LEED™ Principles Play Huge Role In Restoring Yesterday's Heritage
Since opening in the 1890s, Whitaker has undergone a series of remodeling efforts from several owners, the culmination of which has left the building bearing little resemblance to its original design. In 1999, Melaver, Inc. purchased the 10,000-sq-ft building, with plans of returning it to its original stature while simultaneously creating a modern, energy-efficient facility following the USGBC LEED™ program.
"For example, after we received the building plans from the mechanical engineers, we had to modify the HVAC systems to fit the actual space requirements. And when making paths to run refrigerant piping in the three-story building, we had to drill through two-foot thick masonry walls and still keep the integrity of the building. However, we managed to get past these hurdles and provide a first class tenant environment," said Lemack.