Making the Case for High Performance Building

Overview

• Location: Burlington, VT
• Building type(s): Retail, Interpretive Center
• New construction
• 30,000 ft2 (2,790 m2)
• Project scope: 2-story building
• Urban setting
• Completed May 2003
• Rating: U.S. Green Building Council LEED-NC, v.2/v.2.1--Level: Certified (29 points)

ECHO – which stands for Ecology, Culture, History, Opportunity – is situated in downtown Burlington on the banks of Lake Champlain. The two-story lake aquarium and science center has nearly 100 hands-on interactive exhibits including 12,000 gallons of aquariums with over 60 species of fish, amphibians, and reptiles. It offers spectacular views of Lake Champlain. ECHO strives to educate and delight visitors of all ages with diverse program offerings focused on the ecology, cultural, history, and opportunities for stewardship of the Lake Champlain Basin. ECHO includes a variety of educational exhibits, including a theater, a walk-in replica of the General Butler shipwreck, and a Champlain Sea tide pool with native aquatic species.

Environmental Aspects

In October 2003, ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain became the first LEED-certified building in Vermont. The building draws much of its material from regional sources, and includes a state-of-the-art, energy-saving HVAC system. The building utilizes a facility-wide digital control system, efficient T5 fluorescent and LED lighting, daylight-responsive atrium lighting, recycled-content materials, and human- and lake-friendly products throughout. Super-efficient windows and insulation systems with very low air leakage were also incorporated into the building design. High-quality materials and sturdy construction techniques ensure the building's durability.

Owner & Occupancy

• Owned and occupied by ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Corporation, nonprofit
• Typically occupied by 20 people, 40 hours per person per week

Twenty permanent staff members and 200 volunteers work at the Center. Within the first year of occupancy ECHO has seen over 140,000 visitors, or about 3,000 visitors each week.

Building Programs

Keywords

Green specifications, Transportation benefits, Brownfield redevelopment, Efficient fixtures and appliances, Efficient irrigation, Insulation levels, Glazing, Airtightness, Passive solar, HVAC, Lighting control and daylight harvesting, Efficient lighting, Durability, Salvaged materials, Local materials, Certified wood, C&D waste management, Occupant recycling, Connection to outdoors, Daylighting, Ventilation effectiveness, Moisture control, Thermal comfort, Low-emitting materials, Indoor air quality monitoring

Photo credit: Photo by Nick LaVecchia