CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The U.S. Green Building Council recently awarded Transylvania County's new public safety facility LEED Silver certification to mark a significant green building milestone for the county and the state. The $17 million facility, designed by Moseley Architects, is the first public safety facility in North Carolina to attain the coveted Silver status, officials say. In addition, to planning and design work, Moseley, which is headquartered in Richmond, Va., provided a range of other services on the project, including security design and interiors, construction administration, transition consulting and staff training. The project price tag includes the costs associated with master planning and site preparation work with M.B. Kahn Construction Co. of Columbia, S.C., acting as general contractor. The site is master planned to accommodate other county functions and facilities, such as the proposed replacement courthouse and justice center, officials say. The new 63,000-square-foot county building, located approximately 120 miles west of Charlotte in Brevard, incorporates a 120-bed jail, the sheriff's office with space for the detective and patrol divisions, jail administration, a training facility, and staff amenities. A 911 dispatch, and an emergency operations center are located adjacent to the lobby, which accommodates administrative space and a visitor waiting area with video visitation.
The county jail, which can be accessed via a secure vehicular sally port, features intake, booking and magistrate's areas, and also incorporates a kitchen with warehouse space, laundry room and a variety of other ancillary support space. Although the majority of the building follows a single-story configuration, housing pods, which are outfitted with video visitation rooms and outdoor recreation areas are located in a two-story structure adjacent to the magistrate's court and the sheriff's office and booking area. The aesthetic of the facility, which is dominated by brick and steel, is influenced by the surrounding environment and local architecture with the design team incorporating regional materials to achieve the desired sense of civic presence. Driven by the county's remit to optimize operational costs and sustainability, the project team designed and constructed the new public safety facility according to USGBC guidelines with the objective of LEED certification. The project team incorporated a range of strategies and measures and the use of locally sourced materials contributed to sustainability efforts and the push for LEED certification. The project team also utilized recycled-content building materials and FSC-certified wood products, while more than 70 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfill to recycling centers. 
Low-flow plumbing fixtures incorporated throughout administrative, public and secure detention areas yield a 42 percent reduction in water consumption compared to a similar conventionally designed building, while individual lighting controls increase occupant comfort and reduce energy consumption, officials say. The building incorporates a reflective roofing membrane designed to mitigate the heat island effect and reduce HVAC loads to further conserve energy. In addition, the facility is outfitted with energy-efficient building systems, equipment, appliances and fixtures throughout. The design team implemented an indoor air quality management plan and utilized low-emitting interior materials to enhance indoor air quality and safeguard occupant health, while the development also preserved more than 50 percent of the site as forest and vegetated open space. Moseley Architects M.B. Khan Construction Co.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Transylvania County (Brevard NC) Awarded Leed Silver Certification for New Jail & Public Safety Building
Monday, September 20, 2010
Brevard North Carolina and Transylvania County-A Natural Wonder of the World
Transylvania County & Brevard are consistently rated by national publications as one of America's Best Small Towns and one of America's Best Places to Retire. Located in scenic Western North Carolina, Brevard features the very best the area has to offer, from a friendly small town atmosphere to the conveniences of a modern city. Our friendly, enjoyable small-town environment is rich in some of the finest in our world of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and social amenities. Brevard's close proximity and easy access to major metropolitan area like Asheville, Greenville, Charlotte, and Atlanta make it an ideal place to live.
All week long this week our lows at night will be in the upper 50's and the unusually or as the weather man says unseasonably warm weather during the day in the very low 80's. Normally this time of year we are in the mid 70's. I hate to day it folks but what more can one ask for with the climate here, free natural resources, views wither of mountains, creeks, streams, rivers and waterfalls at every turn. Why Brevard for your next North Carolina real estate shopping to me is a no brainer. Even our pricing has never been this low before for land, lots, and even a rare commodity of lake front property. You may not know this but all lakes in Western North Carolina are all man made, so now is the time to take advantage of these rare opportunities of the lots, and homes available on these lakes.
