Nashville, Tennessee, office building earns LEED Gold certification

Gulch Crossing, a recently opened office building located in Nashville, Tennessee’s historic Gulch district, has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality all factored into the designation.

Key sustainability factors include:

• 18 percent energy usage reduction over conventionally designed buildings;
• 41 percent water use reduction (resulting in over 650,000 gallons of annual water savings);
• 72 percent reduction in landscaping water usage through water efficient landscape design;
• 81 percent (1,854 tons) of construction waste was recycled;
• preferred parking is provided for low emitting vehicles and fuel efficient vehicles; and
• reduction of the area’s heat island effect is achieved as 90 percent of the parking is under cover and 75 percent of the building’s roof is highly reflective.

The developer, MarketSteet, worked with Nashville firm, SSR Sustainability Consulting, to help manage the LEED certification process. “We were fortunate to work with MarketStreet, an owner committed to developing a building with a strong community presence while maintaining a low impact on the environment,” says Eric Sheffer, principal at SSR. “Gulch Crossing does just that, easily integrating itself into the surrounding sustainable community while standing apart with its unique design and features.”

According to the companies, extensive consideration was taken in the architecture and design of the building to ensure that the modern elements were environmentally efficient. For example, the building’s exterior is highlighted by cedar accents designed to pay homage to area’s past as a railroad yard. The Forest Stewardship Council certified 96 percent of the cedar used, helping the building to receive high marks for a difficult credit.

Additionally, MarketStreet worked closely with the architects at ESa to ensure that the modern architecture, including the use of floor to ceiling glass windows, did not compromise the energy efficiency of the building.

Eric Klotz, who served as ESa’s senior design manager of Gulch Crossing, says, “Core responsibilities of architects today include designing sustainable buildings and spaces that promote health and wellness. Gulch Crossing is the product of a team commitment of the owner and designers to providing a built environment that responsibly utilizes natural resources, products and energy.”

“From the beginning, we wanted Gulch Crossing to set a new standard of office buildings in Nashville through design, features and function that was still environmentally responsible,” Jay Turner, managing director of MarketStreet Enterprises, said in the a press release. “We’re proud to deliver a building that will help attract working talent to Nashville, creating a lasting impact on the city’s professional growth, not its environmental footprint.”