December 17th, 2004
For more information, contact:
Allison Stoddard, (207) 773-3625,
astoddard@wright-ryan.com
WRIGHT-RYAN BUILDS LEED REGISTERED SCIENCE CENTER FOR
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE
(GORHAM, ME) – USM
President Richard Pattenaude was present Friday December 10th
to cut the ceremonial ribbon with the center’s namesake, John
Mitchell. U.S. Representative Tom Allen addressed the group while
U.S. Senator Susan Collins spoke to the assembly over the telephone
and speaker system from Washington D.C. and noted that it was all made
possible because of technology. It seemed a fitting and accurate
comment given that her speech would not have been heard without
remarkable advances in the field of technology and since the center is
home to the school’s ASET program (School of Applied Sciences,
Engineering and Technology).
Wright-Ryan
Construction, a Portland, Maine based firm, constructed the building
in a little over a year with minimal disruption to campus activity.
Perpetuating the concept of technological advancement, Wright-Ryan and
USM tracked project activity by broadcasting live images via a webcam
to USM’s website. The structure nearly doubled the size from the
original 1965 building and the new wing now highlights many
technologically advanced features such as a plasma screen television
in the lobby that allows the observation of the building’s mechanical
systems. Viewers can watch the energy management system in action
such as the in and outflow of air and temperature change.
In compliance with
Governor Baldacci’s executive order, made in November 2003, the design
and construction of the Mitchell Center needed to incorporate
Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) standards. This
supports Maine’s efforts to achieve healthy living and working
conditions for residents, energy efficiency and environmental
sustainability.
From the demolition
phase to reserving carpool parking spaces, this project took
everything into consideration. Since the expansion required
demolition to an existing parking lot and existing walls, one of
Wright-Ryan’s principals, Tom Wright, successfully collaborated with a
Scarborough, Maine recycling firm to reroute waste. The drywall
became part of the Portland airport’s runway expansion and the asphalt
and concrete paving was able to be processed and recycled into Maine’s
road infrastructure. Materials such as
brick, structural steel, glass and lumber that were
purchased or extracted within 500 miles of the USM site were given
special consideration because of the decreased use in fossil fuel
consumption while transporting the supplies to the jobsite. Harriman
Associates of Auburn, Maine was chosen as the architectural and
engineering firm and is currently awaiting a response from the U.S.
Green Building Council which will determine the project’s level of
LEED certification.
In the spirit of the
building’s green and sustainable design, Wright-Ryan’s Millwork
Division designed and crafted a one-of-a-kind 18 foot long, five foot
wide conference room table out of recycled materials including Dakota
Burl which is comprised of 100% sunflower seeds.
“All the lumber that we
used on this project (Cherry, Poplar and Birch) comes from well
managed forests, independently certified by SmartWood in accordance
with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council. This certification
includes a tracking system through the manufacturing process
(chain-of-custody), which enables this lumber to be labeled as
certified,” explains Natalie Nye of Wright-Ryan’s Millwork Division.
The certified and managed lumber used in this project was used not
only for the millwork but also the rough carpentry such as the
framing.
For more information, contact Allison
Stoddard (207-773-3625,
astoddard@wright-ryan.com).
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