Carleton Design » Green Building

Modern Museum

James Carleton — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:21:27 +0000

If you have ever been to a science museum, you know what to expect: wild animals preserved in threatening poses, strange bugs from across the planet and, if your lucky, some dinosaur bones. Things have changed a bit at the California Academy of Sciences. Last year they completed a major overhaul to their facility in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and transformed it into the greenest museum in the world (LEED Platinum). The usual bugs and bones remain, but the exhibits have been designed to increase visibility and interaction. You can walk through a four-story glass orb that contains the rainforest exhibit, explore the amazing aquarium, stare at the night sky in the planetarium, or watch researchers do their actual work in front of you.

California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco

My favorite exhibit is the building itself. It is packed with green features but none are obtrusive. The average visitor may not notice the solar array, computer-controlled natural ventilation, or rainwater collection, but they will definitely notice the result: a beautiful, light-filled, comfortable museum which prompts you to spend the day learning. The grandest green feature it its 2.5 acre green roof which looks like a green carpet floating above the whole museum. Architect Renzo Piano sketched it with one undulating line. From the observation deck you can enjoy an impressive view of the native plantings and species that call the roof their home, as well as the rest of the park and city beyond. I wish my office was up there; it is amazing.

-James

More info:
California Academy of Sciences
Inhabitat article about Cal Academy

New Life for a New Building

tjc — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:42:28 +0000

New Life

Buildings have life cycles. A structure may be designed for the original client, but altered to fit the needs of subsequent occupants. For 601 E. Franklin St. in Monterey, TJC designed a unique building to merge a car dealership’s prototype with the city’s regulations. The dealership closed shorty after it opened, and since then, we have shown a variety of companies how they could adapt the building to their retail needs, including another auto dealership. However no one committed until now. Calvary Christian High School has announced that they will be moving into the former dealership next fall. We will coordinate renovation drawings for permits from the City of Monterey. We are happy for the owner and the high school, and glad to see the building being put to good use.

Mapping Modernism

tjc — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:04:31 +0000

Tanimura & Antle Library, CSUMB

A free map of local modern architecture has been published by the Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIAMB). More than fifty commercial and residential designs (since 1947) have been photographed and mapped. If you like to gawk at modern buildings, this is the directory for you. Some of the entries are well known, like the original Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula designed by Edward Durell Stone (1967), but other buildings, such as private homes, are cited which I had not seen before. Some buildings made the list because they were designed by a famous architect, such as the La Mirada addition to the Monterey Museum of Art (1994) by Charles Moore, who is one of my favorite architects. Many other notable structures have been designed by local firms. Several brand new buildings are included, such as the impressive Tanimura & Antle Library on the CSUMB campus.

The publication was put together by a dedicated group of volunteers from AIA Monterey Bay with a grant from the state chapter. The guide is conveniently grouped into communities so that you can take several short excursions. It even branches into Santa Cruz and the Salinas Valley. So start planning your tours for the summer. To get a free copy of the large folding map, call AIAMB at 831-372-6527, or email: aiamb@sbcglobal.net.

-TJC

History Often Repeats

tjc — Sun, 03 May 2009 22:34:20 +0000

The headline “Looking for Answers to Fuel Problem” could have been in this morning’s newspaper. But the date on this article is actually 1979. That long haired fellow on the right is me, explaining how a solar room heater works. Those were energizing times when gas lines were long but entrepreneurial spirits were high. I was fabricating prototypes of passive solar panels, designing fliers, and setting up displays at local energy fairs. If sales had matched my expectations, I may not have returned to my architectural trade.

When I toured the booths at the Green Expo in Monterey last year, the enthusiasm of the young entrepreneurs reminded me of earlier times. I have to admire their zeal. Opportunities for small and creative entrepreneurs need to be encouraged.

A local program that offers promise is “Step Up 2 Green” which encourages homeowners to go green by taking small steps. They have published a one-page guideline listing ways to “save money by reducing the use of energy and water, and ending up with a healthier indoor environment.” Go to their website at stepup2green.org.

-TJC

Green: Insulation

James Carleton — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:36:13 +0000

Green building is a popular movement in our industry which aims to change how buildings are designed and built. Green buildings are designed to reduce environmental costs, last longer, and provide health and comfort to their users.

Spray Foam Insulation

An important aspect of a green building is energy conservation. In order to build an energy efficient building, insulation should be an important aspect of the design. The performance of heating and cooling systems is dependent on the building’s ability to retain the conditioned air. When you think insulation you probably picture the pink fiberglass material. While this type of insulation is widely used, it is often inadequate. Tests have shown that even the smallest gap or perforation in standard batt insulation can dramatically reduce its effectiveness due to air infiltration.

