Grand Rapids Art Museum - LEED Gold
GRAM - LEED Gold
The new LEED Gold Certified Grand Rapids Art Museum has 125,000 SF of floor area with more than 50,000 SF of gallery and art exhibition spaces. The museum is co-located with a Maya Lin sculpture titled “Ecliptic” in downtown Grand Rapids Michigan.
The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) is the first and only newly built art museum in the world to receive LEED certification at any level.
LEED certification is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance, sustainable buildings. A gold certification recognizes a superior level of energy and environmental performance.
Lead donor for the new museum is Peter Wege, an environmentalist whose foundation made LEED certification a requirement of its $20 million gift. Wege
stated, “The gold standard was always our goal. It is a great achievement that establishes our beautiful art museum as an international standard of excellence in architecture and green design.”
Achieving LEED certification is a particular challenge for art museums, given the exacting climate standards for art preservation and the volume of visitors they receive. Design was further complicated by the variability and unpredictability of Michigan’s four-season climate.
“Environmental stewardship is a commitment that is evidenced throughout our museum facility. We are proud to be the first of the next generation of cultural buildings,” said Celeste Adams, museum director. “Our commitment to current and future generations is to provide national and international caliber exhibitions and collections of art in a renowned facility that offers a unique place of beauty, tranquility and sustainability.”
GRAM incorporates energy-efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems and strict recycling systems for water and operational supplies. Its innovative water collection system reduces the museum’s demand for city-treated water by 20 percent.
Visitors to the museum realize 70 percent natural light throughout its public, gallery and managerial spaces, while views to outdoor courtyards, indigenous plants and trees beckon visitors to expand their cultural experience.
Via: Arch Daily
