Newswise — DALLAS (March 29, 2012) – Children’s Medical Center’s (www.childrens.com) Specialty Care Center in Southlake has been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC®) as a LEED Certified healthcare facility under the new, more rigorous standards established in 2009.
“LEED certification identifies Children’s Specialty Care Center at Southlake as a pioneering example of sustainable design and demonstrates your leadership in transforming the building industry,” S. Richard Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chairman of the U.W. Green Building Council, wrote in a letter noting the certification.
An organization’s participation in the voluntary and technically rigorous LEED process underscores a commitment to innovation, environmental stewardship and social responsibility. LEED Certified buildings are designed to:
• lower operating costs and increase asset value• reduce waste sent to landfills• conserve energy and water• be healthier and safer for occupants• reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions• qualify for tax rebates and zoning allowances
The Children’s Specialty Care Center incorporates a number of important energy-saving design features to meet the LEED requirements, including preferred parking space for low emitting/fuel efficient vehicles, and those that carpool to the facility, low-flow plumbing fixtures to help reduce the building’s water consumption by more than 20 percent, and the building was designed to reduce total energy consumption by 20 percent over a baseline model. Efficient mechanical equipment, lighting systems and a high-performance building structure incorporating sustainable sourced materials and products were all key to ensuring reduced energy consumption at the facility. Additionally, a recycling program was implemented for the operations of the facility that reduces the amount of trash and waste sent to landfills.
“We are proud that our Specialty Care Center has received LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council,” said Trent Smith, senior vice president of network development for Children’s Medical Center. “As one of the most trusted pediatric hospitals in the nation, our goal is to provide better, more effective treatment for the children and families of the Southlake region. By building a LEED Certified center, our expert caregivers are able to do just that.”
The 34,000-square-foot Children’s Specialty Care Center opened in June 2011. Children’s provides treatment in nearly 20 different areas of expertise, and the facility includes operating room suites, examination rooms, procedure rooms, audiology booths, an echocardiogram room and a physical rehabilitation area. It also houses a Family Resource Center, where parents can easily access the latest information regarding children’s health issues and treatments. There are no inpatient, overnight or emergency services at the Specialty Care Center.
# # #ABOUT CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTERChildren's Medical Center is a private, not-for-profit pediatric health-care provider, the fifth-largest in the country. With 559 licensed beds, two full-service campuses and 10 outpatient sites, Children’s was the state’s first pediatric hospital to achieve Level 1 Trauma status, and is the only pediatric teaching facility in North Texas affiliated with UT Southwestern Medical Center. For more information about Children’s or how to give, please visit www.childrens.com.
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