The Austin office, comprised of two studios — Studio 43 and Studio 49 —, provides educational architecture design services to clients in both the higher education and K-12 sectors. Firm wide, SHW strongly believes design matters, whether in creating a sustainable 21st-century learning environment for a client or applying innovative design techniques to create an environment of collaboration in its new studio. One only has to look at the new studio to recognize the project team designed a workspace environment that effectively affords collaboration, sustainability, shared work space and a living learning lab.

Designed for a Sustainable Culture of Design
To help ensure the studio meets the highest green building and performance measures, the project has documented many of its key sustainable attributes and is currently seeking LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Some of the integrated sustainable design features include the following:

• SHW’s employees and visitors have access within a half-mile radius to at least 10 basic services such as the local bank, housing, post office, restaurants and pharmacy. 
• Secure bicycle storage, showers and changing areas have been provided to encourage employees to commute to work. Alternate means of transportation such as public transit, car share, and new commuter rail service and bicycle paths are located nearby.
• By installing aerators in the lavatory faucets, low-flow shower heads and dual-flush water closets in the women’s restroom, the project documented a 30-percent reduction in the expected potable-water usage for its restrooms, showers and break room.
• The commissioning agent, a third party responsible for monitoring the installation and implementation of the building systems, provided oversight during review and construction and will revisit a year after the completion of construction to verify that all the systems are still working as designed. 
  The mechanical systems are CFC-refrigerant free and are designed to comply with the most stringent applicable code.
• The amount of energy required for the studio’s lighting system has been reduced to 75 percent below the amount allowed by code. 
• Daylight-responsive lighting controls and occupancy sensors are installed throughout the studio contributing to an overall energy reduction.
• At least 90 percent of the studio’s occupants are able to adjust the light levels at their desks using task lighting, and shared multi-occupant spaces have lighting controls. 
• The HVAC systems are designed with zoning and controls that are responsive to the solar exposures, interior spaces and separate occupancies. 
• Ninety-six percent of the studio’s equipment has received an Energy Star rating. 
• Convenient on-site storage and collection of all types of recyclables, including paper, aluminum, and plastic, is provided throughout the studio.
  During construction, 96 percent of the project’s construction waste was diverted from the landfill. This equates to approximately 105 tons of material that was recycled, reused or donated.
•  Of the materials used in the space, approximately 10 percent of the total value came from recycled content. Some examples include metal framing, insulation, doors and frames, and interior finishes.
• For indoor air quality, prerequisites were achieved by meeting the minimum requirements of outdoor air ventilation. In addition, the building management prohibits smoking in non-designated areas. 
• Increased ventilation is provided 30 percent more than is required by the prerequisite.
• An Indoor Air Quality Management Plan was provided and implemented during construction. It includes placing filtration media on the return-air grilles, properly storing of materials, and replacing all construction media after construction. 
• Low-VOC materials were used for adhesives, sealants, paints and coatings, and composite wood and laminate adhesives, as well as the systems furniture and seating.
• The project includes a thermally comfortable environment that complies with the thermal-comfort standards for human occupancy. The studio is developing a monitoring system for the plan.   
• Daylight and views are provided for more than 90 percent of the regularly occupied spaces and for more than 90 percent of the seated spaces.
• A green housekeeping plan is being finalized, and housekeeping services will be using green products.
• SHW Austin is developing an educational web site page that outlines all of these design features so that others may benefit from the sustainable firm’s knowledge and expertise. Guided tours showcasing the sustainable project features have also been conducted.

About LEED
The LEED® Green Building Rating System™ is the national benchmark for the design, construction,and operations of high-performance greenbuildings. Visit the U.S. Green Building Council’s Web site at www.usgbc.org to learn more about LEED and green building.