Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests--French Wing
(SPNHF--French Wing)

Alex Wilson

Overview

• Location: Concord, NH
• Building type(s): Commercial office
• New construction
• 11,600 ft2 (1,080 m2)
• Project scope: part of a building
• Urban setting
• Completed 2001
• Rating: U.S. Green Building Council LEED-NC, v.2/v.2.1--Level: Gold (44 points)

Founded by a handful of concerned citizens in 1901, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF) has today grown into one of the country's most effective statewide land conservation groups. The addition currently houses six other nonprofit organizations, in addition to providing office space for SPNHF. In keeping with the organization's mission and the nature of its work, the new French Wing addition to its Concord headquarters showcases a number of innovations from the realms of conservation and sustainable design.

A SMALL OFFICE BUILDING – Information from this Case Study was featured in the Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Office Buildings for Climate Zone 6.

Environmental Aspects

The French Wing of SPNHF's Concord headquarters is a state-of-the-art workplace. SPNHF used local trees from the site to help build the new wing, including the white pines cut to facilitate the move of the existing house. Other native lumber, green-certified lumber, and engineered lumber (made from small-diameter trees) also were incorporated. Other features include natural daylighting, heating with solar energy and a wood-chip gasifier, composting toilets, and a graywater system for watering interior planters.

Owner & Occupancy

• Owned and occupied by Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Corporation, nonprofit
• Typically occupied by 26 people, 40 hours per person per week

The center is open weekdays from 8:30 until 5:00.

Building Programs

Keywords

Green specifications, Operations and maintenance, Stormwater management, Efficient fixtures and appliances, Graywater, Wastewater treatment, Glazing, On-site renewable electricity, Recycled materials, Local materials, Certified wood, Occupant recycling, Daylighting, Ventilation effectiveness, Noise control, Low-emitting materials