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Rice Fergus Miller Wins Two Regional Sustainable Design Awards

BEFORE: Derelict former Sears Auto Center

AFTER: Rice Fergus Miller Office & Studio

(Bremerton, WA) May 10, 2012 — Rice Fergus Miller recently received two awards for the design of its high-performance, LEED Platinum Office & Studio — the most energy efficient commercial building in the Pacific Northwest.

The Rice Fergus Miller Office & Studio was selected by AIA Seattle as one of its 2012 What Makes It GREEN? Awards recipients. The project was also awarded first place in the “existing commercial” category of the 2012 Technology Award Competition by the ASHRAE Puget Sound Chapter (in conjunction with mechanical engineer Ecotope, Inc.).

Established by AIA Seattle’s Committee on the Environment (COTE), the What Makes It GREEN? Awards program recognizes outstanding green design throughout the Northwest and Pacific region. The What Makes It GREEN? jury commended the project team for its continued focus on staying at a high performance level within the realities of the market. In the end, it was about smart design strategies to find a sustainable balance between achieving aggressive performance goals and staying within a budget. Rice Fergus Miller is tracking its energy and water usage in real-time via a digital dashboard.

The Rice Fergus Miller Office & Studio was recognized by the Puget Sound Chapter of ASHRAE for its successful application of innovative design, incorporating ASHRAE standards for effective energy management, indoor air quality, and good mechanical design. By employing a variety of energy saving strategies — including a nine kW photovoltaic system and a nearly-ductless hybrid mechanical system — Rice Fergus Miller and its design team have been able to reduce the Office & Studio’s energy consumption by 78-percent over the national average for office buildings.

Rice Fergus Miller transformed a derelict Sears Auto Center into its Office & Studio, which was completed in June 2011 as the most passive building in the Pacific Northwest. The project achieved LEED Platinum certification and was accomplished at the market-rate cost of $105-per-square-foot.

Founded in 1987 and located in Bremerton, WA, Rice Fergus Miller is an architecture, interior design and planning firm that specializes in the design of community and healthcare facilities, senior living communities, and fire stations. More information can be found at www.rfmarch.com.