The Atlanta office of Perkins+Will has earned LEED Platinum for its eco-friendly retrofit. The building, located at 1315 Peachtree Street, underwent a host of improvements to reduce energy and increase efficiency. The exteriors received an energy-efficient glazing, while raised flooring and a radiant heating and cooling system further save energy. The structure uses passive sun shading on lower levels and an active, dynamic exterior sunshade on the building terrace level to control afternoon sunlight and heat gain. The building’s design also integrates views and natural daylight in nearly every occupied space. Lighting control strategies include daylight harvesting, reduced ambient lighting, LED lamps also are part of the redesign.
In addition, rooftop microturbines and an adsorption chiller are part of a trigeneration system. By using natural gas to produce electricity, the building’s carbon footprint is reduced by 68 percent. Smart water practices also dominated the retrofit, as a 10,000-gallon cistern catches rainwater, which is then filtered, treated, and re-circulated for landscape irrigation and low-flow urinals and toilets.
Perkins+Will and the other tenants reused, repurposed, recycled, or otherwise diverted 80 percent (630 tons) of material from the building. The firm also connected with 19 local non-profit groups and matched their needs for furniture and materials with their inventory of items salvaged from the existing space. This experience spawned the Lifecycle Building Center, which serves as a resource for repurposing salvaged material for future work in the region.