The green building trend has brought attention to this topic and new solutions have developed. Consider alternative materials like recycled denim, newspapers, or wool. These materials take less energy to produce and don’t add to the interior air pollution like other products. In order to better seal your building consider a spray foam material. For example BioBased 501 is a soybean oil-based polyurethane foam that is sprayed and adapts to the shape of the wall cavity. It works great around pipes, wires, and other items in the wall to seal the space and prevent any air infiltration.

Smart insulation choices can make a big impact on the health, comfort and efficiency of your building.

-James Carleton, LEED AP

More information:

Types of Insulation: DIY Network
Article: Enviornmental Design+Construction Magazine
Cotton Insulation
Wool Insulation
Newspaper Insulation
BioBased Systems
Icynene Insulation System

Explore the green building section of our website.
Please Note: The products and companies listed are for reference only are not expressly recommended by Thomas J. Carleton Architecture. Please inform us if you have questions about the value of a product or company represented to assist us in providing the best information possible.

Full of Ideas

James Carleton — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:46:27 +0000

Sunset Idea House 2008

On a recent field trip, the office staff toured the 2008 Sunset Idea House at Montera, in Monterey, CA. The spacious residence fits nicely into the rustic site. The main hall, lined with impressive wood columns, leads to fold-away wall centered on a majestic oak tree and courtyard. The home displays a wide variety of new products and finishes used in innovative ways. Sustainable features include large solar array, reclaimed wood, mold-resistant framing, and reclaimed water system.

The Idea House is open for tours through December 7, 2008. More information at Sunset Magazine:
Article
Photo Tour

New From Old

James Carleton — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:00:25 +0000

Green building is a popular movement in our industry which aims to reduce the negative impacts a building has on the environment and its occupants. An important aspect of a green building is conserving natural resources. Many legendary structures have been built using beautiful wood elements. Picture the massive beams of The Ahwahnee in Yosemite, Asilomar’s Merrill Hall, or any other example of the great craftsmanship used to create beautiful wood structures throughout history.
A clever way to reduce the impact of new wood in your building and add architectural heritage is to use re-claimed wood. Several companies specialize in collecting wood from older structures and selling it for new uses. Wood can be re-claimed from buildings, bridges, logging rivers, sunken forests, wine barrels and other sources. Re-claimed wood often is from old growth trees which can have superior strength and beauty. It can be used for structural beams, posts, siding, paneling, flooring, decking, cabinetry and more.

-James Carleton, LEED AP

More information:
BuildingGreen.com: Reclaimed Wood
Wikipedia: Reclaimed Wood
Terra Mai Re-claimed Wood
Black’s Farmwood
Crossroads Recycled Wood

Paint It Green

James Carleton — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:38:24 +0000

Green building is a popular movement in our industry which aims to reduce the negative impacts a building has on the environment and its occupants. An important aspect of a green building is indoor air quality. Simple material choices can have a big impact on the health of the air and the people in a building.

The most common measurement of the quality of indoor air is the amount of volatile organic compounds. VOC’s are organic chemical compounds from building materials which vaporize into the atmosphere in a building and can be breathed in by humans. The EPA says VOC’s can cause “Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system.” If that doesn’t scare you they have also have found that some VOC’s cause certain types of cancer. Although not every building has the extreme conditions to cause these ailments, the building materials that conribute to VOCs are commonplace.

The good news is VOC’s are easy to eliminate in your building. Many manufacturers are now offering low or zero VOC finishes such as plaster, paint, stains, adhesives, rugs, carpets, tile, sheet flooring, laminates and hardwood. The simplest change you can make is the type of paint you use. Major paint brands now have an alternate line available that is low or zero VOC and many smaller brands specialize in zero VOC products. These paints look and work just like normal paints and have a similar cost, but they don’t bring in the problems that regular paint’s VOC’s add to your building. I used zero VOC paints in my own home and am glad to know our family is not inhaling extra contaminates every day. Next time your choosing finish materials, consider their VOC content and the health of your building’s occupants.

-James Carleton, LEED AP

More information:
EPA: volatile organic compounds
AMF Safecoat
Sherwin Williams Harmony
Benjamin Moore EcoSpec
Old Fashioned Milk Paints
American Clay Natural Plaster

Explore the green building section of our website at www.tjcaia.com/green

Please Note: The products and companies listed are for reference only are not expressly recommended by Thomas J. Carleton Architecture. Please inform us if you have questions about the value of a product or company represented to assist us in providing the best information possible.