The Greening Curve: Lessons Learned in the Design of the New EPA Campus in North Carolina

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Document 220/K-02-001, Sandra Mendler, HOK, principal author. Available at no charge from: US EPA, Office of Administration and Resources Mgmt., MD-C-604-05, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; or as a PDF file from:

www.epa.gov/rtp/new-bldg/environmental/environmental.htm. Paperback, 75 pages

The U.S. EPA’s campus in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina is an enormous facility, including 1.2 million ft² (111,000 m²) of labs, offices, and a conference facility. It was designed and built during the ten years from 1992 to 2001, with numerous consultants, EPA scientists, and others assisting the architects in making it an exemplary green facility. All measures had to be accomplished within the conventional budget set by Congress.

The Greening Curve explains the process this team used, along with the strategies and technologies they selected—all in an attractive, accessible format. Technical terms are explained—often with illustrations—in the sidebars, allowing the main narrative to flow easily from topic to topic. In some cases the text merely describes how a green strategy, such as the use of wildflowers instead of turf grass, was implemented. Often, however, the explanation includes a description of the constraints and some of the alternatives that were considered. As such, it serves as a valuable primer on the interactive

process of green design.

As indicated in the subtitle, a key aspect of this book is the “lessons learned” emphasis. While the book doesn’t go into details about shortcomings or things that might have been done differently, it does include a useful list of 16 key points that might apply to any project. Among these are:

• Focus on the process;

• Identify performance benchmarks;

• Seize early opportunities; and

• Follow through during construction.

The Greening Curvehas a great deal to offer any design team, but especially those working on large facilities and laboratories. We hope that more project teams will find the resources and energy to document their processes and share them so effectively!

– NM