Green Architecture in Jamestown, Rhode Island
A small wind turbine on the roof was slowly rotating and catching the gentle breeze. This particular roof, one of four other "green" roofs was designed to minimize water runoff as well as to help cool interior rooms in summer and to provide insulation in winter.
A friend was happily and proudly giving me a tour of the place where she is currently employed. I discovered that it is one of the most exciting and architecturally interesting buildings recently constructed here in Jamestown, for the company known as Environmental Packaging International .(EPI)
The eco-friendly structure was built according to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED standards and designed by architect Shahin Barzin in collaboration with Mary Meagher Designs. And, believe it or not, this brand-new 2,900 sq. ft. office building is in the heart of the quaint and charming village of Jamestown!
I had never visited a deliberately designed eco-friendly building before and was curious to know what made it different from other, more "normally" constructed office buildings?
Climbing down off the roof and after greedily picking some fresh, ripe, garden tomatoes and basil, which had been planted along with other edible plants all around the building's exterior spaces-- (for employees to use in preparing their lunches and snacks), we wandered into the hushed interior.
Upon entering, I was immediately struck by the peacefulness of all of the office spaces. My friend pointed out that only materials with recycled content were used thoughout, on the decks, countertops and floors. Wooden floors and cabinets were made of bamboo, a sustainable material. Restrooms had been equipped with dual-flush toilets to conserve water.
Geothermal heating and cooling minimize energy consumption through the installation of two 380 ft. deep wells. My friend pointed out that the rooftop wind turbine and installed photovoltaic panels were other renewable energy sources that had been employed in the construction.
Original art, paintings and prints, were prominently hung in the reception area and every office space. The conference rooms were comfortable places to rest, sit, think and confer, well fitted-out with simple contemporary furniture and upholstered in soft, natural fabrics.
A calming, Zen-like air hung over the whole place. I remarked to my friend, that it must be wonderful to come here to work every day and she enthusiastically agreed. As she is a very ecologically-minded woman, she thought that the best part was that this new building helps EPI minimize its environmental footprint by reducing waste, water and energy use on a daily basis.
In an age of "McMansions" and conspicuous consumption, it was refreshing to find such an inspiring example of sustainable architecture, one that uses environmentally and ecologically conscious design techniques and right here on our own, picturesque island!
I was reminded that we should all think about ways to go "greener", to learn how to live "large" in smaller homes, to re-use and re-cycle, in order to leave as small an impact on our environment as possible-- so as to protect our future generations-- by not depleting our natural resources.
An office building that plants and landscapes with tomatoes and basil (which provided me with a delicious salad and Pesto when I got home) instead of ubiquitous shrubs and fertilizer-consuming grass....? Hmmm...... something to think about.
Labels: Allie Sabalis, eco-friendly, environmental, Green architecture, sustainable
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