Community and cultural institutions, both publicly- and privately-owned, provide enrichment activities within their buildings and on their grounds. This group includes public libraries, community and recreational facilities, museums, and cultural centers. The high level of public exposure for these buildings allows an opportunity to showcase the practical application of sustainable design and operations to a broad audience. SDC has provided LEED process management and green building consulting services for community and cultural buildings of local, regional, and national significance.
Southwest Library, Washington, DC: Designed by Perkins + Will and built by Turner Construction Company, this ‘pavilion in a park’ emphasizes connection to the natural environment. Its unique roof structure significantly reduced the project’s construction waste on-site, while supporting both vegetation and a photovoltaic array. The project attained LEED Platinum-level certification in May 2021.
Varina Area Library, Henrico, VA: This new 42,333 sf library designed by Quinn Evans with Tappé Architects offers a unique connection to nature and the outdoors through strategic placement and extensive glazing offering ample views of Cornelius Creek and wetlands. This project achieved Silver-level certification in 2017, along with the Library Building Award and an AIA award for Excellence in Design.
Elkridge Library and Senior Center, Elkridge, MD: This project designed by Grimm + Parker renovated the existing 17,000 sf and provided a new 28,000 sf addition to provide space for a library, senior center, and DIY education center, where visitors can experiment with home repairs, gardening, and bicycle repairs. This project achieved Gold certification in 2018 and was awarded the USGBC Wintergreen Award in 2019.
Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Community Recreation Center, Rockville, MD: This new 48,084 sf recreation center designed by Grimm + Parker for Montgomery County includes a gymnasium, exercise room, social hall, kitchen, senior / community lounge, arts / kiln room, game room, vending space, conference room, offices, and lobby. The project achieved Silver-level certification in July 2017.
Dewey Gottwald Event Center at the Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond, VA: This new building addition, designed by Quinn Evans Architects, is a 15,940 sf single-story multi-purpose space accommodating large-scale events for more than 1,000 guests with smaller spaces for corporate meetings. With SDC’s help, the project achieved LEED Gold-level certification in March 2018.
Virginia War Memorial Expansion, Richmond, VA: Originally constructed in 1955, this state facility received an SMBW-designed, 22,571 sf building expansion, comprising classroom, exhibit, and storage space, plus structured parking. The expansion is also home to the Shrine of Memory, dedicated to Virginia’s Global War on Terror veterans. The project attained LEED Silver-level certification in May 2021.
Institute for Contemporary Art at the Markel Center, Richmond, VA: Designed by Steven Holl with Quinn Evans, this new 40,890 sf space provides galleries, reception, and classrooms. In addition to LEED process management, SDC provided extensive daylight modeling for this uniquely shaped building, which achieved both LEED Gold certification and AIA Virginia’s Excellence in Architecture Merit Award in 2018.