LEED Gold-Certified Building Near Savannah Honored as One of Top 10 Sustainable Architecture Projects in Georgia
Atlanta Chapter of the AIA Committee on the Environment Recognizes Project at Greenprints 2009 Conference

April 03, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Savannah, GA- The Atlanta chapter of the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment recently honored the LEED CS Gold-certified AMB Morgan Business Center - Building 100 in Bloomingdale, Ga. as one of 10 leading sustainable architecture projects in Georgia at the Greenprints 2009 conference.
The sustainability conference, which featured an Atlanta AIA Green Design Showcase, took place March 25 and 26 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Atlanta and honored architectural projects that best illustrate regional efforts to integrate environmentally-responsible methods and materials.

Lott + Barber, a leading commercial architecture and community planning firm headquartered in Savannah, served as the LEED consultant for the AMB Morgan Business Center project. The firm is also developing a LEED certification plan for AMB's future sustainable developments.

"It's truly an honor to receive this statewide recognition for environmental stewardship," said Steven G. Stowers, a partner at Lott + Barber who worked closely with AMB on the planning and construction of the AMB Morgan Business Center - Building 100. "We're delighted to be honored by AIA Atlanta for achieving such a high level of sustainability."
When construction was completed in the fall of 2008, AMB Morgan Business Center's Building 100 earned the distinction of being the first industrial building in the Southeast to achieve the prestigious Gold LEED Core & Shell certification. The U.S. Green Building Council awarded the 343,000-square-foot tilt-up concrete warehouse facility the prestigious LEED Gold Certification due to AMB's commitment to environmental standards at every stage of construction, as well as its commitment to excellence in energy efficiency.

"This project represents the best combination of business opportunity, economic growth and green practices, and serves as an example of sustainability standards for future development projects," said John Morgan, AMB's vice president, East Region.

Thomas & Hutton Engineering of Savannah, Ga. served as the civil engineer on the AMB Morgan Business Center project. The Conlan Company of Marietta, Ga. was the contractor for the project, while Randall-Paulson Architects of Marietta, Ga. served as the lead architect.

Some of the innovative sustainable features at AMB Morgan Business Center - Building 100 include:
Over 60% of all construction materials used on the project were manufactured and harvested from within 500 miles of the project site, and at least 40% were from within 200 miles of the site, reducing gas and energy use by trucks hauling materials.

100% of all permanent lumber provided from certified sustainably-grown forests.
100% high-albedo concrete paving, replacing more than 10 acres of black asphalt.
Materials used from recycled sources exceeded 20%.
Highly efficient T-5 HO fluorescent light fixtures installed.
White thermal polyolefin (TPO) reflects heat from the roof surface, reducing the need for cooling inside the building.
Drought-tolerant, self-sustaining plantings reduce water usage by more than 2 million gallons per year.
Water-efficient plumbing fixtures, such as dual-flush toilets, cut water usage inside the building in half.
Over 84% of all trash and debris on the construction site was recycled and converted into usable materials.
ABOUT LOTT + BARBER: A leading commercial architecture, sustainable design and community planning firm headquartered in Savannah, Lott + Barber excels at working with clients at every phase of a project, from site selection through grand opening events. Founded in 1990, the firm has been honored with numerous design awards over the years, including Historic Preservation Awards from Historic Savannah Foundation and Excellence in Architecture awards from the American Institute of Architects. For more information about Lott + Barber, please call (912) 234-5230 or visit www.lottbarber.com.

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