To continue about our weather, Brevard has four distinct seasons where our winters are mild with crisp, clear skies where you can see for as far as your eyes can see. Summers offer warm days and cool nights and even at the lower elevations of 2100 feet there is rarely a need for air-conditioning. Spring fills the area with an abundance of blooms, budding flowers, daffodils pop their heads out early every winter and you know spring is right around the corner. Fall colors are spectacular to say the least. And our trees are as though they have been painted throughout all the mountains and valleys in such a spectacular array of reds, yellow, and oranges.
Known as "The Land of Waterfalls", Brevard is a nature lover's paradise with a photo shoot at everywhere you look. The DuPont State & the Gorgeous State Parks not failing to mention the Pisgah National Forest covers more 40% of Transylvania County. We have another 4% in Flood Property that runs along the French Broad River, as Transylvania County is the headwaters of the French Broad, east Fork, and North Fork and Middle fork flowing mostly out of the Pisgah National Forest.
A recent announcement and now another huge parcel of about 8000 acres being sold by our ex congressman Charles Taylor is about to become a conservation easement making almost 50% of our entire county, this is what I call natural controlled growth. Just having these features in your back yard provide endless possibilities for hiking, fishing, backpacking, camping, and other outdoor activities. The French Broad River and the Davidson River are popular for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and tubing. Without a doubt our county is full of enjoyable natural resources that can be enjoyed for free.
Brevard offers year-round cultural events. Brevard College, a four-year liberal arts college, is home to the Paul Porter Performing Arts Center, which hosts performances throughout the year. The world renowned Brevard Music Center, with Keith Lockhart as Artistic Director, offers outstanding guest musicians and artists during the summer months, with concerts several times during the week. In addition, several festivals fill the streets off Brevard throughout the year. Transylvania County has a state-of-the-art public library located in downtown Brevard.
Now to one of our favorite residents in our county are the well-known white squirrels. These unique almost all white creatures even thought they are not a native to Brevard they can be seen in many areas in and around Brevard. Not albino as they have brown eyes and a brown line that runs along the head. Be sure and check out in the blogs section of www.HomeInBrevard.com for the history of our towns white friends. There are several stories as to how the white squirrels arrived in out county but it is told where a pair of white squirrels, on the lam from a traveling carnival in the 1950s, started a family that now spans generations of wonderful white friends. Not to mention but we have an annual White Squirrel festival that is always a hit during the summer. Although they are not a designated species, they are true white in color and have dark eyes like the more common gray squirrels, and are mixing with the grey squirrel species.
Brevard continually year after year wins awards for the best place to retire or this year one of the top 2 Coolest small towns in all of America, So why look anywhere else?
It is a place where 250 waterfalls and countless streams have taken centuries to patiently carve the very faces of these mountains.
Where local bluegrass jams coexist along virtuoso performances by some of the greatest classical musicians of our time. The Porter center Located at Brevard College, the Music Center just compliment all the heritage of our culture and music.
Another interesting feature about Transylvania County is that we receive the greatest amount of rain in the State of North Carolina where just 35 miles away in Asheville they receive the least. I often wonder how this could be as they receive far more snowfalls in the winter and in the Northern County of Madison County and those that join the Tennessee boarder often receive up to as foot at a time and thus some of the best snow skiing takes place just a little over an hour away. Having these amounts of rain of upwards of 80 inches a year offers a temperate rain forest that supports some of the rarest plant and animal species on the planet. Yes that's right, here in Brevard NC.
In short, Brevard is like no other place on the planet earth, Brevard North Carolina and Transylvania County-A Natural Wonder of the World. Welcome to the Land of Waterfalls and home of the white squirrels, and a rain forest at that. Undoubtedly it makes us a world apart from all of our competitors as can be verified by all the articles about Brevard being consistently rated by national publications as one of America's Best Small Towns and one of America's Best Places to Retire. Located in scenic Western North Carolina, Brevard features the very best the area has to offer, from a friendly small town atmosphere to the conveniences of a modern city. Its pleasant small-town environment is rich in natural beauty, cultural heritage, and social amenities. Brevard's close proximity and easy access to major metropolitan area like Asheville, Greenville, Charlotte, and Atlanta make it an ideal place to live.