BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Children's Hospital of Alabama is poised to become the first hospital in the state to attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification with the construction of its 720,000-square-feet expansion that is expected to be completed by mid-2012. The LEED rating system measures and recognizes sustainable or "green" design for buildings according to established, nationally accepted criteria for building performance in five key areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Meeting those criteria, especially in a healthcare setting, is difficult. "Hospitals cannot use as much recycled water or employ certain other conservation techniques because of health regulations and medical concerns," said Chris Giattina of Giattina Aycock Architecture Studio. Green design creates an environment of wellness that is in line with the Children's mission. "We have a responsibility to serve the families of our community. That includes not only providing exceptional pediatric health care but also being good stewards of our shared environment. The Children’s Hospital expansion is being designed with careful consideration for the environment affected around it and created within it," said Mike McDevitt, Executive Vice President. Features of the expansion required for LEED certification include the recycling and reuse of building materials salvaged from the demolition of two outdated existing buildings on the construction site; selection of low-emission building materials; reduction of construction activity pollution; and rooftop landscaping to reduce heat absorption and storm water runoff. Construction is expected to cost $350 million with another $85 million budgeted for furnishings and equipment. Incorporating green design into the building of a hospital typically adds two to four percent to the construction budget. Such costs in the Children’s project will be underwritten by a portion of a $10 million gift from Birmingham-based McWane, Inc. and the McWane Foundation. Chairman Phillip McWane has served on the Children’s Hospital Board of Trustees since 1985. The higher construction expense will be recovered in the long-term, however, because green buildings use less energy, less water, require less maintenance and last longer. The hospital expansion will accommodate projected growth in patient volume, anticipated medical technology needs, consolidation of services and a family-centered design to enhance patient and family comfort. Upon completion, pediatric cardiovascular surgery currently performed at nearby University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) will be relocated to Children's. Groundbreaking is planned for spring, 2009. KLMK Group serves as project manager, Hoar Construction in partnership with BE&K serve as construction managers and HKS, Inc. in partnership with Giattina Aycock Studio serve as architects.
