PROJECT.

Commons at Buckingham

Raising the bar

The nation’s first Platinum LEED Multifamily Midrise project provides housing for the homeless.

Problem

National Church Residences (NCR) sought to provide supportive housing within downtown Columbus for the formerly homeless. Funding through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) is competitive, with incentives for pursuing green building. The project became a pilot for the LEED Homes Multifamily Midrise rating system—in the process becoming the first LEED Platinum certified project in Ohio and the first Platinum LEED Multifamily Midrise project in the nation.

The central challenge was to identify a path toward certification for this 100-unit, 66,000 square foot building that advanced the project’s affordability goals and aligned as closely as possible with the client’s existing development and construction practices.

Solution

Identify the most suitable certification.

Although LEED Multifamily Midrise was still a pilot program, it was a good fit for the project, allowing cost-effective certification that aligned well with the builder’s existing best practices and experience in multifamily housing.

Look for synergies with the project’s larger goals.

For example, an infill site in close proximity to public transit was important to serve the homeless population, and at the same time helped the project maximize Location and Site-related credits.

Prioritize strategies that add long-term value.

We helped NCR evaluate and prioritize strategies that helped to reduce ongoing utility costs, including high-efficiency water fixtures, envelope airtightness, additional insulation, and LED lighting.

The Impact

LEED Multifamily Midrise Platinum Certified


49%
Reduction in Energy Use

18%
Reduction in Envelope Air Leakage

23%
Reduction in Water Use

88%
Diversion of Construction Waste
Related Content

“LEED Platinum: Commons at Buckingham,” Columbus Business First, April 2011

“LEED Midrise Earns LEED Platinum,” Green Home Institute, August 2010

“Franklin County Receives Door Knocker Award for Commons at Buckingham,” Franklin County, Ohio, May 24, 2011