Sustainable "Green" Design

Sustainable design is a concept that recognizes that human civilization is an integral part of the natural world and that nature must be preserved and perpetuated if humans are to survive on this planet as previous generations have. Sustainable design embraces global interdependence among nations, environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability. The design approach recognizes the impacts of every design choice on the natural and cultural resources of the local, regional, and global environments.

With over $800,000,000 in design experience, the LEED™ registered staff at McKissick Associates is taking a leadership role in environmental design for schools, municipalities and religious facilities. LEED is a national standard for ranking and verifying the green aspects of buildings. McKissick Associates is currently revising project design procedures and building specifications to allow green building specifications and LEED rating goals into every project. This effort is the product of years of hands-on experience and is ongoing and substantial. Clients and communities are best served for the future by moving forward with standard incorporation of green architecture now. Some of the items currently being integrated into the firm's project checklist include:

• Establishment of environmental goals at project kick-off
• Energy conservation
• Passive solar heating
• Passive cooling strategies
• Maximum use of daylighting
• High air quality standards
• Aggressive use of recycled materials
• Avoidance of off-gassing materials and furnishings

McKissick Associates is committed to green architecture not as a specialization, but as an inevitable component of excellent design, and eventually, of code adherence. For example, the St. Stephen's Episcopal School and Cathedral in Harrisburg is the nation's first church project to incorporate a significant green architecture component and has applied for a LEED™ Silver Rating. The new Wellsboro Area High School developed a design that has exceptionally high clean air standards, energy efficiency, daylighting, and high use of recycled and renewable materials. SEDA - COG a regional council of governments comprising an 11-county region in north central Pennsylvania, is building a new "Energy Resource Center" which will provide a demonstration of green construction techniques as it relates to light commercial construction and is targeting a "Gold" LEED™ rating upon completion.