Archive for the ‘Current Projects’ Category
Thursday, March 1st, 2012
Touchstone Custom Builders has a new construction in Vienna striving for EarthCraft Certification.
All this place needs is a picket fence and you’d be quite at home on mainstreet USA in this quality, high-end contemporary craftsman home built by Touchstone homes. Builder Clint Woodson has been on the ball with this one aiming for artisan craftsmanship throughout the home with stunning oak hardwoods and a gorgeous,gourmet kitchen with a French Chateau vibe that would inspire any cook to become a chef. Simply 
beautiful slabs of granite along with the Viking suite of kitchen appliances are just amazing and make this a truly high-end kitchen in and of itself! The stone patio off the back of the home is nothing to baulk at with its own outdoor grill/kitchenette- enjoy a glass of wine or a cup of coffee while you watch cardinals fly off into the wooded lot behind you on the ample .34 acre lot. This home is near perfection and it doesn’t hurt that Clint kept in mind health and comfort along with the ‘creature comforts’ of luxury as well on this home!
Dual zoned, energy efficient HVAC systems which are optimally insulated provide the home with the perfect level of heat and air for the size of the home. Motion sensor lights have been installed throughout the home for a very smart, high-tech and energy saving feature in a home of this size (5,215sf), it just makes sense that you want to save on energy! Solid surfaces on most of the flooring for the richly stained hardwoods to the travertine of the baths, this home will have minimal allergens, especially with the MERV8 air filters. Don’t let the decorative ceiling work and architectural detail work fool you, this home has energy efficient features hidden around all sorts of nooks and crannies! EarthCraft and Chris Conway were pleased to work with Clint and his team to achieve his level of certification and can’t wait to work with them again to make more of his beautiful, high performance homes! This home is currently under contract and set to close.
Posted in Current Projects, EarthCraft Virginia | No Comments »
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
HAND, Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers, hosts a green building discussion in Arlington
Did you know that HAND has been established for over 20 years in Arlington, helping to grow nonprofit developers in the Northern Virginia market? That is pretty fantastic. Builders from all scopes came out to the HAND meeting on Wednesday, January 25, to listen to Emer O’Donovan of Weincek+Associates who had put her head together with Jill Norcross of HAND to pull together a fabulous discussion regarding Weincek+Associates’ project, Colonial Village, a current EarthCraft project that is not only seeking to become a more energy efficient project, but is also a wonderful case study for historical preservation in Northern Virginia.
After Ms. Norcross introduced the group she turned the discussion over to Ms. O’Donovan, lead architect on the Colonial Village project, who chatted briefly about the challenged of the project and why EarthCraft was brought in to consult and be a part of the project from the onset. She discussed that EarthCraft is brought in at the funding stage of development so that everyone will understand the full scope of work and all trades will be on board with the energy efficiency plan from the onset.
A nice cue for Chris Conway to step into the ring, EarthCraft’s Lead Technical Advisor for Northern Virginia and the on-site EarthCraft representative for the Colonial Village project then discussed the phases of construction and how EarthCraft has worked for the Colonial Village project.
The Phases of Construction where you will see EarthCraft onsite:
- Predemolition- assessing the building before construction begins
- Immediately after demolition- assessing the actual project findings and to make any adjustments to the energy efficiency plan as needed with the project team
- Series of project site visits throughout construction- to ensure that the construction trades are implementing the plan of action set forth in the original construction charette
- Pre-drywall Inspection- assessing the air-sealing, insulation, duct-work implementation to ensure that the building has been built tight and will be ventilated right
- Final testing- assessing the clean, dried in, finished out space to test for duct leakage inside and outside of the thermal envelope
After Chris completed his chat about his work on the project and the current status, the group walked over to the site and was able to watch the Conway Energy team representing EarthCraft perform a duct leakage and blower door test on a finished out one bedroom unit on the ground floor of the Colonial Village remodel project. Chris walked everyone through the process and shared the details as to why the findings were as they were. He fielded questions as they arrived and the group was able to see the team in action.
Overall, the HAND green building luncheon for the Colonial Village project was very informative, highly valuable event with a great group of people who are passionate about their industry. From the folks at Hamel to the Habitat for Humanity Northern Virginia and Arlington County members, the HAND group provides a great service to Nonprofit Developers in Arlington and we commend them for 20 years of service to the community.
