Award-winning TTC Nursing and Science Building achieves LEED Gold certification
December 19, 2016
LS3P congratulates client Trident Technical College, whose Nursing and Science Building recently achieved LEED Gold certification. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.
The 90,000 square foot, $30 million building designed by LS3P can accommodate over 1,000 nursing students and will help TTC keep up with a high demand for its nursing programs. The new facility was constructed by China Construction America of South Carolina Inc., and includes a 300-seat auditorium, rooftop astronomy deck, and leading-edge nursing simulation labs which allow students to practice skills on high-fidelity patient simulators. The project was funded by local funds from Charleston, Dorchester, and Berkeley counties, all of which will benefit from a healthcare workforce bolstered by TTC’s graduates.
“We are committed to being good stewards of the environment and also of our financial resources,” said Trident Tech President Mary Thornley. “The Nursing and Science Building is a physical representation of those commitments. LS3P designed a building that conserves resources without sacrificing either beauty or utility. Our students and faculty love the building and are proud of what it represents in terms of sustainability.”
The Nursing and Science Building achieved LEED Gold certification for implementing practical, measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. The design includes optimized facades to control and reduce solar heat gain, low-flow fixtures for water conservation, an onsite rainwater cistern for toilet flushing and irrigation, a green roof to control stormwater runoff and provide additional event space, and low VOC finishes selected for better indoor air quality. Signage throughout the building and demonstration solar PV panels in the parking lot complement TTC’s curriculum and allow the building to be used as a teaching tool for sustainability.
The project was honored with an AIA SC Committee on the Environment Merit award in 2015. “Buildings are a prime example of how human systems integrate with natural systems,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “The TTC Nursing and Science Building project efficiently uses our natural resources and makes an immediate, positive impact on our planet, which will tremendously benefit future generations to come.”
The building opened to students in the spring of 2014.
About TTC
Trident Technical College is a public, two-year, multi-campus community college that provides quality education and promotes economic development in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.
An open-door institution of higher education, the college serves approximately 14,000 traditional and nontraditional curriculum students. To help students meet their goals, TTC offers university transfer associate degrees and applied technical associate degrees, diplomas and certificates. TTC further promotes economic development through continuing education courses; customized education and training for business, industry and government; and a variety of employment training programs. For more information about Trident Tech, visit www.tridenttech.edu.
About LS3P
Founded in 1963, LS3P was named Southeast Design Firm of the Year for 2014 by Engineering News Record (ENR). A design firm with regional roots and national reach, LS3P operates from its eight offices in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Charlotte, Raleigh, Wilmington, and Savannah, providing architecture, interiors, and planning services. LS3P is deeply committed to the communities in which it serves, and has been honored with over 495 design awards in diverse practice areas. For more information on LS3P, visit www.ls3p.com.
Photo credit: Matt Silk
