Rockford Campus

The Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Apprentice & Training Center of Rockford, IL, was lauded during its grand opening on Oct. 14, 2010, for its design, function and increased working space for carpenters to hone their skills. The training facility recently earned an additional honor when it was awarded LEED certification by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, was developed in 2000 by the USGBC as an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies intended to improve performance in metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. The Carpenters’ Apprentice & Training Center of Rockford, designed by Obora Phillips & Associates, LLC, was awarded this prestigious designation based on the following:

Sustainable Site:

• Erosion and sedimentation control of the site during construction using a silt fence and inlet protection.
• Provided preferred parking for fuel efficient vehicles.
• Used roofing materials having a solar reflectance index greater than 75 percent.
• Minimal light trespass from the parking lot and site lighting and interior building lighting.

Water Efficiency:

• Water-efficient landscape was incorporated through the use of native plants.
• Limited irrigation for the landscaping will be fed from an onsite storm water collection silo.
• The irrigation system harvests rain water collected from the roof to a silo and pumps it to the irrigation system when needed.
• Low-consumption water saving plumbing fixtures were installed with autoflush valves.
• The lavatory faucets are installed with sensor valves to reduce the water use by 30 percent.

Energy and Atmosphere:

• Through the initial building design the building’s automated mechanical systems were established to operate at a minimal energy level and perform with high energy efficiency above the required performance levels established through ASHRAE.
• The building cooling system uses zero CFC-based refrigerants.
• The building’s automated mechanical system optimizes the energy performance level to a projected 20 percent cost savings and 10 percent energy savings.

Materials and Resources:

• 75 percent of the building’s construction debris was diverted from landfills and incinerators through offsite sorting.
• 20 percent or more of the products used in the construction of the building and site were recycled content and products including concrete, rebar, carpeting, acoustical ceiling tile and wall board, resilient flooring, aluminum curtain wall system, hollow metal doors and frames, structural steel, etc.
• 20 percent of the materials supplied to the jobsite were from regional suppliers.
• Wood-based materials and products incorporated into the building design are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified.
• Dedicated areas within the building are designated for the storage and collection of all paper, cardboard, glass, plastics and metal products for recycling.

Indoor Environmental Quality:

• Indoor air quality and testing were performed during and after construction to meet the standard requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for air pollutants and satisfied all established indoor air quality requirements.
• The mechanical system design provides enhanced indoor air quality as well as contributes to the well-being of the occupants.
• Thermal comfort controls are installed in all multi-occupied spaces including classrooms, offices, etc., to promote comfort and well-being for the occupants.
• Smoking is prohibited in this facility.
• Low-emitting materials were used including adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, carpeting, composite wood and laminates.

Innovation and Design:

• The Carpenters union is implementing “green” cleaning for products and procedures in maintaining the facility.
• The Carpenters union has developed and is implementing a training program in the use of “green” design and construction.

For more information on LEED certification for this facility, contact Bruce Obora at 312-435-0902, ext. 300. For information on the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Apprentice & Training Center, contact Executive Director Bob Jacobson at 847-640-7373.

Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council www.CarpentersUnion.org