Sep 2009 - Parsons Brinckerhoff

First World at Songdo IBD has a residential
area with retail and open spaces for
relaxation and sports.
As Australia faces complex
environmental issues along
with a growing population
and sprawling cities, the
country is committed to
developing sustainable
solutions.
Different Ways of Working
A fundamental challenge is that design, construction and manufacturing
practices vary between the U.S. and South Korea, making it difficult to
verify LEED compliance with locally available services and materials.
For example, standards known as ASHRAE 90.1, developed by
the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Engineers, specify several measures of fenestration (window) and door
efficiency as a LEED prerequisite. “Not only is Korean-made fenestration
not tested to those standards, but ASHRAE requires simulation to
be run on a program approved by the National Fenestration Rating
Council [NFRC], a U.S.-based organization. The closest simulator, soon
to receive its NFRC Certified Laboratory documentation, is in the
Philippines,” says Johnson. “Nearly every aspect of certification requires
extensive coordination.”
Beyond the materials used in individual buildings, LEED’s pilot
neighborhood development program considers how the completed
buildings will relate to each other to form an efficient community. In
this sense, certain Korean customs align well with LEED goals. Public
transportation, for example, is ubiquitous in Korean cities and will easily
qualify for LEED credits.
CM Services for
Songdo IBD
New International School:
This five-story building was
completed in April 2009 and
will open as a private preparatory
school as soon as the water, sewer
and roadway are connected by
local authorities. The 7-hectare
(18-acre) site provides state-ofthe-art
classrooms and supporting
facilities for students ages
5 to 18.
16 • Notes
Under a separate contract, PB Project Director Harry Franks,
Site Director T.D. Lee and Senior Construction Manager S.R. Park
oversee a team providing construction management and construction
supervision services for four major Songdo IBD projects:
Northeast Asia Trade Tower:
Construction is nearing
completion on this high-rise
that will provide office and
hotel space. Its angled walls
seem to twist as it rises 68 stories
to an observation deck, towering
above nearby buildings. Its three
basement levels will provide
parking for 2,000 cars.
“We are in constant touch with the U.S. Green Building Council and
associated bodies such as ASHRAE and NFRC. While rigorously applying
the relevant codes, we are providing feedback to the U.S.-based rating
agencies about the implementation of the LEED system of
evaluation outside the U.S.,” says Gale International’s Moore.
A New Professional Community Grows
Gale is really building two communities—the physical city of Songdo
IBD, and the community of Korean designers and contractors that are
seeking to expand their expertise in sustainable practices. Gale has
sponsored dozens of workshops on LEED compliance, many conducted
by PB. Johnson’s team assisted in the development of a sustainability
reference guide, design guide and numerous checklists to familiarize
Korean professionals with LEED requirements. “Changes to business
practices take time, but sustainable design concepts—and even some
of the finer points of ASHRAE standards—are becoming part of the
vocabulary of local firms,” notes Johnson. “Two years ago I was one
of the only LEED-accredited professionals in Korea. Now there are
196—and it is a growing community.” •
D22 Residential Complex:
Construction began in June 2007
on this 729-unit mixed-use
residential complex. It features
three 47-story towers with
distinctive glass façades that
create a woven appearance.
Structural work is nearly
complete and overall
construction is scheduled for
completion in November 2010.
Central Park and Garage:
PB’s work on this centerpiece
of Songdo IBD, inspired by New
York’s Central Park, was completed
in July 2009. The 40-hectare
(100-acre) park consists of five
areas—a strolling garden, cultural
terrace, long meadow, sculpture
garden and promenade—linked
by a winding canal. Supporting
facilities include a large underground
parking garage, two boat
houses, a visitors’ center, an
outdoor stage, two pedestrian
bridges, two pavilions and a
maintenance building. •
Sustainable Communities:
A Top Priority Down Under
Planned communities are becoming an answer to both high housing
demand and concerns about global climate change. PB is working
with business and government to ensure that these new communities
are both satisfying and sustainable.
Buckland Park: Adelaide’s Super Suburb
A leading developer of residential planned communities, Walker
Corporation Pty Ltd, will build a sustainable self-contained community
known as Buckland Park, in northern Adelaide, South Australia. By
2036, Buckland Park will have an estimated population of 33,000 and a
workforce of 11,000 within a vibrant community that will include 15,000
homes, shopping, commercial facilities and schools, a medical center,
community centers, a library, and sports and recreation facilities. PB
assisted with transport planning and sustainability services in preparing
an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project that was distributed
for public comment in May 2009.
A sustainable layout is at the heart of Buckland Park, with street
networks designed to encourage walking and bicycling, minimizing the
need for cars. Three neighborhood centers will be built along proposed
bus routes and will be accessible from surrounding homes without
a car. “Schools will be located near the centers to minimize the number
of multiple trips needed,” says Mark Lusis, Sustainability Principal
with PB’s newly formed Sustainable Communities and Water group
in Australia-Pacific. Lusis notes that a transportation hub is proposed
at Buckland Park’s main entry to accommodate regional and local bus
services. Conforming to the South Australian government’s housing
plan to promote affordable housing, the planned homes will include a
range of housing types at various prices, with medium-density housing
around proposed town centers; 15 percent will be affordable housing as
stipulated by the plan, with at least
5 percent of that devoted to highneed
tenants such as the elderly
and disabled.
For the EIS, PB also prepared
a climate change risk assessment
for Buckland Park and put forth a
range of mitigation and adaptation
measures appropriate for design,
construction and operation. Among
them: renewable energy solutions;
water supply systems using rainwater;
and solar orientation of
buildings. Pre-fabricated wall
and roof panels could improve air
tightness and insulation and minimize
site waste. Also recommended
are solar hot water systems, with
Mark Lusis
natural gas back-up, that have the
potential to generate energy and greenhouse
gas reductions of between 20 to 70 percent.
“We’re trying to move people toward lower greenhouse intensive
energy sources, such as natural gas,” says Lusis. “We are blessed with
an abundance of natural gas in South Australia, and while it’s not a
zero-carbon solution, it will make a big difference over burning coal
or oil to the environmental footprint of a large community like this.”
Another sustainable solution was to use a nearby sewage treatment
plant to manage wastewater, rather than building several smaller on-site
facilities. “Buckland Park will be receiving recycled water treated by the
Notes • 17