We’re so thrilled to announce that Geotectura has finally broken ground on Israel’s very first LEED Platinum Building.
We’ve been waiting for this happy moment since November 2008 when Geotectura together with Axelrod-Grobman Architects and Chen Architects first won a prestigious international competition to design TAU’s Porter School of Environmental Studies. After years of information gathering and preparation, the firm is finally breaking ground on what they hope will be Israel’s very first LEED Platinum certified building.
Although there are few precedents in Israel’s architectural history, the designers and PSES have approached this project with an uncompromising commitment to reducing its environmental impact. From brownfield rehabilitation to the most advanced energy and water saving techniques, the PSES EcoBuilding’s groundbreaking design is bound to inspire a whole new era of sustainable development.
It was necessary to first rehabilitate a brownfield site on the Tel Aviv University campus before construction could begin and the building has been strategically oriented in accordance with local climatic conditions.
Energy for the project may be derived from a 50KW Photovoltaic solar system and chilled beam cooling technology will keep the interior nice and cool during Israel’s scorching hot summers.
The building’s facade optimizes the amount of natural light that enters the building, and though the footprint in relatively low, there remains a tremendous sense of expansion.
State of the art water saving techniques have been incorporated into this project. Not only will the building act as a “cup” for rainwater, but gray and black water will be separated so that the gray water can be recycled, and the building’s green roof will ensure the right kind of drainage.
This is an extraordinary example of what can be achieved when good planning, good will, and good old perseverance come together. We can’t wait to see the finished product!
:: Geotectura
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
Matti, the way I see it, everything “green” costs more right now. But as demand for more eco-friendly products increases, I hope we’ll see the prices come down. Of course, I’m not building an eco-building, but I do like to purchase eco-friendly products when I can afford it – knowing that I am spending a lot more – hoping that my purchases will increase demand.
Kudos to the donors who see the value in spending more to increase awareness of green-building practices in Israel!
before you’re so enthusiastic about this project,you should ask and investigate its cost!real green architecture saves not only natural resources but financial ones as well! if,in order to get the platinum LEED, the building costs more than 4-5 times the price of a similar,non-platinum, green building,then,to my opinion,it’s “green” only because of the quantity of green dollars spent for its realization!