project performance. We offer services to support up-front project planning and ongoing project evaluation, two components of the green building process that are essential to a project's success. Our activities in this area include project-specific education on the green building process for the owners, developers and project teams.
Panzica Construction Company ranks as one of the top construction management/general contracting firms in the Northeastern Ohio area and have played an instrumental role in the successful construction of significant projects of all sizes, most notably the recent renovation and restoration of Severance Hall and the construction of the Plain Dealer Corporate Headquarters in downtown Cleveland.
About Schmidt Copeland Parker Stevens
Schmidt Copeland Parker Stevens is a proud member and sponsor of The Cleveland Green Building Coalition. Driven by their mission to design places that build community, respect the environment and enrich the individual, Schmidt Copeland Parker Stevens is a national consulting firm composed of architects, landscape architects and planners based in Cleveland, Ohio. Schmidt Copeland Parker Stevens is dedicated to the implementation of green and sustainable design principles and practices into their work. Additional green architecture/sustainable design projects include: The Signature Park Master Plan & Community/Recreation Center Design for the City of Beachwood, Ohio; Towpath Trail & Alignment Study for the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission; Cleveland, Ohio; The November Lodge Multipurpose Facility for the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center; Peninsula, Ohio; Woodhaven Environmental Education Center, Appleseed Ridge Girl Scout Council; Lima, Ohio.
About the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes
The Nature Center, established in 1966, exists for the preservation and enjoyment of a natural area surrounded by city and suburb, and for the education of all in the region so they may become stewards of the environment. The Nature Center receives no tax dollars and is supported by the contributions of its 1,200 members.