Tags:Colonial Village, earthcraft virginia, energy efficient projects, green building in northern virginia, HAND, Historical Preservation, nonprofit developers in Northern Virginia, Weincek+Associates Architects
Posted in Current Projects, EarthCraft Virginia, Northern Virginia Green Buildings | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment is bringing you Volunteers to help Master Energy Efficiency and Conway Energy is the Teacher.
Last month we shared with you the details about the nifty program that Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment has brought to the Arlington community: a Master in Energy Efficiency volunteer program based on the highly successful master gardener program. This volunteer training series is organized by ACE and taught by Chris Conway over three interactive classroom lectures at the Fairlington Community Center to provide the volunteers with the basis to understand what they need to be looking for when they go out into the field for the County as Master Energy Efficiency Volunteers.
Some of the highlighted subjects in the trainings were lighting and appliances, the home envelope and ventilation and air distribution. Chris’ specialization of construction science and work with the EarthCraft program made him the perfect match to leading this course series for the County. His fun, punchy style is just an added bonus that allows the volunteers see that you can be extremely knowledgeable, love what you do, and safe while you do it.
Armed with a total of 34 volunteers in the program, the county will begin inspecting the Marbella Apartments, located at 1301 N. Queen Street, Arlington, VA 22209, and Towns of Courthouse Crossing, located at 1410 North Taft Street, Arlington, VA 22201 in January. Since completing the classroom lecture portion of the program, the excited and ambitious volunteers now need to complete their field lab experience to gain the additional first hand knowledge to put their book learned to use. ACE’s Program Manager, Jenn Truong, states that “The field trips will be taking place in [the Marbella and the Towns of Courthouse Crossing] so that folks get familiar with the actual buildings where the work will be done.” She also mentioned that there was so much interest in this volunteer program that they actually ended up having to turn volunteers away because they didn’t make the deadlines.
We will bring you more about this innovative program as time marches on and we have more details about how the volunteers are managing with their new founds skill-set. If you’re interested in learning more and seeing how you can get involved in your community, contact ACE.
Tags:enegy efficiency in multifamily buildings, lighting and appliances, the home envelope and ventilation and air distribution, Training energy efficiency auditors
Posted in Current Projects | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011
The first master planned community in the nation, Colonial Village, in Arlington gets an energy efficient upgrade while staying true to its historical roots.
The architects at Weincek and Associates are no strangers to the demands of a multi-family full-gut renovation, but when it comes to a historical preservation project on top of a full-interior renovation that happens to be energy efficient, now that is a different spin, but nothing that their seasoned team of professionals can’t handle. Weincek along with the construction crew at Hamel builders have teamed up with EarthCraft Virginia to create a plan to bring the amazing housing development of Colonial Village in the Courthouse district of Arlington into this Century and beyond.
Nearly two years ago, EcoBroker Genevieve Concannon did a write up about what was once considered in the 1930′s as an oasis in Arlington. Her words are as follows: Meticulous craftsmanship from a great era, Colonial Village in the heart of Arlington’s Courthouse area has been mastered and re-mastered. Arlington’s original and first apartment living community, Colonial Village was developed by Gustave Ring as a place where people could live conveniently and comfortably amidst fenced courtyards, illuminated gardens and manicured green spaces. It is said that when it was originally built, the list was so long that some young women of the era were planning their wedding dates around when their application would be accepted at this exclusive community! The tree dappled six acre tract of land offers mostly studio spaces, but also one and two bedroom, one bath colonial homes complete with Old English charm which is perfectly preserved with brick facades wrapping this entire community. Elegant ease comes to mind when thinking of Colonial Village.
What Genevieve was probably also able to note as she went through the historic community aside from the stunning gardens, towering magnolias and mature hedges was on the inside of the buildings; the impressive amounts of moisture damage which had occurred over time in this landmark building, in which brides would schedule their wedding dates around securing a home. Enter Chris Conway, and the EarthCraft team to do pre-demolition testing to see how much damage has been done to the building, how leaky the buildings truly are and where the most impact can be made by doing energy efficient upgrades. After a sampling of units across the entire project is taken, an Chris creates an energy model which is presented to Weincek and Associates, who have already painstakingly designed plans for a more energy efficient homes which are keeping the historical integrity of the building and the grounds intact.
