News

August 16, 2010 (Sarasota, FL)  Learning Gate Community School, a charter school in Hillsborough County with a curriculum that emphasizes nature, agriculture and environmental responsibility, became the first public school in the United States to earn LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.  The project, 3 new buildings, consisting of 10 classrooms and an 8,000-square-foot addition to the middle school campus, was designed by Carlson Studio Architecture.

“Green schools – whether newly constructed or retrofitted existing buildings - make a tremendous impact on student health, test scores, teacher retention, school operational costs and the environment,” said Carlson Studio Architecture President Michael Carlson.

The LEED Platinum Certification was awarded on a number of sustainable design strategies and construction features that include:

The new buildings are constructed using prefabricated 6" wood stud modules for quick site assembly. Once placed on their elevated foundations the buildings were insulated with R-30 Soy-Based spray insulation, walls are finished with 95% recycled content gypsum board, and the floors with "Cradle to Cradle" carpet tiles made from soda bottles.

Large insulated north facing windows allow for natural light, while dimmable T-8 fluorescent fixtures will automatically adjust to add additional lighting. The classrooms also utilize a High Efficiency A/C system, which dehumidifies both the fresh air and return air, allowing for smaller sized cooling units.

Rainwater is harvested for the flushing of 1.2 gallon per flush toilets, which will eventually be integrated into an on site "living machine" waste treatment center.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the USGBC’s standardized 3rd party verification system, administered by the Green Building Certification Institute, for certifying the world’s greenest, energy efficient and high performance buildings.  

For more information about the project, visit www.CarlsonStudio.org/projects/---public/learning-gate/ or www.LearningGate.org/

by ABC 7 mysuncoast.com
SARASOTA COUNTY - Banks are used to dealing with the color green; but one Suncoast bank has taken it a step further by working green.
We ask our banks to keep our money safe.  Gateway Bank's University Boulevard branch is also protecting our environment.  It was retrofitted about a year ago by Willis A. Smith Construction -- experts in green building -- and green architect Michael Carlson.
The result is an energy and water efficient building that's LEED certified.  It's only the fourth bank in the state to earn that distinction, and the first in the area.
Willis Smith and Gateway have compared its efficiency to another Gateway Branch in Bradenton over the past year.  "And what's nice is the 2 branches are relatively similar, so we're now, after a year, we can compare the data and utility costs," says Dave Sessions, president of Willis A. Smith Construction.
"On a per square foot basis, we're seeing a 41% savings with the LEED-certified branch vs. the non-LEED-certified branch.  So it's pretty tremendous, and the payback we've estimated is right at 38 months, so we're very, very encouraged on that," says Shaun Merriman, president and CEO of Gateway Bank of SW Florida.
The savings comes from three main elements: the windows keep the heat out and the cool air in; underneath the bank's roof is highly effective spray foam insulation; and because the building is so well insulated now.  Smaller, more efficient air conditioners were installed, lowering the cost of its power bills.
The bank is also a healthy place to work.  All paints, materials, carpets and sealants are no-VOC -- that means they contain no volatile organic compounds...basically chemicals that can make us sick.
Merriman hopes more businesses will go green.  He says there are less than 10 LEED-certified buildings in Sarasota County.  "We have a lot of room for improvement and I'm very encouraged that our bank was one of the very first to take that step and take that initiative."
Click here to see full article

Carlson Studio Architecture & Eco-Consulting is the only firm in the region to have six projects successfully achieve LEED Certification. What does that mean for you? Letting someone else learn the ropes at your expense is costly.  Carlson Studio Architecture delivers your new green building or green renovation on time and on budget without drama!

Lakewood Ranch Plastic Surgery Office is the second project to recieve the "COOL" rating form the Tampa Bay Business Journal, CSA'a own office received the honor in 2009.

LWR Plastic Surgery is currently seeking LEED-CI certification for the US Green Building Council.

Tampa Bay Business Journal - by Margaret Cashill Staff writer

Tampa Bay's coolest office spaces designed to inspire employees - Tampa Bay Business Journal
Coolest Office Spaces, a TBBJ feature now in its third year, is dedicated to recognizing the "cool" in Tampa Bay area offices.

This year's spaces prove that cool is an ever-evolving concept, one that in 2010 departed from conventional design concepts and restored the notion of fun in the workplace.

Companies are choosing bright colors to liven up the mood and original artwork, in some cases created by the owners.

Owners favor collaborative, open environments that foster communication and camaraderie.

Read more: PDF of Article

Gateway Bank's University Parkway branch was recently awarded LEED Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

This was the third branch Gateway renovated in Sarasota but it's now the first certified bank in Sarasota County. Carlson Studio Architecture re-designed the facility and Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. was the contractor. Because more than 50% of the building was remodeled, the project qualified as a major renovation under the USGBC's LEED-NC program. 

According to Michael Carlson, LEED AP BD+C, AIA and principal of Carlson Studio Architecture, by maintaining the existing structure the embodied energy originally expended to create the building was preserved.  This decision became the cornerstone of the project's sustainable direction.  Green renovations can save building owners money and time in many cases.
 
Green features of the completed renovation include an estimated 15% reduction in energy use and water demand has been reduced by approximately 40%.  The addition of large windows and interior glazing allowed day lighting to pass through the building, as well as provide views to the outside from every office. Day lighting helps reduce energy costs and increases worker productivity while contributing to decreased absenteeism rates.  One of the best and most recognizable improvements to the Gateway Bank branch is the flooring which was manufactured using recycled materials.  Low emitting materials, paints and adhesives were also used throughout the project to improve indoor air quality.

For more information, visit http://www.carlsonstudio.org/, http://www.willissmith.com/ or http://www.gatewaybankandtrust.com/.

The Florida Gulfcoast Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council awarded its highest honor, Chapter Leadership Award, to Michael Carlson of Carlson Studio Architecture during the group's annual award program December 8 in St. Petersburg.  The annual award recognizes the chapter member who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, active involvement and service to the organization and has helped to advance the green building/design profession.

Earlier this year, Carlson established and led a new division of the Florida Gulfcoast Chapter, the Myakka River Branch, which serves the Manatee-Sarasota area.  In addition, he was appointed chair of the Green Business Leadership Council of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, a recent initiative for the organization.  In 2009 Carlson was also selected by HGTV to design the production company's second Green Home which earned LEED Platinum certification from the USGBC and is located in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Carlson Studio Architecture is located at 1613 Fruitville Road in downtown Sarasota, Florida.  The studio headquarters became the fourth project in Florida to earn LEED Silver Certification for Commercial Interiors.  The architectural firm has been a member of Sarasota County's Green Business Partnership since 2008.

Josh Bomstein, USGBC Chapter President & Michael Carlson

Michael Carlson & Rick Fedrizzi, CEO USGBC

This Thursday - November 5th - ASID Designer Resource Show go to www.asidfwc.com website for details, or contact our office at 941-378-9964.

Michael Carlson, AIA, LEED AP will be presenting the HGTV 2009 Green Home at 3pm. Also, stop by and see us during the trade show (1pm-7pm) at our Booth #47.

Heap has been an active AIA member since 2002 and is also a LEED Accredited Professional. There were a number of Heap's accomplishments that contributed to him being deserving of the award including initiating a mentoring program between students and professionals, increasing membership, revitalizing and improving programs to better meet member concerns, creating community recognition events for the chapter, producing the annual Emerging Professional's conference that resulted in record-breaking attendance, and volunteering his time and professional design skills in support of several non-profit agencies.