Goal: To evaluate the current state of green buildings in the US, and to plan a shared green office building for nonprofit organizations in Cleveland.
Green or “smart” buildings are designed, renovated or constructed, and operated with environmental and energy efficiency, and to be healthy for their occupants. We documented and evaluated a number of representative green buildings around the country (especially those that house nonprofits), to determine their locations, their “greenness,” how they are managed, their tenants, the cost to construct or retrofit, how they are capitalized, how well they function, and which approaches have been most successful.
We surveyed existing and planned green buildings through literature reviews, site visits and discussions with building owners, tenants, builders, developers, architects, academics and others. (For a copy of the report, click here.) Then we conducted a needs assessment to identify and document potential nonprofit occupants, their needs, their financial ability to participate, and how they envision the building. Lastly, we conducted a feasibility study, in conjunction with Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, to select a site and facilitate the building’s financing and development.
We worked with local nonprofits to identify what they want, need and can afford, and to determine building options, financing options (e.g., program-related investments, historical credits, low-interest financing in empowerment zones, brownfields reuse options) and renovation costs.
This project was an opportunity for environmental and economic development interests in Cleveland to work together on a project that benefits the community in many ways.
Client: The Earth Day Coalition and Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, through George Gund Foundation grants.
TerrAqua’s role: Develop the grant proposals; conduct the studies.