Now that the actual construction is underway and the Hamel team has started the demolition, something interesting to note is that Arlington county and the Historical Preservation committee would not allow for the construction team to take down any walls and all removal of refuse was to be done by hand until two weeks ago, when the county agreed to take down two of the “perfectly preserved brick” pillars with wrought iron so that backhoes could get in and out to expedite the construction. The team is deconstructing the property in a historically correct way to take care to preserve the integrity of the building, but prepare it for the new wall systems, insulation, and more which will bring this historical project up to speed in the community for the benefit of the residents.
This project is much more than just getting an interior energy upgrade; this project is the preservation of a great piece of Arlington history. The whole team from the architects, construction crew, historical preservation committee, energy auditors and even the folks who currently live in and around the area, everyone is taking part in keeping this project on track to become a hybrid in its own time. A historical preservation property, with an energy efficient upgrade.
More details to come on this project as it progresses. Keep yourself up to date on EarthCraft and other sustainably built projects here!
Tags:colonial village in arlington, colonial. village in courthouse, earthcraft projects in arlington, energy efficient upgrades, historical preservation and energy efficinecy in arlington, historical preservation project
Posted in Current Projects | No Comments »
Thursday, June 23rd, 2011
Habitat for Humanity DC takes on the daunting task of taking 8 existing homes in the center of Ivy City and renovating them to the stringent LEED for Homes Standards with the help of the EarthCraft Virginia team.
Project manager, Teresa Hamm and her eager crew of volunteers and Habitat for Humanity DC core members see the eight rehabilitation homes at Ivy City as a labor of love. Set as in urban infill project, this LEED for homes project seeks to create a standard of living for the new homeowners that not only lessens the impact on the environment, but also brought opportunity to the area for sustainability, and health and wellness for years to come.
Going above and beyond the call of her job is not something unfamiliar to Teresa, as she has worked on EarthCraft projects before, but this LEED for homes project taking on multiple builds in one fell swoop is something a little bit different for her and the team. This time around, the whole project went under one checklist, which would make it seem a little bit less challenging; however, that means that the standards for the project as a whole get thrown for a loop or heightened, so to speak. Teresa was kept on track by the Earthcraft team throughout the process and with the help of her amazing staff and volunteers who aided in the detailed data collection process and on site verification through scheduled site visits and LEED green rater feedback. This project incorporated both renovation and new construction projects which were aiming for LEED Silver ratings.
This infill development project is in close proximity to parks, transit, community resources and has immediate access to open space; items which are all key to the LEED for homes rating system. The site met basic landscaping design requirements to lessen the impact on the environment and of course, the urban heat island effect. Water efficiency and indoor air quality were paid very close attention to on the Ivy City projects as well as the use of environmentally preferable products. This sort of project is so important to the low income housing community because it truly is a sustainably built development. We’ve recently been discussing the need for sustainably built housing the the low income community and how we see that there is a definite trend upward for sustainably built properties for lower socio-economic families in rental markets with the lower operating costs for the developers and owners, but this makes just as much sense for the low income owners, too.
It is fantastic that this project and the team has put so much work into the LEED for homes program, but they are also shooting for EarthCraft Virginia rating as well! These homes are going to have very high standards set for the area and the homeowners should be very happy with the comfort levels, energy bills and health that they get to experience once they are inside of their homes. We’re looking forward to being a part of another Habitat for Humanity DC project in the near future!
Tags:EarthCraft house, earthcraft virginia, energy efficient home, Habitat for Humanity, habitat for humanity dc, indoor air quality, LEED for homes, leed for homes rating system, leed green rater, low income housing, urban heat island effect, water efficiency
Posted in Current Projects | No Comments »
Thursday, May 12th, 2011
Historic garden apartments originally crafted as quality housing for the working class of the 1930′s Buckingham Village is an icon of the Ballston area of Arlington meant to be preserved.
Even Eleanor Roosevelt said that these homes were a fine example of green space in her time, and as such were meant to be preserved. Having seen their share of potential demolition, Buckingham Village was purchased by Arlington County from the last owners who intended to demolish the property to build luxury town homes in their place; taking with them their rich history of being some of the first garden style apartment homes who housed the federal workers of our great country. These charming apartments with lushly landscaped courtyards in their federal style served as a main source for affordable housing in the 1930 and 1940′s and even now, are home to many recent Central and South American immigrant families looking for affordable housing.
