Why FSC Was Important to This Project
The building form derived much from the surrounding agricultural vernacular, including the use of wood. Nearby farmhouses and barns provided aesthetic cues that lead to a sophisticated combination of materials and colors, allowing the buildings to settle into the landscape. Sustainable strategies were presented at each phase of the design process, with value added discussions on materials that included using FSC certified wood and other complimentary materials. This included the use of glu-laminated engineered wood beams, all the rough carpentry and wood veneer doors. The results lend the project a warmth of material and color, as well as contributing a large part of the sustainable story.
ELS Architecture and Urban Design had applied resource and energy efficient design to all its projects for municipal clients, but the Morgan Hill Aquatics Center was the first of their projects to achieve LEED Certification and the first to use FSC Certified wood. The project was the architect’s introduction to the FSC process of tracking and documenting wood sourcing. ELS gained experience in the importance of third party certification and therefore became a more effective advocate for green building.
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Project Name: Morgan Hill Aquatics Center
Location: Morgan Hill, CA
Building Type: Recreation
Square Footage: 8,825
Owner: City of Morgan Hill, CA
Architect: ELS Architecture and Urban Design
Use of FSC-certified Wood
FSC-certified wood products totaled 75% (by cost) of all new wood materials used on the project. FSC-certified products included rough carpentry, glued laminated members, and wood doors. |
