Redford to Open New NRDC “Green Building”

New SM office is showcase for environmentally savvy design

   Actor/director and conservationist Robert Redford will join John Adams, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), in opening the national conservation group’s new Southern California office.
   Constructed to the highest green building standards, the building has been named for Redford, principal spokesperson for NRDC.
   The opening is scheduled for Thursday, November 13 at 10 a.m. at 1314 Second Street in downtown Santa Monica.
   Combining cutting-edge technologies and materials with energy-efficient architecture, the building was designed to be a showcase for green building design and environmental activism.
   It is currently being considered by the U.S. Green Building Council for a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Version 2 Platinum green building rating – the highest possible level of sustainable design – and may become the first structure in the United States to receive this status.
   The building previously on the site at 1314 Second Street was demolished and 98 percent of its materials were recycled for use in the new building. It demontrates how man-made structures can be constructed with little harm to the environment by minimizing the use of land, water, energy and materials, as well as employing them in ways that are not only attractive and healthy for occupants, but also practical for owners.
   “Using advanced but off-the-shelf technology, this building shows it’s possible to protect our natural environment, achieve greater energy independence, and also save money,” said Redford, a member of NRDC’s Board of Trustees since 1975. “As more buildings in the U.S. follow suit, we’ll protect substantially more natural resources and significantly lessen our dependence on foreign sources of oil.”
   The 15,000-square-foot Southern California office also houses the David Family Environmental Action Center and the Leonardo DiCaprio e-Activism Center, which is scheduled to open to the public in January.
   The building uses 70 percent less water than a standard building of its size by capturing and filtering rain, shower and sink water to irrigate landscaping and flush toilets. It has cut consumption of electricity nearly 60 percent by maximizing natural light and using efficient fixtures and appliances, task lighting, dimmable electronic ballasts and occupancy sensors. In addition, the building generates 20 percent of its electricity needs via rooftop photovoltaic cells.
   The structure is made of 100 percent recycled or recyclable materials.
   Designed by Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists, the building features a durable composite clapboard exterior with three “lighthouse” atria that improve indoor environmental quality and reduce reliance on artificial cooling and lighting.
   “As NRDC commits increased resources to protecting the health of Southern California’s people and fragile ecosystems, the regional office for our outstanding staff is a living, breathing example of environmental responsibility,” Adams said. “At the same time, the Environmental Action and e-Activism Centers on the first floor will help inspire and make it easy for people to become involved with urgent global issues.”
   The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, non-profit organization of scientists, lawyers, environmental specialists and public policy experts dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, it has more than one million members and activists nationwide, served from offices in New York, Washington, DC, and San Francisco, as well as Santa Monica.