In 2007, there was a request for proposal, RFP, through Paradigm who wanted to demolish the 140 units and construct those luxury building mentioned above; however, there was a lot of push back from the neighborhood associations and the uproar from the activism caught the attention of Arlington County who then purchased the property and designated Buckingham Village a historic district! As you are probably aware, some portions of the original neighborhood have been torn down but this section of Buckingham Village III has been preserved; it needed substantial rehabilitation, but the renovations provided “historical preservation, lower operating costs and a better quality of life for the tenants.” Reshma Holla of Telesis Corp, the developer of Buckingham Village III states that “the goal of the project was to improve the quality of the housing stock, to create housing stock as modern as it can be in terms of efficiency and comfort for the tenants and of course, preservation.” Holla also mentioned that in regards to the “greening of the buildings, [Telesis was] interested in green measures that the tenants were interested in such as control of the thermostats, preservation of the original hardwoods for health and comfort.”
When asked why the organization chose the EarthCraft program what chosen over LEED for the green certification process, Holla noted that the EarthCraft Multifamily certification for rehabilitation projects was much more focused on the goals of the project scope that that of what LEED would require. It suited the project and would allow for the affordable housing incentives through the Virginia Housing Development Authority, VHDA, to come through with much greater ease. “The proposed renovation of {Buckingham Village III] would involve completely renovating the interiors of the buildings and replacing windows, roofs, and all major systems; preserving the historic character and features of the buildings; and producing an environmentally sensitive and highly energy-efficient property. The energy efficiency measures would include additional insulation and installation of energy efficient windows, heating, cooling and water systems, as well as Energy Star kitchen and bathroom appliances.” EarthCraft is to oversee that all of the energy efficient upgrades meet the regional green building standards as set forth by their program and as laid out by the goals of the construction team.
Overall, this Arlington based project has created a sustainable and historical preservation project in an area which craved affordable housing. Smart Communities at NCAT.ORG said something great that resonated for me and hits the nail on the head for projects such as Buckingham Village: “That’s because truly sustainable development produces enduring benefits, not just today, but for our children and their children as well. But sustainable development projects offer real benefits in the short term, too. They create jobs. They lower operating costs for homes, businesses and taxpayers. They reduce pollution control costs.” The current and future residents will thank Arlington County for allowing this 75 year land lease to remain in effect and endure healthy, comfortable, lower cost of living for many years to come.
Tags:affordable housing, affordable housing in arlington virginia, affordable housing in northern virginia, affprdable homes in arlington virginia, buckingham village, EarthCraft house, earthcraft multifamily, energy star homes, historical preservation of buckingham village, LEED multifamily, original master planned communities in northern virginia, renovated homes, renovation of historical preservation, third party certification for multi family projects, vhda, virginia housing development authority
Posted in Current Projects | No Comments »
Thursday, May 5th, 2011
Another Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing project commences along the Columbia Pike Corridor
APAH is known for putting together meaningful projects that bring together community and sustainability. At their most recent ground breaking celebration for the Buchanan Gardens project at 914 Buchanan Street in Arlington Virginia in the heart of the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization’s turf for building strong sustainable community, APAH unveiled to the residents and community their plans to undergo major renovations which will bring energy efficiency and sustainability to this steadfast group of residents.
Through partnerships with the Virginia Housing Development Authority, VHDA and EarthCraft House, APAH, “the only non-profit affordable housing developer working exclusively in Arlington and the largest owner of committed affordable housing on Columbia Pike” has been able to create a community which will enable its current residents to enjoy a quality of life that will be healthier, more comfortable and affordable right in the heart of Arlington. EarthCraft will be providing the third party verification services to ensure that the project is staying on target for the level of energy efficiency that they wish to achieve on this project.
Watch this short video from the Buchanan Gardens Ground Breaking Ceremony:
At the ground breaking ceremony last week, APAH had one of the current Buchanan Garden residents speak on why she was so excited about the renovation project and what it meant to her and her family. As an immigrant and single mother, having affordable housing is imperative to her, and the fact that APAH made it very clear that they planned to make the transition simple for the residents meant so very much to her. It is quite clear that sustainability doesn’t just mean green building all of the time; it also includes the element of affordability, and this comes into play with the cost of living associated with the cost of operations as well as development costs. Sustainable building is something that APAH is passionate about and they bring it full circle when they involve their residents in their plans for redevelopment and renovation. APAH notes that “residents, relocated temporarily during a three-phase renovation, will return to an apartment community that has increased energy efficiency, all new systems and finishes, new interior fixtures and appliances, family friendly units, a community room and playground… Post renovation Buchanan Gardens will be 100% affordable.”
