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First-ever award in the new healthcare category
Seattle, Wash. – The Group Health Puyallup Medical Center, a newly-opened 53,000-sq. ft., two-story medical facility in Puyallup, Wash, is the first project in the country to achieve certification under the new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Healthcare rating system. LEED for Healthcare (LLED-HC) was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to reward the highest-performing and healthiest medical buildings.
The Group Health Puyallup Medical Center attained the necessary point level for LEED certification by employing the resources developed and implemented by CBRE, and supported through the collaboration efforts of O’Brien & Company, CollinsWoerman, GLY and The Benaroya Company.
“Earning the first-ever LEED for Healthcare Gold certification validates our commitment to enhancing the environmental sustainability of Group Health facilities,” said Bill Biggs, Vice President, Administrative Services at Group Health. “The health of our patients, employees and communities depends on a healthy environment and we are committed to conducting our operations in an environmentally sensitive manner,” he added.
Working with build-to-suit developer, The Benaroya Company, Group Health chose the South Hill Business + Technology Center’s 92-acre campus as the site for the new Group Health Puyallup Medical Center. It was conceived using a ground-breaking pre-construction approach. Group Health tasked CBRE’s project and facility management teams to lead the tenant improvement project under Group Health’s direction to design the healthcare facility with sustainable features. To meet the objective, a mock-up of the building was fabricated in a 40,000-sq. ft. warehouse, so modifications could be fashioned before breaking ground. CBRE engaged O’Brien & Company, a well-known LEED consulting firm, to develop a green strategy and ensure that certification was achieved. O’Brien & Company worked with CBRE to review over 200 materials and products for sustainability, quality, performance and low-maintenance, and offered analysis on credit options. One of CBRE’s innovative contributions to the new building was an interactive ‘green screen’ – a web-based program that illustrates and educates the building occupants on the building’s design features. The combination of the low-maintenance materials and energy-efficient building systems will lower Group Health’s cost of operation.
CollinsWoerman’s project design addressed LEED credits by prioritizing energy-efficiency, specifying low-emitting and sustainable materials, minimizing impact caused by production and transportation, and providing a high level of indoor air quality. Local materials, as well as those with high recycled content, were the preferred choice for construction. Design elements minimized the use of artificial light, optimizing energy performance. Additionally, the green roof allows for reduction in storm water discharge, insulation, energy efficiency and connection to nature. The addition of car charging stations and bike racks were indispensable in the final design strategy.
The GLY Construction team paid stringent attention to jobsite recycling and waste management during construction, and performed a thorough Life Cycle energy analysis to select systems that optimized maintenance and performance. In addition, specialized mechanical and electrical infrastructure was part of the team’s LEED strategy to maximize energy efficiency for use in adjustable space. Building for flexibility was a highly sustainable approach that eliminates re-design, re-work, and the additional materials, energy and waste associated with construction. The use of recycled and sustainable materials also played a significant role. Trees cleared for the building site were reclaimed for the project in the form of site benches, interior finishes and a dramatic two-story wall paneling that dominates the central lobby, adding to the character and beauty of the facility.
About Group Health
Group Health is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit health systems, recognized for its consumer-governed cooperative origins and innovative solutions for improving care. Established in 1947, Group Health Cooperative, together with its subsidiaries Group Health Options, Inc. and KPS Health Plans, provides health coverage to over 626,000 residents of Washington State and North Idaho. More than 400,000 members receive care from Group Health Physicians medical group at Group Health Medical Centers locations across the Puget Sound region and Spokane. Group Health advances health in the community through its medical education, charitable foundation, and nationally recognized research institute.
About CBRE Group, Inc.
CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (in terms of 2012 revenue). The Company has approximately 37,000 employees (excluding affiliates), and serves real estate owners, investors and occupiers through more than 300 offices (excluding affiliates) worldwide. CBRE offers strategic advice and execution for property sales and leasing; corporate services; property, facilities and project management; mortgage banking; appraisal and valuation; development services; investment management; and research and consulting. Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.
About O’Brien and Company
O’Brien & Company is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and green building. O’Brien & Company provides leadership to the industry through expert consulting on design and construction projects of all kinds, sustainability policy development, and training. www.obrienandco.com.
About CollinsWoerman
Established in 1988 and located in Seattle, Washington, CollinsWoerman is a collaborative architecture, design and planning firm providing integrated, sustainable solutions. The award-winning firm plans and designs for a wide variety of project types, including healthcare, mixed-use, corporate/commercial and retail developments, sustainable communities, and science and technology facilities. www.collinswoerman.com
About GLY
GLY Construction, Inc. is a Puget Sound contractor offering excellent preconstruction services, principal-led teams, and award-winning quality in a variety of project sectors, including healthcare. GLY is committed to industry innovation, notably in sustainable and Lean building practices and Integrated Project Delivery, as well as community involvement through outreach and education. Visit gly.com.
About The Benaroya Company
Established in 1956, The Benaroya Company (www.benaroya.com) is a leading full-service commercial real estate company active in acquiring, developing and managing superior data center, office, high-tech, medical, retail and industrial properties in prime locations throughout the Pacific Northwest.
