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Introducing Biz 611
In recent posts we have shared some detail about our new project in Hendersonville, NC. Now that deconstruction and reclamation are complete, we are ready to focus on the new building that is to take shape on the now empty lot at 611 Church Street in downtown Hendersonville.
The new building will be a business incubator for start-up green and software development companies. Appropriate to its purpose, it will be an environmentally friendly building; maximizing natural light, generating solar energy, and capturing water for the building’s use by way of the inverted roof.
For anyone passing by on the street, a couple of features will immediately announce the building’s green orientation. One is the plug-in station for electric or hybrid vehicles. Another is the “living wall” featuring a vertical garden on the the Church Street side of the building.
The 9,000 square-foot, two-story building will have 16 individual offices spaces, ranging from a one-person office to a suite that will accommodate six to eight people. Generous shared space including a conference room, kitchen, porches, and a rooftop terrace will encourage networking and collaborative processes.
In this drawing you can see the inverted roof line that will enable the bulding to capture water. Some of that water will trickle through perforated pipes that form the frame for the "living wall" Irrigating the plants that grow there.
Architect Ken Gaylord says, “I think not so much the building, but what it represents, will be a game changer for Hendersonville and contribute significantly to a thriving green economy.”
The intent is for the building to be used often by the public and community groups. Educational displays will be in common areas giving all who work in and visit the building information about environmentally friendly materials, products and processes.
Wall-mounted computer screens will display the building’s real-time “vital signs” – the energy use of the solar panels and the HVAC system, and the amount of water used. This visual data feedback will help tenants know how their behavior impacts the energy and water use in the building and will encourage behaviors that increase efficiency.
GreenBy3 has been involved this project from its inception, providing advisory services and developing ideas to make the construction and operation of the building a model of green design. During the next year, we’ll be making several more trips to Hendersonville to be involved in various phases of the project.
Reclaimed Furniture Will Lower Costs for GreenBy3 Clients
A local firm moving to new offices offered GreenBy3 the furnishings they will not need in their new space. Last week we rented a 20-foot truck and made three trips from the downtown office to our warehouse, reclaiming desks, chairs, couches, end tables, and filing cabinets.
Discarded office furniture to be reused rather than sent to the landfill.
Many of these furnishings will go to two current GreenBy3 clients who are looking for more sustainable options for their projects and more affordable options as well. Some of it will go to Crisis Ministries to furnish the construction office trailer that will see heavy use while the new men’s shelter is built.
Desk and task chairs
GreenBy3‘s project in Hendersonville, NC will also become the recipient of some of these furnishings. That client is building a two-story business incubator for green and tech start-up companies. Reclaimed furnishings are a good fit for the building’s purpose and tenants, plus the cost reduction will make a big difference on this ambitious project.
A reused leather couch will give an up-scale look to a waiting room furnished on a budget.
Making the effort to reclaim and reuse building materials and furnishings helps the environment by saving the energy of producing new goods and reducing the load at landfills. GreenBy3 is glad to be able to offer more sustainable and more cost effective options to clients who are helping people and our communities.
Posted in Blog, Projects, Reclaimed Materials
Tagged crisis ministries, Hendersonville, reclaim
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Hendersonville Reclamation Project
(This is our third post about a recent reclamation project in Hendersonville, NC. If you missed them, check out New Project in Hendersonville, NC and How to Reclaim 9,000 Brick in 6 Days)
For the big reclamation project in Hendersonville, GreenBy3 not only reclaimed brick, but also lumber, iron, and some odds and ends that were too good to pass up — even though we don’t quite know what we’ll end up doing with them.
Working inside, we selected boards and beams to salvage. We worked with the contractor to leave enough of the building's structure intact for it to be safe for us to continue to work inside the building.
Once we selected the boards we wanted, the reclamation process proceeded by handing the reclaimed lumber to our crew outside.
This will go to the warehouse to await the construction phase of the new building planned for this site.
As we worked inside, we had our eye open for any reusable materials. These are iron counter-weights from old-style double sash windows.
