Architects design a green headquarters

Trade group wants new office to showcase eco-friendly design

North Carolina's architects hope to break ground this year on a headquarters in downtown Raleigh.

And naturally, being architects and all, they want to make a statement. In this case, a "welcome to the 21st century, carbon-neutral, energy-efficient, deep green" statement.

"The new building will be our testament to sustainable architecture," said Walt Teague, immediate past president of the North Carolina chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Frank Harmon Architect of Raleigh won the statewide competition to design the building planned at Peace and Wilmington streets, across from Peace College.

Initial sketches suggest plenty of windows to let in light and an overhanging roofline to shield the building from the sun.

A geothermal energy system, considered the most efficient way to heat and cool a building, will keep things comfortable inside, Frank Harmon said.

The goal is to create a building that uses at least 55 percent less energy than traditional styles when it opens in 2010.

Harmon thinks his company can easily meet that goal, along with the ultimate standard: creating a building that uses no energy derived from fossil fuels by 2030.

The 12,000-square-foot building is part of a 21-acre project, Blount Street Commons, covering the blocks bounded by Peace, Lane, Person and Wilmington streets.

The first phase of that project, scheduled to include about 75 homes, is under way. Plans call for as many as 495 condominiums, townhouses and single-family houses, as well as 110,000 square feet of shops and 25 renovated houses.

The state chapter of the American Institute of Architects is now housed in the historic Raleigh Water Tower on Morgan Street.

The group will sell that building and conduct a capital campaign to pay for the new headquarters. The building is expected to cost about $4.5 million, with about $1 million of that covering the land purchase, said Heather Vance, director of communications.

The headquarters will have room for six full-time employees, a library and archives. One key addition will be a coordinator to develop programs that would work with area museums and student groups that visit downtown.

"We definitely also want to work with the neighborhood near us to grow programs that will build awareness about architecture and design," Vance said.