The USGBC recently notified Vertegy that the St. Peters Social Security Administration Building, located in St. Peters, Mo., and the Suffolk Health and Human Services Building, located in Suffolk, Va., were awarded LEED Silver certification.

St. Louis-based Vertegy, an award-winning, sustainability consulting firm, today announced that it has been credited with helping two government facilities earn LEED certification. The U.S. Green Building Council recently notified the firm that the St. Peters Social Security Administration Building, located in St. Peters, Mo., and the Suffolk Health and Human Services Building, located in Suffolk, Va., were awarded LEED Silver certification. The two facilities bring the total number of LEED certified developments that Vertegy has had a hand in to 21.

Vertegy was hired by developer Lot 7 Partners, LLC, to serve as the LEED consultant on the 9,400-square-foot, one-story St. Peters Social Security Administration Building project. Vertegy, along with LePique and Orne Architects, Inc. and Blanton Construction Co., worked with the owner to incorporate sustainable elements into the building's design with the ultimate goal of achieving LEED certification.



Vertegy assisted the project team in incorporating efficient lighting, water-saving devices and other environmentally-friendly products. Some of the development's specific sustainable elements include white membrane roofing material to decrease the heat island effects to the surrounding area; dual-flush water closets, water-free urinals and low-flow lavatory and kitchen faucets; a high-efficiency irrigation system; whole-building simulation for energy modeling, and more. The facility's property also includes more than 35 percent of green, open space with native and adapted plants, mulch beds and drought-tolerant seed mixes. Recycled materials were also incorporated into the facility, and nearly 90 percent of the construction and demolition waste was carefully diverted from the landfill by way of recycling centers and reuse.



"The goal to have the St. Peters Social Security Administration Building become LEED certified quickly sharpened the project team's focus, and every member worked together to find the full potential of this property," said Thomas Taylor, General Manager of Vertegy. "We were able to find innovative ways to employ strategies that added LEED points at little or no cost to construction, demonstrating that sustainable elements can be incorporated into a project without exceeding the budget."



To achieve LEED certification of the 57,200-square-foot Suffolk Health and Human Services Building, contractor C.W. Brinkley, Inc., also turned to Vertegy for guidance. Vertegy assisted the project team, which also included Riddick Fiedler Stern, P.C., in incorporating several sustainable elements into the facility. These elements include 21 percent green space, a retention basin for storm water, white membrane roofing material to decrease the heat island effects to the surrounding area, dual-flush water closets, water-free urinals in select male restrooms, a low-flow shower, ultra low-flow lavatory and kitchen faucets, whole-building simulation for energy and more. The use of recycled, reused and regionally-sourced materials was also part of the project team's core goals, as was indoor environmental quality.


The facility was designed to house the Suffolk Health Department, as well as the Suffolk Department of Social Services, both of which provide a variety of services for the community.


"We were excited to have the opportunity to work together with the project team and the City of Suffolk, Va. to deliver this project, and we commend the city on its commitment to sustainability," noted Taylor. "More and more cities are recognizing the benefits that incorporating sustainable design into their facilities will have on their communities, and both the City of Suffolk, Va. and the City of St. Peters, Mo. are excellent examples of this trend."

Founded in February 2005, Vertegy provides clients with design, procurement and construction consulting services for green and sustainable facilities. One of the key ways Vertegy serves clients is by helping them gain certification for their projects from various nationally and internationally recognized certification bodies, such as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which provides LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification. Vertegy — which is derived from combining the Latin root for green and strategy — is based in St. Louis at the LEED Platinum Alberici Corporate Headquarters. For more information, call 314.733.2666 or visit www.vertegyconsultants.com.