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Green Buildings Case Studies
Hands On Children’s Museum
106 11th Ave. S.W.
Olympia, WA 98501
360.956.0818(p)
360.754.8626(f)
Kathy Irwin, Exhibits & Facilities Manager(contact)
exhibits-store@hocm.org
Architect: The Miller/Hull Partnership, Seattle, Washington
Building Size: 27,627 sq. ft.
Project Budget: The New Hands On Children’s Museum on East Bay is an $18M Public Private Partnership project which includes a 27,000 sq. ft. LEED Silver building, 30,000 sq. ft. Outdoor Learning Center and dedicated parking on approximately 2 acres in the downtown waterfront.
Opening Date: Early 2011
LEED Certification: Silver
About HOCM’s Sustainable Expansion Project:
The Hands On Children’s Museum is the anchor project in a multi-million dollar waterfront revitalization on Olympia’s East Bay waterfront. This exciting new facility will allow the Museum to expand its nationally award-winning exhibits and add a beautiful new outdoor learning center designed to educate visitors about the importance of the region’s water and forest resources. The New Museum will be a model nationwide weaving best practices in early learning with a focus on the environment.
The Museum's Decision to Go Green:
Since its inception, the Museum has maintained a commitment to a green vision through our exhibits, education programs and operations. This commitment exemplifies the values of our region’s history which is inextricably linked to the Northwest’s precious natural resources. The New Museum provides an exciting opportunity to deepen this commitment by intentionally designing the facility for sustainability, by cleaning a brown field site, and by designing educational experiences that foster a sense of environmental stewardship.
How Project is Sustainable:
The New Children's Museum on East Bay will be the centerpiece in a cluster of new projects that will incorporate sustainable building practices and innovative environmental partnerships. The entire East Bay development is located on a historic contamination site, and its public partners are working to convert the former industrial area into a safe, attractive, community amenity. The new Museum facility is intentionally designed to be a leader in sustainable building practices achieving LEED Certification, using reclaimed water, and participating in an exciting co-generation project that will capture waste methane gas from the nearby wastewater treatment facility to heat and cool the Museum.
Project's Proposed Distinguishing Features:
- Low water-temperature loop connection to Hands On Children’s Museum from neighboring LOTT Alliance Wastewater Treatment and Educational Facility (district heating/cooling)
- Fundamental and enhanced commissioning of building energy systems
- Reclaimed water as site feature & educational focus
- Brownfield redevelopment
- Maximize open space & protect of restore habitat
- Water efficient landscaping, reduce by 50%
- Storage and collection of recyclables
- Construction waste management
- Low emitting materials (paints, adhesives, flooring materials and composite wood)
- Integration of interpretive exhibits
- Daylight and views (daylight 75% spaces, views 90%)
- Heat island effect (roof, possibly non-roof)
- Storm water design, quality control
- Alternative transportation (public transportation access, bicycle storage & changing rooms, parking capacity, low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles)
- Indoor chemical & pollutant source control
Piece of advice for others regarding project:
While Going Green can be more work and involve interesting decisions, it is rewarding, well-received and often opens many new avenues of funding.
New or Upcoming Green Projects:
We are currently developing exhibits that will support “green goals” of the new facility. In the meantime, we are developing “green” education programs in our current facility that can be transferred to our new home such as our upcoming Eco-Extravaganza for Spring Break weeks.