Architect: Perkins+Will
Project Location: Asheville, NC
Project Completion Date: August, 2016
Short Description: The NBB East Coast Brewery is a case study in the application of sustainable sites. The responsible choice of site has led to the redevelopment of a brownfield while enhancing one of Asheville’s unique neighborhoods, the River Arts District. The selective demolition of existing buildings and reuse of their materials has provided for waste diversion from landfills while enhancing the site’s surrounding community with its original character. This addition to the Asheville River Arts District is a beacon along the riverfront and a great example of how others can redevelop under-utilized land with sustainability at the forefront of design.
Architect’s Statement: In 2012, NBB announced that they would be opening an East Coast Brewery in Asheville, North Carolina. The new brewery includes two buildings on one project site, the Liquid Center and the Brewery Production Facility. The Brewery Production Facility includes many programmatic elements: the Malt Tower, Brewhouse, production support spaces, cellar, coolers, lab, offices, and packaging. The heart of the design opportunity was the clients’ commitment to revitalizing a brownfield site. As NBB has stated about the East Coast Brewery, “throughout New Belgium’s East Coast site search process, we focused on brownfield sites–previously developed areas in need of clean up. Why? To prevent taking agricultural land out of production or eliminating natural habitat, to lovingly bring what was once a source of jobs and industry back into productive use, and to find a location near other amenities, increasing density and walkability.“ The site includes a “dry bed” stream that is being restored by the City of Asheville, which is also developing the site’s adjacent green-way along the French Broad River. The revitalization of the river front will activate the site while providing pedestrian and bike access to the brewery. In addition to brownfield remediation and materials reuse, NBB has made a conscious decision to use local artisans and materials when available, including a handcrafted conference table. Community engagement was a critical part of the design process. Through meetings with the client and community, all parties agreed that a commitment to the tradition of “craft” in the River Arts District should be at the core of the project. This bilateral commitment allows the New Belgium project to enhance the district and also to benefit from a synergistic involvement with their neighbors.
Type of Construction: The existing project site included a stockyard, auction houses, mini storage facility, auto repair shop, and old hay barn. While most saw the existing structures as an
COTE Description: In 2012, NBB announced that they would be opening an East Coast Brewery in Asheville, North Carolina. The new brewery includes two buildings on one project site, the Liquid Center and the Brewery Production Facility with sustainability as the paramount goal of design. For meeting this goal, the Liquid Center has been awarded LEED Platinum certification, while the Brewery Production Facility has obtained LEED Gold certification. Being that NBB is employee-owned, a great importance is placed on employee usage of the building and access to clean air and a safe work environment. New Belgium’s dedication to energy reduction extends to their brewing systems and associated process energy, which are among the most efficient in the country. Sustainable Sites: The location of the site along the French Broad River in the River Arts District gives the brewery employees close access to many walkable/bikeable amenities, as well as many forms of public transportation. From restaurants to gyms to dry cleaners, the site location will promote an active lifestyle for many employees. The comprehensive landscape design of the site naturally captures stormwater from impervious surfaces to avoid waterway pollution and erosion (bioswales, bio-retention, constructed wetlands, and more). More than half of the site is covered in native vegetation and landscaping, providing species habitat and a connection to the outdoors. Water Efficiency: Captured rainwater is collected in underground cisterns at the Brewery and above ground cisterns at the Liquid Center. In addition to rainwater recovery, water is also recovered at different points in the brewing process, capturing hot steam and condensing it, allowing collection and reuse of both heat and water. The building’s restrooms and kitchen are 46% more water efficient than a typical code-compliant baseline building. Energy and Atmosphere: Low energy systems such as radiant floors, natural ventilation and LED lighting are featured throughout. Collectively, the Liquid Center has an estimated 60% savings in energy costs and the addition of a PV array on the roof makes the building exceptionally efficient. Materials and Resources: During the building process, more than 31% of materials were manufactured within 500 miles of the site, while 82% of construction waste was diverted from landfills. The use and expression of local materials creates an environment that “is very Asheville”. Indoor Environmental Quality: 100% Sight Views, 94% Natural Daylighting and Thermal Controls are provided for 100% of regularly occupied spaces within the Liquid Center. All materials used during construction were considered Low-Emitting Materials producing a clean and healthy indoor environment. To further the project’s commitment to sustain-ability, the project includes sensitivity to light pollution, a saw tooth roof in the packaging area for daylight, the use of fly ash in the precast concrete, operable windows for office workers in the office bar, carpet manufactured with yarn containing reclaimed, discarded fishing nets from the waters of the Philippines, and enhanced mechanical commissioning of the facilities. The adjacency to the French Broad River and the restoration of habitats is extremely important to the revitalization of the river front. The revitalization of the river front activates the site while providing pedestrian and bike access to the brewery. The New Belgium Brewing East Coast Brewery addition to the Asheville River Arts District stands as a beacon along the riverfront and a great example of how others can redevelop under-utilized land with sustainability at the forefront of design.