In March 2008,
Global Institute of Sustainability and the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., which focuses on educating and developing practical solutions to some of the most pressing environmental, economic and social challenges of sustainability, especially in urban areas, moved into the former College of Nursing and Heathcare Innovation building. The once-dreary building was completely renovated and now incorporates a number of energy-efficient and green building elements into its design, including Los Angeles-based greenscreen green walls. The goal for the LEED-EB Silver certified building was to reduce energy use and create a pleasant working environment, while adding a modern aesthetic on campus.
“The project team initially worked with a group of graduate students to brainstorm sustainable features to include in the design,” said Richard Lemon, the building and special projects manager for the Global Institute of Sustainability. “We loved the concept of featuring greenscreen because it would deliver energy savings as well as a unique exterior element.”
Greenscreen’s three-dimensional, welded wire trellising system functions as a non-intrusive natural building element, creating a captive growing space for plants to flourish and intertwine. The green walls were selected to provide shade for the lobby and breezeway areas, especially during high-peak times of the day. The walls also help reduce light and heat energy transmission on the building’s west side and, as a result, are a factor in minimized heat build-up and cooling costs.
To utilize more natural light, the exterior brick on the west façade was removed to create an open lobby area on the third and fourth floors. The brick was replaced with a greenscreen green wall system that functions as a shading technique that promotes natural light and airflow while still providing outdoors viewing.
The ground floor features a freestanding greenscreen element that divides a neighboring parking area from the breezeway that visitors use to enter the building, controlling views to the parking area while creating shade for an adjacent courtyard.
The greenscreen installed on the school features a variety of desert-tolerant vines, grasses and flowers on the building’s west side. Lemon plans to eventually incorporate other herbs and flowers to brighten the eco-friendly façade.
Greenscreen contributes to the concepts of designing with sustainable elements, integrating passive solar design and introducing living materials. Additional renovations of the building include occupancy sensor-controlled lighting; GREENGUARD-certified furniture; low-emitting paints, coatings and interior signage; low-flow toilets; automatically monitored landscaping irrigation; solar panels; and wind turbines.
Lord, Aeck & Sargent, Atlanta, and Gould Evan Associates, Phoenix, were the architects, and Johnson Carlier, Tempe, was the construction manager.
Greenscreen, www.greenscreen.com
