The awarded center achieved its LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as for other sustainable strategies, Choctaw’s press release further stated.

“Buildings are a prime example of how human systems integrate with natural systems,” expressed Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The Choctaw Health Center project efficiently uses our natural resources and makes an immediate, positive impact on our planet, which will tremendously benefit future generations to come.”

By using less energy and water, LEED-certified are capable of saving money for families, businesses and taxpayers. Furthermore, LEED-certified buildings aid in the minimization of greenhouse gas emissions while also contributing to healthier living spaces for residents, workers and the larger community.

Additional elements of green design and construction, which led to the CHC’s LEED certification, include:

• Use of low-flow water conserving plumbing fixtures to achieve 38.32 percent water use reduction for the project.

• Use of native plant species and high-efficiency irrigation technology to achieve 53.47 percent reduction of water consumption for irrigation.

• High-efficiency design and systems technology to achieve energy cost savings of 35.55 percent over a base code ASHRAE 90.1-2007 compliant similar building.

• Dedicated areas for collection and storage of recyclables within the building and on site.

• Diversion of over 40 percent of the on-site construction waste from landfills through recycling.

• Over 22 percent of the total building materials were specified and manufactured using recycled materials.

• Over 34 percent of the total building materials include materials and products that were manufactured and extracted within a 500-mile radius of the project site.

• Use of low-emitting materials like adhesives, sealants, paints, flooring and composite wood to provide healthy indoor air quality.

• Use of low-emitting furnishing systems to reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous or harmful and promote the comfort and well-being of installers, staff occupants and patient visitors.

The post Choctaw Health Center Recognized for Green Construction appeared first on HCO News.

When fully operational, this sprawling 500,000-square-foot facility will provide state-of-the-art medical care and services to roughly 70,000 active duty military members, veterans and their families. The facility features emergency, primary, intensive and specialty care units, as well as 96 outpatient procedure rooms and more than 200 exam rooms. It also includes eight labor and delivery rooms as well as 16 post-partum suites to welcome an estimated 160 babies per month. The hospital already anticipates an outpatient load of nearly 2,000 patients per day and will offer 2,500 parking spaces to accommodate visitors.

At full capacity the Naval Hospital is expected to employ 1,100 medical professionals and administrators though a number of offices will remain at the original Lake O’Neill hospital facility built in 1974. According to Capt. Mark Kobelja, commanding officer of the Naval Hospital Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, the new hospital complex is a great improvement over the current small, outdated facility. Kobelja called the project a “catch-up” that will allow the base to offer modern medicine in a structure that also meets seismic requirements. “Designed as a like-for-like replacement of existing capabilities, the new facility will greatly enhance those capabilities with the newest facility and equipment technologies," Kobelja said in a statement.

Building designers also took advantage of the new construction to integrate various green and energy-saving elements into the overall design. The design and construction teams built a central utilities plant and energy system that will outperform baseline standards by 30 percent. It also features green roofs, healing gardens, an open atrium allowing patients and families space to enjoy fresh air, and both mountain and ocean views. The team also incorporated 20 percent recycled materials, cut water usage by half and restored surrounding green space. As a result, the building is expected to earn LEED Gold certification. Kobelja said the new facility will not only provide enhanced healing and energy conservation, but will also optimize the work environment for staff.

HKS Architects Inc. of Los Angeles and HDR Architecture of San Diego both provided structural and design input for the project. The architectural firms collaborated with Young+Co. Inc., also of San Diego, on interior design. Clark Construction Group of Costa Mesa, Calif., and McCarthy Building Co. Inc. of San Diego were awarded a joint contract for all construction. Thanks to numerous safety initiatives and high naval standards, the construction team reported zero lost-time incidents, a feat rarely achieved in projects of this scale. Team members also worked closely during each phase of design and construction, allowing them to efficiently monitor and manage costs, quality control and efficiency.

McCarthy/Clark hosted a symbolic key ceremony on Oct. 21, 2013. An official ribbon cutting ceremony has been planned for January 31, 2014, well ahead of the original June 2014 estimate.

The post Camp Pendleton Prepares to Welcome Patients appeared first on HCO News.

When fully operational, this sprawling 500,000-square-foot facility will provide state-of-the-art medical care and services to roughly 70,000 active duty military members, veterans and their families. The facility features emergency, primary, intensive and specialty care units, as well as 96 outpatient procedure rooms and more than 200 exam rooms. It also includes eight labor and delivery rooms as well as 16 post-partum suites to welcome an estimated 160 babies per month. The hospital already anticipates an outpatient load of nearly 2,000 patients per day and will offer 2,500 parking spaces to accommodate visitors.

At full capacity the Naval Hospital is expected to employ 1,100 medical professionals and administrators though a number of offices will remain at the original Lake O’Neill hospital facility built in 1974. According to Capt. Mark Kobelja, commanding officer of the Naval Hospital Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, the new hospital complex is a great improvement over the current small, outdated facility. Kobelja called the project a “catch-up” that will allow the base to offer modern medicine in a structure that also meets seismic requirements. “Designed as a like-for-like replacement of existing capabilities, the new facility will greatly enhance those capabilities with the newest facility and equipment technologies," Kobelja said in a statement.

Building designers also took advantage of the new construction to integrate various green and energy-saving elements into the overall design. The design and construction teams built a central utilities plant and energy system that will outperform baseline standards by 30 percent. It also features green roofs, healing gardens, an open atrium allowing patients and families space to enjoy fresh air, and both mountain and ocean views. The team also incorporated 20 percent recycled materials, cut water usage by half and restored surrounding green space. As a result, the building is expected to earn LEED Gold certification. Kobelja said the new facility will not only provide enhanced healing and energy conservation, but will also optimize the work environment for staff.

HKS Architects Inc. of Los Angeles and HDR Architecture of San Diego both provided structural and design input for the project. The architectural firms collaborated with Young+Co. Inc., also of San Diego, on interior design. Clark Construction Group of Costa Mesa, Calif., and McCarthy Building Co. Inc. of San Diego were awarded a joint contract for all construction. Thanks to numerous safety initiatives and high naval standards, the construction team reported zero lost-time incidents, a feat rarely achieved in projects of this scale. Team members also worked closely during each phase of design and construction, allowing them to efficiently monitor and manage costs, quality control and efficiency.

McCarthy/Clark hosted a symbolic key ceremony on Oct. 21, 2013. An official ribbon cutting ceremony has been planned for January 31, 2014, well ahead of the original June 2014 estimate.

The post Camp Pendleton Prepares to Welcome Patients appeared first on HCO News.