Amherst County Adult Detention Centre receives LEED Silver
The Amherst County Adult Detention Centre in Virginia, US has bagged LEED Silver from the Green Building Certification Institute.
The facility, designed by Moseley Architects and developed by Hitt Contracting, Incorporation, is the first property of the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority to secure the certification. It opened in December 2011 and covers an area of 170,000 square feet. The building accommodates 380 male and female inmates and sports full service laundry and kitchen areas, a medical unit, as well as intake and booking spaces. Other features include magistrate offices, educational services, and administration and support space.
The property imbibes various green features such as the Blackstock AcornVac system. The vacuum plumbing system helps control water costs, ease maintenance, and restricts excessive inmate use. It cuts down wastewater by 70% and total water consumption by over 60%. The building has been equipped with highly-efficient mechanical equipment, an air barrier, and has optimised building insulation. The lighting fixtures installed in the facility decreases total energy consumption by 16%.
Use of regionally-manufactured materials, and reclaiming 80% of construction debris from reaching the landfills add to the sustainability of the centre. Other eco-friendly elements include maximum use of naturally vegetated open space, efficient storm water management system, and native and drought-tolerant plants in the landscape.
