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Contact: Mike Gehrig
(312) 988-2065
mgehrig@thegbi.org

GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVE™ RECOGNIZES VICTORY SQUARE CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
-- Non-Profit Credits Project as Oregon’s First Green Globes™ Rated Building --

Hermiston, OR. (September 4, 2008) – Victory Square Center, a Umatilla Morrow Head Start pre-school facility which provides a comprehensive child development program to children ages three to five years-old and their families, was recognized today by the Green Building Initiative (GBI) for achievements in sustainable design and construction which were identified using the Green Globes™ environmental assessment and rating system for commercial buildings.

Recognized as the first Green Globes rated building in the state of Oregon, the building received a rating of two Green Globes for, among other things, energy efficient design, the incorporation of daylighting, and the incorporation of water conservation techniques.

"One of the goals of high performance building is to combine the innovation of environmental design with functionality," said Ward Hubbell, president of the GBI. "Victory Square Center building has achieved a balance between environmental considerations such as energy-efficiency while also providing a healthier teaching environment as well as a more inviting workplace for employees. The project also reinforces the fact that green building is appropriate and attainable for all types of structures."

Green Globes was adapted from a system that is widely used in Canada and is a revolutionary green building guidance and assessment program. The system has been officially recognized by legislation or executive order in 18 states as well as by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services and the Department of the Interior.  In addition, Green Globes has been formally recognized by private sector institutions such as Aon, Liberty Mutual and the Fireman's Fund. 

The 5.000-square-foot Head Start building has three classrooms; a staff work room and a commercial kitchen and an outdoor play area. The project's sustainable attributes come mostly from the building's design. Every component of the pre-school was designed to work together to use daylight as well as superior air quality in order to create a welcoming and enjoyable space for the children.

"We pursued sustainable construction as part of our commitment to environmental responsibility," said Dan Daltoso, associate director of operations, Umatilla Morrow Head Start, Inc. "We chose to use the Green Globes system because of its ability to assist us in meeting our goals to reduce our impact on the environment and the surrounding community, and because it is user-friendly and affordable." 

To achieve a Green Globes rating, the project team from Pinnacle Architecture used the Green Globes tool to assess and rate the building themselves. Later, a GBI authorized third-party building science expert was engaged to review the construction documents, conduct an on-site inspection and confirm the original rating. The building achieved the same Green Globes rating from both the building team and the third-party assessor.

Victory Square Center is just one of many buildings that have completed achieved a Green Globes rating. Others include: the Clinton Library in Little Rock, Ark.; Blakely Hall in Issaquah, Wash.; the Pfizer Inc. Clinical Research Unit in New Haven, Conn.; the NewPage Corporate Headquarters in Dayton, Ohio, the RenewAire, LLC corporate headquarters in Madison, Wis.; and the Materials Recovery Facility in Summit County, Colo.

For more information about the GBI or Green Globes, visit www.thegbi.org.

ABOUT THE GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVE:  The mission of the Green Building Initiative is to accelerate the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings by promoting credible and practical green building approaches.  A not-for-profit education initiative, the GBI is supported by a broad cross section of organizations and individuals with an interest in residential and commercial construction.  For more information on the Green Building Initiative, please visit www.thegbi.org.