Architects Design Group has made significant contributions to the application of sustainable architecture. There are several key elements of design that create exemplary projects:
Natural Lighting – The strategic use of natural lighting maximizes the energy efficiency of a facility and will reduce energy consumption costs. Natural lighting has a practical and psychological benefit by creating comfortable space for people to live and work.
Solar Orientation – The direction in which a building sits on a site directly affects its energy efficiency, environmental impact, and visual appeal. For the Florida Municipal Power Agency Headquarters, Architects Design Group oriented the building on an east/west axis to respond to the diurnal path of the sun to make optimal use of day lighting thus reducing artificial light costs. The east/west orientation assists in managing the impact of solar radiation heating the building volume.
Building Materials – Building materials such as recyclable steel, carpeting and low VOC adhesives; as well as a reflective roof finish, directly impact a building’s sustainability.
Use of Color – The visual power of color emphasizes the “tectonics” of the architecture and evokes emotional and physical response of the occupant.
Energy Efficient Equipment/Features -Two design issues, energy load reduction and equipment specifications, play key roles in the creation of an energy efficient building. Through design and prudent selection of active energy consuming systems such as HVAC and lighting, the design team can affect total building performance by reducing energy consumption, up to half of a typical facility. Interior lighting in office buildings tends to be the single largest element of energy consumption, accounting for about 30 percent of total energy costs, followed by cooling costs.
With the application of these principles, several of Architects Design Group’s projects have been recognized as exemplary examples of sustainable design: the Florida Solar Energy Center, Florida Municipal Power Agency, Orange County Landfill and Operations Facility, School District of Osceola County Transportation Center, and the new Sarasota Police Headquarters, which is the first Police facility in the state of Florida to be LEED® certified. Currently, Architects Design Group has five projects which are in the LEED® Certification process including the Gainesville Police Department Training Center, the Orange County Sheriff Sector II Building, the Greene County Public Safety Coordination Center, Charleston County EOC and 911 Call Center, and Deltona Fire Station No. 65.