November 1, 2006—Watson Land Company is taking a leadership role in applying sustainable building principles, in accordance with the US green Building Council (USGBC) LEED guidelines, to all of its current industrial developments beginning with the 1.3 million sq.ft. Watson Commerce Center-Chino, according to the owner/developer of master-planned industrial centers in southern California.
Watson has established a program that includes building design, construction materials and practices as well as operational elements that will reduce environmental impacts, enhance energy efficiency, and improve the work environment for its customers. Watson recently broke ground on the first of its LEED compliant buildings, a 297,107 sq.ft. facility that represents the latest generation in its Legacy Building series.
Watson Land’s LEED building g program encompasses design elements, materials and functionality as well as construction procedures that are in line with the USGBC’s LEED guidelines. The company has registered Watson Commerce Center-Chino for LEED building certification upon completion of construction. Some of the key features of Watson’s green building initiative include:
- Storm water runoff and landscaping. Rather than the typical storm drain system, the company is creating a landscaped area that collects water and allows it to filter naturally into the ground water. In addition the company has designed the building layout to maximize open and landscaped space, reducing the amount of paved surfaces.
- Building materials. Watson Land has identified many recycled materials for its projects such as steel, which is a major element of its industrial buildings, along with ceiling tiles and carpet. It has selected products that emit lower levels of toxins into the air such as new formulations of paints and adhesives.
- Air quality and natural light. The company will install HVAC systems that are designed with additional filtering and monitoring components that screen air pollutants and reduce carbon dioxide. Watson Land ‘s Legacy Building design includes abundant clerestory windows and skylights to bring more natural light into the space and provide views of the outdoors. Light switching has been automated to turn off building lights when the space is not occupied or when there is sufficient natural light.
- Construction process. Throughout the construction process trash and leftover materials will be segregated to facilitate a comprehensive recycling program that will reuse or recycle 75 percent of construction waste. Measures are taken to protect ducting and absorptive materials from construction contaminates in addition to an airing period prior to occupancy.
Watson Land Company has engaged Millie & Severson as general contractor for this first building scheduled to be completed in June 2007. It is the first of four buildings that will comprise the 60-acre, master-planned Watson Commerce Center-Chino.
For more information visit the Watson Land Company Web site.