When we had done all we could inside it was time for the demolition crew to get to work. The operator of this excavator knew what we were trying to do so when he saw something he thought we might want, he’d look over at Jorge and get a thumbs up or a thumbs down. If we wanted it, he’d do his best to pick it out for us and set it aside.
The demolition crew came in behind us to clear the two lots for the new building. They worked in cooperation with our goals and helped us reclaim even more lumber and iron. In this picture, the excavator operator is moving scrap iron to the "save for GreenBy3 pile".
These are nice wooden beams so it was great that the excavator operator picked them out of the rubble for us.
The excavator operator helped us reclaim all of this lumber and iron. Plus, this is construction debris that won't be going to the landfill.
Two blocks from our building site, Hendersonville has installed these two charging stations for electric cars. This is clearly a community that is committed to going green!
How to Reclaim 9,000 Brick in 6 Days
A reclamation project on the scale of the one GreenBy3 did last week in Hendersonville has to be planned months in advance. Several site visits were made to assess exactly what we wanted to save from the two buildings before the demolition crew arrived. And there were certainly cost-benefit calculations to weigh.
We knew that the bricks from the older building would be easier to save. The mortar used in the 1920s was more porous than what was used in the 1970s for the newer building. The older bricks had also had an additional 50 years of weathering the elements making the mortar significantly more brittle and quicker to chip away for a clean brick, suitable for reuse.
So, we concentrated on saving, cleaning, and setting aside those bricks, leaving us time to also reclaim lumber, metal pieces, and an assortment of miscellaneous materials we knew could see another life of usefulness. Our goal was to reclaim at least 9,000 bricks.
It took a general contractor who knew exactly what we wanted, two good GreenBy3 men, a trailer, and a truck all putting in “brick time” each of the six days we were there.
The General Contractor removed the exterior brick, mainly from the older of the two buildings.
Drew Merrit, recent graduate of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, helped GreenBy3 with this project.
Greenby3's Mark Gourdine came up from Charleston to get the job done.
Our truck and trailer could haul away 1800 bricks at a time.
It seemed like those bricks just kept coming, but by the end of the week, Mark and Drew had wrangled more than 9,000 into neat piles on pallets, out of the way, but close by just waiting till they will be needed for the new building.
New Project in Hendersonville, NC
This week, GreenBy3 is working in downtown Hendersonville, NC. We’re salvaging and reclaiming building materials to be upcycled into a new building that we will be working on.
As the general contractor deconstructs two side-by-side buildings, GreenBy3 sorts, selects, and stores materials to save for future use. We’re saving bricks, building lumber, iron, and other materials. Some will go into the new building planned for this space and some will be used by local community organizations.
We're taking the time now to save these bricks for use in the new building. That will reduce the environmental footprint of the new construction and visually, it will help the building fit into Hendersonville's historic downtown street scape.
We're using a Denailer for the first time on this job. It's very efficient and allows us to reclaim more boards than was previously practical.
As the week goes on this space will fill with the reclaimed building materials we will reuse in the new building.
The deconstruction and reclamation work going on this week is just the first phase of a project we’re real excited about. The new building that will go into this space will be a “business incubator” for start-up green businesses and start-up software development businesses. The City of Hendersonville, Henderson County, local community organizations, and the community will have a part in the project. We are very excited to have the support of the City of Hendersonville, Henderson County and the community.
The building will not only be offices for start-up businesses but it will also be made available to community groups for educational programs, workshops, film presentations, and other events and meetings.
As part of GreenBy3‘s mission the building itself will be a model of green design and operation — we’ll be telling and showing you more about that in the next few months.
Helping the Community and the Environment
Last year a small Hispanic church in Summerville realized their building was riddled with termites. The extensive repairs needed were not in the budget. GreenBy3 donated reclaimed lumber and nails to construct a worship center for the congregation to use while they raised money and made necessary repairs to their church building. GreenBy3 also made energy improvements so the new structure would be as air-tight as possible to keep utility bills low.
Centro de Restaurcion Cristiano Ministerio worship center built with reclaimed building materials.
