Connecticut Green

Branford Fire Headquarters Earns LEED Silver Certification

Branford Fire Headquarters

Branford fire headquarters

Branford, CT – Town officials recently announced that Branford Fire Headquarters on North Main Street has earned Silver certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), from the U.S. Green Building Council. The $12.5 million facility, which opened in 2012, earned 51 points across several sustainable design requirements to earn the prestigious Silver certification.

 

The 31,000sf facility was designed by Silver / Petrucelli + Associates of Hamden and constructed by Turner Construction Company of Shelton. It is the first municipal building in Branford to earn LEED Silver certification and is the first fire station in Connecticut to be designated LEED Silver.

 

The two-story facility implements a 58-ton geothermal closed loop system to reduce heating/cooling costs while 29 wells and a ground source heat pump condition the facility. A 27.75 kw photovoltaic (PV) electric panel system, including 110 roof-mounted solar panels, powers the building. The PV system has generated over 79,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity since its installation, saving the town close to $15,000 in utility costs and preventing the emission of 47 tons of CO2 to the atmosphere. Pre- and post-consumer recycled building materials were used during construction. All materials were sourced within a 500-mile radius of the project. Radiant heat systems in the apparatus bay slab feature a 10-inch thick slab on grade and help reduce the heating load of the space. The lighting systems implement occupancy sensors and daylight controls to reduce electrical costs. Rain gardens capture on-site drainage to recharge aquifers. A raised organic vegetable garden provides cooking ingredients for the fire staff with an area designated for food waste composting. The building is located on a main bus route to encourage public use of the community space and features low-emitted fuel parking spaces and bicycle racks.

 

Principal architect David Stein said, “A lot of forethought went in to designing a facility that struck a balance between the critical needs of the first responders and the rest of the community. It’s another example of local government, designers, and contractors embracing the importance of sustainable design. This project was completed on time and under budget and met tough LEED criteria; Silver / Petrucelli is honored to add Branford Fire Headquarters to our list of LEED-certified fire house projects in Connecticut.”

 

“We knew from the beginning that this would be a challenging but rewarding project which would require a truly collaborative effort between the owner, architect and construction manager,” says Turner project executive, Peter Zannis. “The team put its best foot forward in delivering on the town’s goals for the project. This meant ensuring a sustainable building with efficient and flexible space for the department and the community.”

 

Town Engineer Janice Plaziak, P.E. said, “This is Branford’s first LEED Silver building, so we are extremely proud to have it represent our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint. Having the official designation is especially gratifying after the intensive and lengthy application and review process. The certification demonstrates a true commitment by the town to build sustainable community buildings.”