Buffalo and Fort Erie Authority achieve LEED Silver certification for Peace Bridge; Wendel is project architect

Buffalo, NY The Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority (Authority), owner and operator of the Peace Bridge—an international crossing between Buffalo, New York and Fort Erie, Ontario—received LEED Silver certification (New Construction 2009) for their U.S. commercial warehouse addition and renovation project. The Authority and consultant engineer and architect Wendel targeted credits for certification that support the use of sustainable practices in sourcing materials, encourage energy efficiency, and provide a healthy indoor environment for occupants.

Targeting LEED certification for this facility aligns with the Authority’s sustainability goals. A few of the strategies utilized to achieve certification include:

•Adaptive re-use of the facility – over 76% of existing structural items were reused;

• Diversion of over 84% of onsite generated construction debris from the landfill;

• Water efficiency strategies that reduced potable water usage by over 42%;

• Application of more than 28% of materials manufactured using recycled content;

• Commissioning of building systems to ensure they operate as designed;

• Conversion to new LED lighting throughout; and

• Use of low emitting materials for finishes.

The renovated Warehouse is projected to achieve over 22% in energy cost savings annually. Additionally, based on the year’s natural gas consumption prior to construction, the new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system that was employed suggests an 86% reduction in emissions annually for the Warehouse.

The project team leveraged the NYSERDA Commercial New Construction Program for Whole Building Design and Green Services, which provide incentives based on energy efficiency, commissioning and LEED certification.

Wendel is a nationally recognized design and construction firm providing services to clients across the country, including architecture; interior design; civil, electrical, energy efficiency, environmental, mechanical, municipal, structural, and transportation engineering; construction management; energy management; alternative fuels; commissioning; GIS; landscape architecture; land-use planning; and survey. The firm is headquartered in Buffalo, NY with offices in New York Metro; Rochester, NY; Syracuse, NY; Minneapolis, MN; Phoenix, AZ; Richmond, VA; Clarksburg, WV; and Washington, DC areas.