Being able to help this church better cope with an expensive, unanticipated need is exactly why GreenBy3 goes to the trouble to salvage and store used, but usable, building materials.
Reusing reclaimed materials is also a great way to reduce the environmental impact of our commercial projects and to reduce costs for our clients. Part of our mission, value system and business model is to make a positive impact on communities, people and the environment. Our reclamation efforts help us achieve this goal in all three arenas.
We applaud all the efforts that are going on to reclaim and reuse building materials. What makes GreenBy3 different is that when we bring reclaimed goods out of our warehouse, we know they will be used to meet a need and will never end up in the landfill when a buyer finds they not serve the purpose after all.
If you have used or surplus building materials at your home or business, we’d be happy to assess them for needs in the community and/or to reduce the environmental impact of future GreenBy3 projects. Reclaiming and reusing is a win-win practice for you if you’re deconstructing at your home or business and when you’re starting a new project.
Contact us at reclaim@greenby3.com or 843-606-0355. Help us spread the word among your friends who are contractors or who do demolition work.
Another Win-Win
Earlier in the year, Jorge heard the staff at Crisis Ministries mention they would need an additional storage shed while the new men’s shelter was being built. A lightbulb (energy efficient, of course) went off and Jorge told them “I think I can help you with that.”
Indeed, students in the Building Construction Program at Stratford High School build a shed every year as they learn construction principles. For the last several years, Jorge has helped the program incorporate energy efficient features into the sheds. When Jorge explained the need, it was immediately agreed that upon completion, the next shed would go to Crisis Ministries.
Students have been learning and building all semester. They even installed a solar light tube, so Crisis Ministries will not have to bear the cost of connecting electricity for lights. Friday, the last day of school before the holidays, was delivery day.
Stratford High School Building Construction Program Instructor Don Thompson gives his final approval to the shed his students built this semester.
In the parking lot outside the shop at SHS, here is the completed 8'x16' shed students built for Crisis Ministries.
Getting the shed onto the truck took a lot of know-how. Thanks American Towing.
After a brief trip down I-26, the shed arrives safe and sound at Crisis Ministries.
Ricky King, with Crisis Ministries, and Jorge Riano watch carefully as the shed comes off the truck.
Almost done.
From Left: Ricky King, Jorge Riano, Thomas Riano, Jack Ryan, Mark Gourdine. Wando High School students Thomas Riano and Jack Ryan helped get the shed settled at Crisis Ministries.
So this turned out to be the kind of win-win project GreenBy3 likes best. Stratford High School students got a hands-on learning experience that served a real need in the community. Wando High School students also got in on the learning experience as they helped on the delivery end of the move. Any student that did not already know, now knows a little bit about Crisis Ministries and the work they do. Hopefully, because of that knowledge, they will be more inclined to help out at Crisis Ministries again.
Crisis Ministries got a well built shed that meets their need for additional storage space which will help them out a lot as the new men’s shelter is being built.
All the students involved can feel good about a job well done that will serve a good cause. And just in time to say Merry Christmas to Crisis Ministries!
GreenBy3 Helps Crisis Ministries with a Big Volunteer Project
Crisis Ministries is one of our favorite community organizations in Charleston. Having served the homeless in cobbled-together space since 1984, they are on the verge of breaking ground on a new men’s shelter that is designed to meet the needs of the men who will live there and the people who will work there. GreenBy3 was selected to be the Owner’s Rep on this project but we are also contributing building materials and time to support the important work of this community organization.
This year Home Depot Foundation has teamed up with the national nonprofit Mission Continues to organize “Celebrations of Service” around the country to bring together veterans and civilians to serve their country by serving their communities. Service projects provide a way for veterans to”continue their mission” as citizen leaders and provide a means for civilians to live the values of veterans while serving by their sides. Many of the service projects taking place around the country between September 11 and Veteran’s Day on November 11 will benefit homeless shelters. The sad truth is that while only 8% of the general population can claim veteran status, nearly one-fifth of the homeless population are veterans. (source: National Coalition for Homeless Veterans)
From left: Amy Hass with Mission Continues, Stacey Denaux with Crisis Ministries, Jorge Riano with GreenBy3, and Fred Wacker with Home Depot Foundation
GreenBy3 did some prep work a few days ahead of time to make this space outside the Family Center ready to become a paved patio.
