Twin Lakes Park Office Complex
Sarasota, FL

LEED Certification Level: Gold
Date Certified: September 23, 2005
Area: 27,000 square feet

Photos Courtesy of Dickinson Studios

When the Sarasota County government decided to renovate and expand the Twin Lakes Park Office Complex in Sarasota, FL, they chose to build “green”. The complex reached a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) NC 2.0 Gold certification, a level of achievement in “green” building that recognizes buildings and grounds as environmentally responsible, profitable, and a healthy place to live and work.

The builders of the Twin Lakes complex took many environmental factors into consideration, including erosion and sedimentation, run-off reduction and storm water management on-site, and minimal site disturbance. Bicycle racks were installed outside of the buildings, and showers inside, to encourage employees to choose an alternative method of transportation for their commute to work, such as walking or riding their bike. The complex was constructed with a number of energy-efficiency features that have led to lighting cost reductions of 40 to 60 percent, and it also features a 10 kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) system to provide solar electricity along with a solar water heating system.

Key "Green" Features:

• Encourages alternative transportation with bike racks and showers inside
• Low-flow plumbing fixtures and waterless urinals
• Rainwater used to supply 28,000 gallon cistern for toilets
• Metal roof with large overhangs to shade windows
• Building orientation maximizes cool northern sunlight
• Automated lighting controls
• 10 kW photovoltaic system
• Solar hot water heating system
• CO2 monitors
• Low-VOC materials
• Recycled materials used throughout construction
• Insulated, low-emittance, impact-resistant windows
• Geothermal heating and cooling system
• Motion-sensor sink faucets

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