Tags:affordable housing in northern virginia, APAH, arlington county affordable housing, Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, Buchanan Gardens, columbia pike revitalization, community sustainability, CPRO, EarthCraft house, earthcraft virginia, energy efficiency, sustainable housing, third party verifcatio, vhda, VHDA partnership with earthcraft, virginia housing development authority
Posted in Current Projects | No Comments »
Thursday, March 31st, 2011
Nearly 13 years after building their dream team, Peabody Architects has their aptly named The New American Foursquare Passive House well under way in Bethesda, MD.
With the strong drive and determination to put together a project that is Passive in design and the guidance of a great team including award winning HVAC contractors and Earthcraft Technical advisers, Alexandria, Virginia based Peabody Architects is on their way to creating the DC Metro area’s first completely passively designed home. From the get-go this project has been done the right way, they put together a team with the dedication to the plan, to create a home which would embody tight construction, comfort, health and utilize building principles which encourage the home to be built as a system.
In a quote from their blog over a year ago, Peabody’s design team mention ” While the house won’t look different from a traditional home, you will clearly feel a difference from the moment you walk inside this house. Passive Houses are exceptionally quiet and comfortable. There is no stratification of air; there are no drafts, there is no feeling being hot or cold when standing next to a window. Consistently in European surveys (where over 20,000 Passive Houses have now been certified), it is the comfort of these houses most remarked upon by their owners.” This truly defines how this home has been produced; it is a gorgeous space, that is set apart by its efficiency and conscientiousness, not by its outward appearance, which is what some people tend to think when they start to let their minds wander about green, energy efficient or passive homes if they aren’t familiar with the concept.
Passive homes are a German concept which is quickly catching on in the US- and rightly so with the change in our climate and the climbing energy costs; it even suits are needs here in the mid-Atlantic. The Passive House Institute US states that ” Passive Houses are affordable, comfortable homes that meet the most rigorous building energy standard in the world. Far more than a checklist of green building options, Passive House design is a state-of-the-art, systematic approach to super-efficient construction that reduces space heating and cooling loads by an amazing 90%…Passive House standard puts true carbon-neutrality within reach. Today. Ten thousand Passive Houses have already been built in Europe, but this approach to home building has only very recently gained traction here in the U.S. ”
From site location to the actual products used in the homes, Passively designed homes such as the Peabody Architects New American Foursquare out in Bethesda, MD which is comprised of SIPs panels, super high efficiency HVAC system, tight windows, short duct runs and compact plumbing systems need to keep their projects on target from the outset. Peabody’s team was able to do this by organizing their plan from the beginning and understanding this key component: inspection and a system of checks and balances. What is highly important is that throughout the build process- that the whole home is inspected and kept on track by someone like the Conway Construction team who would be able to help identify any potential issues which could breach the thermal envelope of the home. Since this is a home which is to be built tight and ventilated right, as we like to say, it is imperative that an auditor such as this be able to work with the builder team throughout the process to guide them through the energy efficiency process. As a member of the team The Green Gobbler is the HERS rater -providing energy efficiency guidance, energy modeling and diagnostic testing during the pre-drywall and final portions of the project. We’re all excited to see this first Passively designed home in the DC Metro area and proud to have been a part of this great team put together by the Peabody Architects group.
As the Peabody team brings this project to a close, we will keep you posted on the progress. Keep tabs on this project through our blog and join the discussion on our Facebook page.
Tags:earthcraft homes, earthcraft technical adivsers, earthcraft virginia, energy efficiency, green built homes, green homes in dc metro area, healthy homes, high performance homes, new american foursquare, new green homes in dc metro area, passive design, passive home, Passive House, passive house institute, peabody architects
Posted in Current Projects | 1 Comment »
Thursday, February 24th, 2011
Clark Builders Group puts sustainable construction practices to use on the revamping of On-Post Housing on Ft. Belvoir.
