Full Issue (17 MB) - Pile Driving Contractors Association

Steel piles take the
LEED® in a GREEN market
Althoughconstruction may not be progressing at the
pace of computer technology; recent advancements
have brought significant change to the market.
Designers are incorporating high tech software into their
engineering practices to better serve their clients. Contractors
are utilizing more sophisticated equipment for lower operating
cost, improved safety, and higher efficiency. Even Manufacturers
are streamlining production and delivery of materials to
“do more with less”.
Advancements like these spark change in the industry.
They create new market applications, and promote progress.
In 2005, a unique permanent sheet pile application came
to the domestic building market, challenging traditional
below grade foundation design and construction. This innovative
geostructural system proposed the use of steel sheet piles
for permanent underground parking and basement structures.
It eliminates temporary shoring for support of excavation,
delivering material and schedule savings, with flexible construction
options. The concept integrates foundation design
and construction into the entire building scope. This requires
a direct line of communication between architect, building
engineer, geotech, general contractor, foundation contractor,
and manufacturer. This total project integration has opened
the eyes of owners and their agents, showing how a sheet pile
innovation can reveal LEED ® opportunities in an uncommon
area like the foundation. In today’s construction climate,
designing and building sustainable structures are key project
goals. Owners, tenants, local and federal agencies demand
designers, contractors and even manufacturers work collectively
toward this goal. LEED ® is the vehicle they take down
the road to environmental responsibility.
What is LEED ® ?
LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design. It is a third party certification program
verifying a project is designed and built using strategies that
improve building performance across all metrics: energy savings,
water efficiency, CO 2
reduction, environmental quality,
resource accountability and sensitivity to environmental
impacts. Created more than fifteen years ago, the U.S. Green
Building Council (USGBC) provides a framework for identifying
and implementing measurable design, construction, operation
and maintenance solutions throughout the entire building
lifecycle. In the beginning, green buildings had higher
construction premiums. This cost has come down significantly
to where the financial benefits far outweigh the added costs. It
has been estimated that financial benefits of green design are
between $50 and $70 per square foot compared to non LEED ®
buildings, yielding more than ten times the premium cost associated
with building green. The benefits are in lower energy,
waste and water, emissions, operational and maintenance costs
with increased productivity and health results.
Steel Piles: LEED’S ® buried Treasure
In 2007, a high profile mixed use project named Evo
started to take shape in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.
The familiar team was comprised of GBD Architects, KPFF
Engineers, Geodesign Consultants and Howard S. Wright
General Contractors.
All members had previously worked with Skyline Steel on
prior mixed use projects that they were the first of their kind
on the west coast. They incorporated permanent steel sheet
piles into the subterranean foundation. As material supplier
and pioneer of this technology, Skyline worked intimately
with the design team to ensure this groundbreaking solution
was a success. But Evo’s owner and agent had even greater
aspirations beyond the foundation. This project would aspire
to be a certified LEED ® building.
As environmental stewards, design and construction
professionals are responsible for total project sustainability.
Skyline’s direct involvement with the project team helped
to identify and incorporate LEED ® credits for steel sheet pile
foundations. Overall, LEED ® has six potential categories
in their scorecard format. With a score of thirty seven, Evo
achieved its certification goal, obtaining a silver rating, falling
just two points shy of the Gold level. The steel sheet pile
design and construction application was applied to three of
the six metrics;
• Q4 • 2009
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