Dietz & Company Architects, Inc. has received LEED for Homes Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for the recently completed units at the YWCA's Campus of Hope. These new units provide housing that serves to transition women from domestic violence shelters to longer-term living facilities. The 32,000 s/f project is made up of 20 apartments and eight congregate housing units within its walls. This project was part of the larger Campus of Hope initiative that was started more than 10 years ago for which Dietz & Co. was the master planner. Dietz & Co.also designed the first phase of this campus: a 60,000 s/f building that includes administrative offices, meeting and classrooms as well as an on-site shelter.
NL Construction was the general contractor for this project and the project was supported by the LEED for Homes Provider, CET.
In the finest tradition of the YWCA, this project features cutting edge technology in Green construction, women-owned partnerships and the overwhelming support of the community it seeks to serve. The project, originally designed to achieve LEED for Homes Silver certification level, exceeded that level by achieving Gold certification.
Several factors that supported the LEED for Homes Gold Certification include: super-insulated walls and airtight construction, efficient mechanical systems that include roof-mounted photovoltaic panels for electricity, sustainable site design and the use of green construction materials. A healthy indoor environment, pollution reduction and lower utility/maintenance costs are also key elements of this certification. This highly efficient building is expected to reduce water and energy consumption by 20% to 30% over typical code compliant construction.