It has been several years in the making, but Ft. Belvoir is finally getting its green facelift for on-post housing thanks to work by Clark Builders Group (CBG) and Clark Realty Capital (CRC). As the developer on the project, CRC has outlaid millions of dollars into creating a community that is energy efficient and functional for our soldiers and their families who are stationed at Ft. Belvoir. In 2008, the Huffington Post noted that ” according to green tech blog Clean Technica, the Department of Defense is responsible for over 1.5% of all U.S. energy consumption” and they were looking to make the shift to energy independence. What better place to start than where our soldiers live?!
The development period, which is slated to continue into 2011 includes thousands of homes that Clark Builders Group (CBG) is constructing, remodeling, and renovating to be more energy efficient; there are some homes which are being fully gutted to the studs, and others which do not require as extensive of a renovating process. These homes are undergoing a third party verification system through the EarthCraft Virginia program which is the regional green building program; energy audits are performed on the homes to ensure that specific standards are met for each individual unit in the project. The homes are getting significantly stronger insulation, HVAC systems and EnergyStar fixtures and appliances throughout. The interesting thing about the process of greening the military housing is that the superintendents on the job sites are so very into this program that it has almost become a competition between the different communities and how tightly built their specific product is!
In 2010 CRC released this article sharing in their triumphs with the Ft. Belvoir community initiative: “On October 7, Fort Belvoir Family Housing won the 2010 GreenGov Presidential Building the Future Award at a White House reception, earning recognition as an exemplary community that embodies America’s movement towards a clean energy economy. Chosen for its sustainable practices, renewable energy, innovation, community engagement and education, Fort Belvoir was distinguished among over 300 nominees nationwide by The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). Clark Realty Capital, Clark Builders Group, and their Army partner accepted the award, which recognized Belvoir as a project truly representative of CEQ’s mission.”
CRC and CBG have put a lot of work into creating a more energy efficient product for the Ft. Belvoir on-post housing. Their dedicated team has aimed to remain true to the history and strong sense of community of the Ft. Belvoir villages, all the while striving to make the community a healthier, more sustainable place to live for our soldiers and their families.
Tags:clark construction green homes, earthcraft virginia and ft. belvoir, energy efficient homes on ft. belvoir, greening the military, home energy savings for military housing, renovations on ft. belvoir
Posted in Current Projects | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 12th, 2011
Bonstra Haresign’s New Construction, The Macedonian Building on Shirlington Road, brings a deeper sense of Community and a new shade of green to Nauck in Arlington.
Situated in the thick of things, the new construction just in front of the Macedonia Baptist Church on Shirlington Road will bring a deeper sense of connectedness and community to the Village of Nauck. Architect Matthew Corell of Bonstra Haresign answered a strong call for a building that could enable low income families to live in homes that are “environmentally and community responsible”.
Part of Bonstra Haresign’s mantra is that they are “rooted in community values and collaboration [Bonstra Haresign is] a full service architecture firm committed to design excellence and client service.” They saw this community in need, and set out to achieve a building that is not only EarthCraft Certified, but also a community incubator program. Corell mentions that this 35 unit building of one and two bedroom homes isn’t just a pretty new face on the Nauck Village Center map, “The Macedonian and it’s big sister The Shelton (across the street) are the first two buildings to be developed according to the Nauck Village Action Plan and act as a gateway from the low-residential single family homes to the north and the soon-to-be density to the south and on down to the more developed Shirlington area.” Corell and his team utilized the difficulties of the Nauck Village Action P
lan (the planning and zoning for the community) to their advantage- creating a sleek, yet modest profile with some rather interesting, thoughtful touches. Note that this building is going through the rigorous EarthCraft Virginia testing to verify that the property is being built to health living standards.
From bottom to top, The Macedonian is something special for the Nauck Community. This 5 story building looks like a four story building from some angles, this is part of the zoning that provided Corell the opportunity to create something a little bit different with this building. In the first level of the building, you will find offices and “incubator” rooms for community members who are seeking to begin their own 
small businesses; this incubator area gives them a head start with office space to commence working on excelling. The one and two bedroom floorplans are available to families who meet specific income requirements to that they can live in a building which has been constructed to high energy efficiency and green building standards. The slight step in the building where it becomes a 4-5 story building, is an open air roof-top green space: an intricate system of sedum and other succulents called a living roof. Corell recalls this living roof would “add a center piece for the tenants and a private outdoor space that they could enjoy year round. The green roof, by LiveRoof, also has huge environmental impacts: diverting water from the local sewer system, reducing the heat gain of the building and providing an additional layer of insulation… The upper roof is also energy efficient and is called a “cool roof” due to its high albedo rating. It has minimal mechanical condensers and fans. ” The living roof is just one way that his team brought a beautiful and effective way to bring energy efficiency and performance to the project.