Mayor Riley helped with the "ribbon cutting" which, appropriately, was done with a board and a saw instead of with a ribbon and a pair of scissors.
Volunteers working on the new patio
Patterson Milbourn (left) and Mark Gourdine (kneeling in front) with Greenby3 volunteered their time for the day. Mark is a 12-year veteran of the Marine Corps.
Putting the finishing touches on the new patio.
Here is the side of the Family Shelter before volunteers started to work.
Volunteers extended the patio down the side of the Family Center and installed planters which they built earlier in the day.
The planters will not only grow flowers but also vegetables which will be used to in the kitchens of the Family Shelter and the Men’s Shelter next door.
Clearing brush on an overgrown lot.
During the day, volunteers installed the paved patio, built planters and installed them, cleared brush from all around the Family Shelter and pressure washed the building. Inside they painted the hallways and installed weatherstripping to make the building more energy efficient. They cleared debris and cut back overgrown trees and bushes from surrounding lots to create better access to the new building site.
This was a great day to be involved in — lots of good organizations, good people, and a lot of good work done in one day!
A Green Fanta Family Festival
Here are a few pictures from our day at the Fanta Family Festival.
At our booth, we had lots of demonstrations and samples of materials to use at home to improve energy efficiency and save energy costs. We held a drawing for a Home Energy Kit that included weather stripping, spray insulation foam, faucet aerators, CFL bulbs, an LED flashlight, pipe insulation, foam seals for switches and outlets, reflective tape, a GreenBy3 t-shirt and a coupon for energy improvement services at the winner’s home.
Here, Mark is discussing different types of attic insulation with someone who stopped by our booth.
Students from the Building Construction program at Stratford High School in Ladson joined us and brought along a model “trainer” house used to demonstrate home energy saving techniques. It’s easy to see where insulation fits in the walls and attic, how weatherstripping fills in gaps around windows and doors and how the door sweeps keeps air from escaping under a closed door. There’s even a blower door which helps to find air leakage sites.
Stratford High School students, Flo Batallanes and Max Brasington, were on hand to demonstrate and explain features of the trainer including this sample of PVC pipe wrapped in insulation.
Recycling at the festival was convenient with lots of recycling bins provided by Charleston County Environmental Management.
And Kimberly Timmons with Berkeley County Recycling office came out and helped children make maracas with dried rice and beans and recycled plastic bottles.
Our booth was right across from the central stage where all kinds of performances and fun went on all afternoon. Here, Beetlejuice and the DJ invited all the kids to play musical chairs.
Here’s the drawing for the GreenBy3 Energy Kit.
This was a fun day for us and we met a lot of people interested in saving energy and money on their utility bills. We’ll definitely be back at Fanta Family Festival next year.
GreenBy3 Acted as Sustainability Advisor for Flagship 2
GreenBy3 is proud to have been involved in the renovation of the Charleston Digital Corridor‘s Flagship 2, the City of Charleston‘s second complex of co-working/incubator space.
Over the last 7 months, the former Channel 5 TV station on East Bay Street has been transformed into 13,700 square feet of flexible office space on two floors. The new entrance is on Alexander Street.
Offices are from 300 – 3,000 square feet, wired for “instant on” use, and intended for intermediate stage knowledge-based companies. Tenants share amenities such as the convenient downtown location, bike storage, indoor showers, conference space and a lounge for afterhours networking.
Here’s a quick look at the project from beginning to end.
Flagship 2 is adjacent, but not attached, to the original Flagship — where GreenBy3 is located — so Jorge walked to all his meetings while he worked on this project. The dedication for the new building was June 8 and there are already a good number of tenants in place.
Posted in Advisory, Blog, Project Updates, Projects
Tagged digital corridor, sustainable
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