Rhode Island’s Greenest Commercial Building Opens for Business
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October 23, 2008 | Print this page | Share This |
Revolutionary new office building in Providence’s Promenade District is Rhode Island’s first and only Net-Zero commercial environment, with all heating, cooling and electricity provided by the sun
Visible through the trees above Valley Street, opposite the renovated ALCO development, the striking concrete and wood contemporary structure at 28 Wolcott Street is an architectural diamond in the rough post-industrial urban landscape.
The Wolcott Eco Office, an 8,000 square foot mixed-use green building developed by environmental enthusiast and RISD graduate, John Jacobson, will officially open on Thursday, October 23, with an Open House Reception and building tours from 5 – 8:00 p.m.
Formerly a jewelry factory built in 1890 which became an electronics supply warehouse in 1941, the building has undergone a complete transformation at Jacobson’s hand, to become the first and only commercial building in the state to be fully self-sustainable, powering its total energy needs from its own energy sources.
“I am passionate about sustainable development and want to demonstrate that sustainable commercial buildings are possible and affordable to build today,” said developer John Jacobson. “I am proud to say that I developed 28 Wolcott for $1.1 million, without any form of incentives. That represents a $1.1 million investment in the local economy benefiting local green contractors like SolarWrights, Viessmann and Green Building Floors. We can create beautiful, healthy and sustainable live-work spaces and in the process help new businesses grow and flourish in Rhode Island. At 28 Wolcott, the sun heats the whole building and generates electricity for the office spaces. I believe so much in the quality and energy efficiency of my building that I include the cost of heating and electricity in the rent. Solar power is great for the environment but it is also great when businesses don’t have to worry about rising energy costs.”
The Wolcott Eco Office is an Energy Star Certified Building featuring two office spaces for rent of 2,500 square feet and 3,000 square feet each, with an additional 2,500 square feet of live/work space to be occupied by the owner. There is parking for twenty-five cars and 2,600 square feet of shared outdoor patio space and a community garden.
The office spaces comprise Rhode Island’s first and only net-zero environment with heating, cooling and electricity provided by the sun. Both domestic hot water heating and space heating are provided by Viessmann Vitosol 300-T solar vacuum tube collectors from Advanced Comfort Systems. Electricity is provided by sixteen of the latest, grid-tied Kyoccera 205 d.Blue modules for a total of 3.28kw, installed by New England’s SolarWrights.
The building benefits from being earth-sheltered and facing solar south. Jacobson performed extensive building envelope improvements far exceeding the RI Energy Code. Insulation in the form of open cell foam from Icenyne and NuWool was installed by Greensulators.
Energy Star and Watersense appliances are used throughout the building including the very latest in LED lighting from Providence based LEDalux and CREE LED Lighting Solutions.
Non-toxic (No-VOC) paints and sealers were used on the walls and floors. The doors are formaldehyde-free. The recycled countertops are GREENGUARD and NSF-certified.
“I applaud Mr. Jacobson for developing The Wolcott Eco Office which will provide high-quality work space for small businesses with room for up to 30 workers,” stated Saul Kaplan, executive director, Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. “Rhode Island is home to some tremendous technological resources for green development from such companies as Solar Wrights and Veissmann along with a fantastic stock of old industrial buildings ripe for similar green development. I hope other developers will be encouraged to follow Jacobson’s example in positioning Rhode Island as a national leader in sustainable commercial building development."
The October 23 Open House Reception will be hosted by Concentric, a new social network for design and tech-driven professionals in the Ocean State, formed by the Rhode Island chapters of the Industrial Designers Society of America, the American Institute of Architects, the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the Congress for the New Urbanism, Providence Geeks and RI Nexus. The reception will feature a trade show with hands-on demonstrations by green building contractors including Viessmann, SolarWrights, Green Building Floors, Ledalux and Cree Lighting.