The standards that the Bozuto Construction company took in creating the Bonstra Haresign design has been that of advanced framing techniques, high performance energy efficient insulation strategy and healthy indoor air systems through proper air sealing techniques and the utilization of a fresh air intake system for the whole property. The HVAC system is a topic that the whole design and construction team struggled with; Corell wanted a product that would allow for the fresh air intake system but would not be the typical “farm” of HVAC units on the rooftop. One of their engineers suggested the Mitsubishi unit, that they ultimately opted for after much discussion with the HVAC 
subcontractors who were not familiar with this type of ducted fresh air intake system. The Mitsubishi unit that they purchased is a product that is often utilized in commercial buildings, but is quite widely used in Japanese construction of all sorts. One of the many bonuses of this system is that it will “provided ducted fresh air to each unit.” On the energy efficiency front, this system “will send it’s cooling refrigerant to the condensers in the garage which will then convert this and send it to the west side. So instead of converting 100 degree air to 70, the Mitsubishi takes the 74 degree refrigerant and converts it to 70;” thereby reducing the conditioning needs since air will be constantly tempered. Something that, again, sets this building apart is the light colored roof designed to reflect light and keep the building cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, as Corell referenced before regarding the “high 
albedo”.
Not only is The Macedonian project an energy-efficient, low income, multi-family project in Arlington, but it is also a community development project. It’s prime location with close proximity to 395 access, a number of ART buses and even the main S. Glebe thoroughfare, The Macedonian is a great place to kick this historic community back into high gear for its inhabitants. The incorporation of a project such as this within walking distance to the historic Drew Model School, walking distance to the Nauck Town Center and even a gentle stroll to the Village of Shirlington shops, and restaurants- is bringing new life and new opportunity to this section of the Nauck Community.
Tags:air sealing strategy, bonstra haresign architects, bozuto construction, community development, ducted fresh air system, earthcraft certification, earthcraft virginia, energy efficiency, energy efficient, fresh air intake systems, healthy indoor air quality, high albedo roof, high performance home, insulation, insulation strategy, light roofing systems, low income multifamily, multifamily project, nauck community action plan, planning and zoning, proper air sealing
Posted in Current Projects | No Comments »
All this place needs is a picket fence and you’d be quite at home on mainstreet USA in this quality, high-end contemporary craftsman home built by Touchstone homes. Builder Clint Woodson has been on the ball with this one aiming for artisan craftsmanship throughout the home with stunning oak hardwoods and a gorgeous,gourmet kitchen with a French Chateau vibe that would inspire any cook to become a chef. Simply 
beautiful slabs of granite along with the Viking suite of kitchen appliances are just amazing and make this a truly high-end kitchen in and of itself! The stone patio off the back of the home is nothing to baulk at with its own outdoor grill/kitchenette- enjoy a glass of wine or a cup of coffee while you watch cardinals fly off into the wooded lot behind you on the ample .34 acre lot. This home is near perfection and it doesn’t hurt that Clint kept in mind health and comfort along with the ‘creature comforts’ of luxury as well on this home!
Dual zoned, energy efficient HVAC systems which are optimally insulated provide the home with the perfect level of heat and air for the size of the home. Motion sensor lights have been installed throughout the home for a very smart, high-tech and energy saving feature in a home of this size (5,215sf), it just makes sense that you want to save on energy! Solid surfaces on most of the flooring for the richly stained hardwoods to the travertine of the baths, this home will have minimal allergens, especially with the MERV8 air filters. Don’t let the decorative ceiling work and architectural detail work fool you, this home has energy efficient features hidden around all sorts of nooks and crannies! EarthCraft and Chris Conway were pleased to work with Clint and his team to achieve his level of certification and can’t wait to work with them again to make more of his beautiful, high performance homes! This home is currently under contract and set to close.
