materials. Consequently, it gains high points in the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED certifi cation process. The center is slated to receive LEED Platinum certifi cation.
Rainwater Control The material selection is important to the project because it fi ts the North Carolina sensibility. In fact, the whole long, thin building is reminiscent of long, thin houses with porches. But equally impor- tant is the need to capture rainwater runoff. As a young boy, Harmon used to swim in the
creeks and streams of North Carolina, but with the constant rainwater runoff, which used to be absorbed into the ground, those estuaries have become muddied and polluted. To combat that, he designed a building that keeps every drop of water on the land it sits on. To do this, he utilized rainwater catch basins, permeable tile pavers in the parking area and careful design of the roof to ensure no water escapes.
Exciting Siting The judges especially appreciated the decision to site the building at one end of the awkwardly shaped and sloped lot. Because the AIA North Carolina chapter wanted to showcase the impor- tance of sustainability and the essential necessity of architecture in today’s world, it acquired a lot near the state capitol, placing the trade group close to the heart of the political world. The car park, the sloped grassy area and the
longitudinal catch basin all pick up elements of a front yard and with the large, overhanging eave, the building takes on elements of a welcoming front porch. The truth is many state agencies have found the joy of meeting in the open, well-lighted spaces of the center, and are booking it often. To that end, the building has met one of its goals of raising awareness of the importance of architecture. That importance is recognized by the
judges with the selection of the center as the overall winner.
Gilbertson Photography Timothy Hursley Photography 18 METAL CONSTRUCTION NEWS December 2012 www.metalconstructionnews.com