Mike McDevitt, Executive Vice President of Children’s of Alabama, returned to his engineering roots for the planning and construction of the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children (BRHFC). For him, one of the most exciting aspects of the new construction was the positioning of the BRHFC to become the first healthcare facility in Alabama to gain the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification as a result of its design and use of sustainable, energy-efficient and environmentally responsible materials.
As an internationally recognized mark of excellence, LEED provides building owners with a framework for implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
According to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED-certified buildings are designed to lower operating costs and increase asset value, reduce waste sent to landfills, and conserve energy and water. They also should be healthier for occupants, reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and qualify for tax rebates and zoning allowances and other incentives in hundreds of cities.
Children’s of Alabama has followed LEED guidelines from the onset of this project. Materials from recycled raw materials were used for construction, and 30 to 40 percent of the construction waste was recycled. Widespread use of local materials also reduced fuel costs for transportation. Natural materials, including recycled mirrors and seashells were used in the terrazzo flooring in public areas of the hospital.
Energy efficient mechanical systems were installed that will be 30 percent more efficient in energy use than comparably built hospitals currently being constructed. “We will be able to use a lot of that energy elsewhere,” McDevitt says.
The north-south orientation of the building and the use of exterior glass in every room will also help save on energy costs. “The orientation means that the rising and setting sun shines on the narrowest part of the building which will reduce energy costs,” McDevitt says.
Large glass windows allow plenty of natural light into the building, so all patient rooms, waiting rooms and even staff break rooms get light from outside. “The windows provide a view of either Red Mountain or downtown Birmingham and will also allow patients and their families to view Railroad Park and construction of Birmingham’s new downtown baseball stadium, where our families will be able to watch fireworks every Friday night during baseball season beginning next year,” McDevitt says.
LEED has specific requirements for improving indoor air quality, and McDevitt says Children’s of Alabama already does many of the things required. “As a children’s hospital, we have always been mindful of indoor air quality. For instance, we don’t use latex paint because some children are allergic to latex. We don’t want them to lean against a wall and have an allergic reaction,” he says. “We also restrict smoking outside the building to 25 feet or farther away from the hospital.”
The highlight of the effort to gain LEED certification is the rooftop gardens that are planted in native sedum to provide insulation and oxygenation. Up to 30,000 gallons of condensate are collected from the air conditioning system and used for irrigation and also to cool equipment. Designated “green” space on the campus on 17th Street between 5th and 6th avenues, including a water feature where children can play, and 140 bicycle racks also contribute to the hospital’s earth-friendly profile.
“’Green’ buildings create an environment of wellness for patients and staff that aligns with the Children’s of Alabama mission,” McDevitt says. “The BRHFC is more energy-efficient, requires less maintenance and will last longer so that cost savings can be directed toward resources that enable Children’s to provide excellent health care to the children of Alabama.”