County says building should be done by end of 2010

Video by David Corrigan, voice of Tim Bryan

The county reports that with less than a year of construction left, the West Hawaii Civic Center is on its way to becoming a LEED-Certified building.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environment Design. Its part of a Building Rating System administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), for buildings constructed to meet certain criteria in sustainability, water efficiency, energy, innovation and design.

The $50 million dollar project is expected to be completed at the end of 2010.

The county issued the following press release on the construction:

With less than a year of construction left, the West Hawai‘i Civic Center is on its way to becoming a LEED-Certified building.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environment Design and is part of a Building Rating System administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a non-profit association based in Washington D.C.

For a building to achieve the LEED Certified Level, its construction must meet criteria in six performance standards: a sustainable site, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design. Upon the building’s completion the USGBC will appoint an independent party to audit the West Hawai‘i Civic Center to ensure it meets the performance standards.

The $50 million West Hawai‘i Civic Center will offer residents a community center, amphitheatre, services from 15 County agencies, a Hawai‘i County Council Chamber and Office of the County Clerk. Under construction on a seven-acre parcel at the intersection of Ane Keohokalole and Kealakehe Parkway in North Kona, it is scheduled for completion at the end of December 2010. Tenants are scheduled to move in 2011.

A highlight of the LEED certification will be a 320 kW photovoltaic system under construction atop the center’s parking structure with the capacity to expand another 100 kW. Buildings are designed to control thermal comfort and lighting, with systems to reduce heat gain and energy consumption throughout the complex. Other items implemented to meet the LEED certification include water efficient landscaping, use of recycled and certified wood products, a construction waste management plan to divert waste away from landfills, bicycle parking and future electrical charge stations.

County offices to be housed within the center include the offices of Aging, Parks and Recreation-Elderly Activities Division, Liquor Commission, Elections, Housing and Community Development, Driver Licensing and Vehicle Registration, Human Resources, Mayor’s Office, Research and Development, a future office for the Department of Water Supply, Mass Transit Agency, Hawai‘i County Council offices, Public Works-Building and Engineering Divisions, Environmental Management, Finance, Real Property Tax, Planning, Fire Department, DATA Systems and General Services. The State Department of Health will also have offices in the complex to process residential and commercial building permits.

For more information on LEED, click on www.usgbc.org/leed.

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