Chattanooga is earning a wonderful reputation as it strives to promote eco-friendly living. One of the first companies that took their "green" vision and philosophy to heart of the city is River Street Architecture. With 6 LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited professionals, River Street Architecture contains the most LEED accredited professionals of any Architecture firm in Chattanooga.
River Street has made a point of living their message by remodeling their own office, a historic building at 714 Cherry Street, as a LEED Certified building. The historical building presented designers Taylor Bowers and Blythe Bailey with challenges, and each of the green elements were selected with the utmost care and consideration. The firm is able to showcase their green design philosophy and the lessons of historical renovation because they have lived the experience. The space is a wonderful example of true green design and rejuvination of a historical space. There are numerous uniquely "green" elements they've incorporated into their space.
Architect Taylor Bowers' reuse of steel & copper manufacturing waste to make guardrails adds a sculptural and artistic element to the office.
The polycarbonate translucent panels on the main level help to bring in the natural light to the hallways.
From the rapidly renewable cork flooring in the conference room, to reusing old studs to create new building elements like handrails and window trim, to the countertops built of rapidly renewable reed plants, to the green roof of flowering plants, each of the eco-friendly elements they added has earned the River Street Architecture building the very first LEED Certification of Chattanooga, and a gold rating no less. River Street Architecture also designed the Two North Shore complex of buildings, containing Greenlife Grocery & Rock Creek Outfitters, which is slated to become the second LEED Certified building in Chattanooga.
The green screen on the outside of the building is used for sun shading and will cool the facade by evapotranspiration once the plants become a little more mature..
Michael McGowan's {one of RSA's LEED accredited architects pictured above} own design won a recent award for a sustainable design competition funded by the Lyndhurst Foundation for the developing Jefferson Heights neighborhood. The Picky Pair is proud to feature such an innovative Firm, that has invested in the Chattanooga Area in such an important way.
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