Walnut Capital To Pursue Green Building Certification for Bakery Square

Walnut Capital has decided to pursue green building certification for Bakery Square using the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® Rating System for Core and Shell Development. The development has been registered with the USGBC as two projects, one of which focuses on the adaptive re-use of the existing Nabisco factory building (with a target of LEED® Silver or better), while the other encompasses all the adjacent newly constructed retail buildings (with a target of LEED® Certified or better).

Guided by the project’s architectural design firm, Astorino, the sustainable design strategy includes issues of energy efficiency, site planning, materials and resources, water efficiency, and indoor environmental quality. Most of the site will be served by a high efficiency chiller plant paired with electric heat to provide efficient heating and cooling to all building tenants. Use of on-site renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaic panels and roof-mounted wind turbines is also being pursued. Walnut Capital plans to use a drainage matt-style vegetated or “green roof” design element on at least one roof of the existing Nabisco building and is also considering rainwater capture, both of which would reduce the projects’ burden on the local storm water system. Other targets that have been set for the project include using at least 10% recycled building materials, 50% construction waste salvage or recycling, and 20% whole building water use reduction. Finally, Walnut Capital plans to incorporate education and outreach components into the project, including displaying educational material in the lobby of the office building and in its tenant marketing literature.

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