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Big congrats to Rochester’s first and only LEED Platinum Building.

Cascade Meadow Wetlands & Environmental Science Center is Rochester’s First LEED® Platinum Building

Rochester, Minnesota (February 9, 2012) – Cascade Meadow Wetlands & Environmental Science Center announced today that it has achieved LEED® Platinum certification, the highest level of certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).  Cascade Meadow is the only Platinum project of the five LEED-certified projects in Rochester and one of only nine projects in Minnesota to attain Platinum certification. 

The Minneapolis firm LHB provided the architectural, landscape architectural, and civil and structural engineering design services for the project. LKPB Engineers, Inc. of Saint Paul designed the mechanical and electrical engineering systems.  Rochester-based Alvin E. Benike, Inc. provided general construction services with specialty services furnished by HiMEC Mechanical, Nietz Electric, and Fraser Construction.  McGhie & Betts, Inc. of Rochester supplied civil engineering services plus wetland restoration planning and development services, along with ongoing wetland management consultation.  

Opened in June 2011, the 16,000-square-foot Cascade Meadow building houses exhibit galleries with interactive displays exploring wetland ecology and preservation as well as sustainable building practices.  The building is also home to exhibits curated by Cascade Meadow’s partners Rochester Public Utilities, Rochester Public Works Department, Rochester Water Reclamation Plant, and Zumbro Watershed Partnership, which examine topics related to energy and water usage and conservation, stormwater management, and wastewater treatment.  The facility also has a large, multimedia-equipped meeting room, a classroom, and a conference room plus office space for staff and educators.  These features support Cascade Meadow’s endeavors to connect individuals and communities through water, energy, and sustainability education. 

By employing innovative design elements and selecting regionally appropriate materials, Cascade Meadow is an outstanding example of environmentally sustainable construction. 

• Passive solar design reduces solar heat gain and lowers cooling demand in the summer through the strategic placement of windows and overhangs while the south facing windows allow the sun’s warmth to enter the building in the winter thereby reducing heating costs.  Moreover, the prevalence of windows decreases dependence on artificial lighting. 
• Structural Insulated Panels (SIP’s) and Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF’s) maintain stable interior temperatures for reduced energy costs
• Interior finishes utilize sustainably harvested wood products, incorporate recycled materials such as glass, plastic, ceramic, and nylon, and meet standards for low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Cascade Meadow is designed to use 53% less energy than current building code standards.  Key components of the site design and educational program are the renewable energy systems implemented throughout the site.

• An “energy trail” adjacent to the building offers visitors a demonstration of a solar hot water system, three photovoltaic panels, and both horizontal- and vertical-axis wind turbines.
• In another part of the site, geothermal coils are located in a newly-created ten-acre lake and provide both heating and cooling for the building.

Cascade Meadow’s extensive stormwater management program features substantial use of native plants, green roofs, a bio-retention cell system, and pervious pavements making it a model of best practices.  Targeted for completion in 2013, Cascade Meadow is restoring approximately 90 acres of wetlands, showcasing seven of the eight types of wetlands native to Minnesota plus three upland (dry) ecosystems and a Monarch butterfly habitat.  Once finished, visitors will be able to access these beautiful and diverse landscapes through a two-mile-long system of trails. 

Cascade Meadow Wetlands & Environmental Science Center
2900 19th Street NW

Rochester, MN 55901

507-252-8133

Here is the video, you can watch the entire video online at www.rochestermn.gov  I shortened the 1 hour discussion to about 14 minutes.  You can hear how the council is willing to compromise.  My guess it that we should expect tree lined streets and trails with visibility openings for signage when all is said and done.

• Northwest Investments is a different business than Kwik Trip, but is the same ownership group.  Kwik Trip has done a pretty responsible job in Rochester.  I’d love to see more urban designs in our city core and less of those ugly plastic signs in the boulevard, but as gas stations go they are as good as anyone.
• It is important to realize that the city council did not weaken our standards, but development has gone ahead anyway.
• There is some discussion about 35 ft. standards for commercial developments vs. 50 ft. for residential; this is actually the the same standard.  Staff studied this and found that a 50 ft. standard in residential area equates to the very same recommended 35 ft. due to increased utilities and curb cuts.
• Mayo and Menards have also come forward with developments and have no expressed any concern with the tree standards.

I pressed for an update on the erosion in Kutzky Park.  Here is a note from Gary Nuemann. Read the rest of this entry »

Here is the press release:

Minnesota’s Budget Should Focus on Creating and Maintaining Good Jobs in the 21st Century Read the rest of this entry »

Raingardens are one of the most cost effective, beautiful, and effective ways to clean our stormwater.  I am planning on designing one for my home.

In 2009, the City of Rochester launched Realize Raingardens Rochester – a cost-share grant program promoting the installation of residential raingardens in Rochester. A task force of interested citizens and the City’s Public Works staff developed this program. Selected sites are used to demonstrate how raingardens slow, treat, and infiltrate storm water, while adding beauty to neighborhoods and creating habitat for songbirds and butterflies.

Rain Gardens

Citizens who want to make a difference in their neighborhoods while protecting water quality are invited to participate in the City of Rochester’s new Adopt-A-Storm-Water-Pond program.  There are over 100 storm water management ponds in Rochester that can be adopted by interested groups, businesses, and individuals.

Interested volunteers should contact Mike Kraszewski (mkraszewski@rochestermn.gov or 328-2431) to inquire about adoptable locations.

Press Release

Here are some clean water tips from Allison Plute.

The snow is melting and spring rains are on the way!  Melting snow banks reveal litter, sand, salt, pet waste and debris -  if they reach our waterways they can cause big problems for aquatic life.  This spring, we’re asking citizens to step up their own efforts to help keep our water clean.  Read the rest of this entry »

I received this clarification of a topic that was discussed.  We now have better, but not great air downtown.  I might add that this is why regulation is a necessary evil and good for the public. Read the rest of this entry »

The Greenway Foundation

Here is some information on Denver’s Amazing Waterfront Restoration, Protection and Redevelopment. I would love to see this type of vision for Rochester’s River fronts. Instead we vote a pathetic 4-3 to prevent a waterfront parking ramp.

We are falling behind.

10 Cities already using a smart grid. Read the rest of this entry »