Clancy & Theys Construction Company provided general contracting for the AIA North Carolina Center for Architecture and Design. The 12,000 SF building is situated on the southern edge of the site, leaving the majority of the property as an urban park and prioritizing natural lighting and ventilation. The North Carolina Center for Architecture and Design features an open floor plan, with two main rooms on the ground level and a continuous open office space on the top floor. It was designed to meet LEED® standards at the highest Platinum level and aligns with AIA Committee On The Environment (COTE) goals, which include regional appropriateness, the use of regionally available materials, sustainable land use and site ecology, and the use of sustainable materials and construction methods, as well as reduced water usage and increased energy efficiency.
A bio-retention garden of magnolias and ground cover collects water runoff from the roof’s gutters and downspouts. The innovative parking garden provides an outdoor gathering space for Chapter and community events. The porous paving supports automobiles and serves as open, green space, eliminating stormwater runoff and filtering it through layers of soil, gravel, and sand. A buried rainwater collection cistern captures every drop of rainwater for reuse.
Twenty geothermal wells, each 350 feet deep, were installed beneath the parking lot to meet the building’s conditioned air demands. The wells are approximately 4’-5’ below the porous paving parking lot.
Awards
- Sir Walter Raleigh Sustainable Design Award
- Downtown Raleigh Alliance Imprint Award
