With many of Omicron’s projects currently targetting LEED® certification over the past few months, several aspects of our Sustainability program have been formalized in order to facilitate this goal. Omicron’s green goals for 2009, as they relate to our professional practice, have been defined as:
- Create a proven and predictable process that allows us to complete projects efficiently with the highest possible level of LEED® certification.
- Demonstrate professional competency throughout LEED® project delivery, supported by training relevant to team member’s roles and responsibilities.
- Enhance effective communication of sustainability goals between the design and construction disciplines.
- Promote industry transformation, through alignment with sustainability-focused consultants, companies and clients.
To make certain these goals are achieved, several strategies have been outlined. Firstly, the roles and responsibilities within project teams - as it relates to working on LEED® projects - has been clarified. Education is key to this strategy, and in February, the following people will be attending a LEED®-NC technical review workshop, with the understanding that they will achieve LEED® Accredited Professional (AP) certification within the next 4 - 6 months: Joseph Bros, Karla Castellanos, Peter Joyce, Cameron Kemp, Jordan Levine, Alex Morrison, Deb Parliament, Lance Peters, Garry Phillip, Korey Roberts, Ajay Shah, Jim Spiers and Dan van der Werff. We also have several others, including members of our field staff, attending a LEED® for Construction session at Buildex in February. This aggressive education strategy is aligned with sector goals and performance targets. Anyone else keen to achieve the LEED® AP is also encouraged to do so.
Integrating sustainability goals into Contract Documents and the Construction Sector is also a focus this year. Training will be provided to our field staff regarding the very big role they play in delivering a LEED® building. Our specifications are also being fine-tuned to ensure the timely delivery of submittals by our trades, with LEED®-critical information submitted, reviewed and approved in the same manner as shop drawings.
The Omicron LEED® User’s Group (OLUG) is another initiative recently founded. OLUG consists of a group of individuals from each sector who are currently working on LEED® projects. The group meets twice per month to discuss specific aspects of their projects as they relate to the LEED® rating system. We have a full schedule this year, with each member presenting a session on their expertise when it comes to sustainable building. OLUG, along with o×vert members, will also be visiting LEED® certified buildings in Vancouver, to experience first-hand how green strategies can be successfully implemented.
The actual LEED® documentation aspect of project delivery has also been streamlined, and several documents, such as project phase checklists with LEED® credit specific milestones, a LEED® submittal timeline, list of green consultants, as well as updated and revised LEED® tools and calculators, have been added to the LEED® folder on the S drive.
The materials library is going green too. Look for the o×vert “leaf” stickers which identify products that will help our project achieve LEED® certification. We will also soon unveil an extension of our materials library, the Green Product Database, which will be an online and searchable version of the materials library.
In the next few months, we hope to build capacity in the LEED® for Existing Buildings: Operation and Maintenance rating system (EB:OM), and also to better track hours and resources spent on LEED® projects.
by Michelle Lee
As you can see from the article above, we will be very busy in 2009 building our in-house capacity and expertise in LEED®. I’m very pleased to be able to announce that Michelle Lee has agreed to accept the role of LEED® Manager for Omicron. In addition to continuing her architectural internship, Michelle will be working closely with me and the o×vert team to roll out this ambitious agenda. We anticipate that Michelle will spend (on average) about one quarter of her time on LEED®/sustainability related tasks and the balance of her time on project work. By now, most people in the office will have seen our “LEED® process” presentation and will understand that all project team members will play a part in our LEED® certifications. Michelle will be a resource to all of our LEED® projects providing advice and guidance on how to achieve green project success.
Please join me in acknowledging Michelle’s new role with a jolly green “ho, ho, ho!”
By Kevin Hanvey
