Parks and Grounds Facility -
Bowie's First Green Building

Bowie's new Parks and Grounds Facility opened in May of 2008 to rave reviews for its practical and energy efficient design. The facility consists of two buildings: an administrative building and a vehicle and storage building, both constructed using a variety of green techniques. The complex houses the employees and equipment of the Parks and Grounds Division and the Stormwater Management Division. It is also a building designed to educate the public about the benefits of building green. Tours of the facility may be arranged upon request. Call 301-809-2353.

Green features incorporated into the facility include straw bale walls, the use of natural light, partial living roofs for insulation, the capture of rainwater for vehicle washing and a ground source heating system.

Background:

The Parks and Grounds Division consists of approximately 30 employees who maintain 78 ballfields, 23.5 miles of trails, 202 acres of grass, 130 acres of athletic turf and grounds of all City buildings. The facility is also home to 6 employees who maintain the City's stormwater management system.

Prior to construction, the operation was housed in a 40 year-old, 1,200 square foot house and a few outbuildings that were inefficient and inadequate given the size of the staff and the scope of the work performed. 

The need for a new Parks and Grounds facility provided the opportunity for Bowie to demonstrate its interest in green building standards. The building was designed using the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy Efficient Design, (LEEDTM) standards.

In 2003 the City Council adopted a resolution stating that the City would incorporate green building, low impact development, renewable energy, and conservation landscaping into future municipal projects whenever feasible. Bowie was the first municipality in Maryland to adopt such a policy for municipal construction, renovation and deconstruction projects. This resolution has become a template for other regional local governments.

Project Details

Total project cost was approximately $5 million. 

Groundbreaking occurred in the fall of 2006 and was completed by spring of 2008.

Complex consists of two buildings:

• 5,200-square-foot storage facility for vehicles and equipment and a carpenter shop
• 8,060- square foot building to house staff.

A variety of grants totaling $1,120,000 helped to defray the cost of this construction project

• Maryland Energy Administration
• Maryland Program Open Space
• State of Maryland
• Maryland Department of Natural Resources
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
  

Green Features

View detailed picture of building's green features by clicking on each image.

Demonstration Project for “Green Building” Design LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) - “Silver” Building (application pending)

Award system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council in 1994
Fundamental and enhanced commissioning executed to insure that the energy related systems were installed, calibrated, and performed according to the original energy requirements in the building’s design.

Building “Green” Components

• Ground-source heating system - 21 wells averaging 200 feet in depth
  
  
• “Green roof” construction
  
  
• 3 roof sections (175 square feet), planted with perennials (sedum cultivars)
  
  
• Energy Star rated “cool” roof material on remaining 80% of the roof’s surface
  
  
• Increased insulation (greater R-value) in all ceilings and walls
  
  
• All windows open and close for increased ventilation and less air conditioning use
  
  
• Window shading to limit direct sunlight (heat) into interior rooms
  
  
• “Sun tunnels” (7 reflecting tubes) and “light-directing panels” increase and utilize natural sunlight into interior rooms
  
  
• Motion activated light switches
  
  
• Efficient, water-saving toilets with variable flush controls for 1/2, 1, or 1 1/2 gallon flushing as well as “waterless’ urinals
  
  
• Mechanics’ bays use extensive glass doors for natural sunlight
  
  
• Eliminated CFC and HCFC-based refrigerants in all mechanical systems (ozone depleting materials)
  
  
• 10% of total materials incorporated within the building are post-consumer and re-consumer recycled content materials
  
  
• 10% of materials manufactured and extracted locally
  
  
• 50% of wood is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified
  
  
• Indoor air quality performance to enhance the comfort and well-being of occupants
  
  
• Smoke-free environment
  
  
• CO2 monitors
  
  
• Low-emitting VOC sealants and adhesives used in the paints, carpets and composite wood
  
  
• High-level control over occupational thermal comfort and humidity
  
  
• Walk-off mats placed at all exterior entrances, ventilation systems were used in janitor closets and other rooms where chemicals are mixed

Material Reuse and Recycling

• Diversion of construction waste from landfills
  
  
• Recycled building debris (block, brick, concrete, etc.) on site and utilized as construction fill.  90% imported fill was recycled material.
  
  
• The three existing steel buildings on the site were relocated and assembled at another location
  
  
• Post construction cardboard, steel, wood, etc. transferred to recycling facilities

Vehicle and Storage Building

• Straw-bale construction on two walls with R-30 to R-40 insulation value
  
  
• Remaining walls and ceiling maintain a minimum R-30 insulation value
  
  
• “Photo-voltaic” cells on the roof provide electricity for this building (7 KW), acts as an onsite renewable energy source
  
  
• When the solar cells produce more than the building uses, the energy is added to the “electrical grid”
  
  
• Infrared heaters fueled by natural gas
  
  
• Rainwater is collected from the rear half of building roof reducing use of potable water by 10%
  
  
• Up to 2500 gallons stored in a tank inside the building
  
  
• Heated by the solar panels ( up to 140 degrees)
  
  
• Rain water is used to clean equipment with a power washer

Landscape Components

• Planted materials are predominantly native, indigenous species
  
  
• Open space requirements of 50% was increased to 75% to promote biodiversity
  
  
• Parking lots—storm water run-off flows to “bio-retention” areas known as “rain gardens”, reducing sources of contamination in streams
  
  
• Alternative transportation methods are encouraged with bike racks and alternative fuel preferred parking spaces.

Information compiled by:
City of Bowie Public Works Department and the
Parks and Grounds Division of the Community Services Department
Lorax LLC

Parks and Grounds Division Community Services Department
301-809-2353 301-262-6200, ext. 2353 Fax: 301-809-2310 Ed Hall, Parks and Grounds Superintendent 301-809-3062 or Email	Office Hours: Monday - Friday Lawrence Pierce, Director Community Services Department 301-809-3004 or Email Sally Hein, Assistant Director Community Services Department 301-809-3014 or Email