Jewett Automotive completes first LEED certified Toyota dealership in New England

When the Grappone Automotive Group was ready for a complete renovation of its Toyota dealership, they didn’t have to look far. Jewett Automotive Design & Construction, the company’s design-build contractor since 1993, has renovated six of their facilities over the years, including Grappone Ford, Grappone Honda, Grappone Hyundai, and the Grappone Collision and Reconditioning Centers. The result of this latest project, a team effort by Grappone and Jewett, with design services by Jeff Margaretten of Margaretten Architectural, is a 77,000 s/f, energy-efficient dealership with two-floor showroom, an expanded service facility with drive-through check-in, a training facility, and new corporate headquarters. It is the first LEED-certified Toyota facility in New England. This extensive project, which marked Jewett’s 40th auto dealership job, incorporated an “Integral Design Approach” encouraging interaction between architect, engineer, client and contractor from concept to completion, resulting in a more profitable and efficient project. This particular renovation also required a good deal of design creativity, as the minimal expansion allowed by local building codes necessitated working within the existing footprint. As a result, fully sixty percent of the original facility was renovated as part of the new design. “Obtaining this level of green building requires commitment on everyone’s part ,” said Jewett project manager Rob Secinaro, “but it is well worth the payoff in terms of energy dollars saved, preservation of the environment, and an increased sense of well-being for the occupants. Each of our subcontractors followed specific guidelines pertaining to the LEED requirements—everything from dust control by the demolition contractor, to the use of building materials that were manufactured using renewable, safe, and recycled content, to mechanical systems that are highly efficient; they were all included in this project.“ The new Grappone Toyota dealership has 32 400-foot-deep geothermal wells to help heat and cool the building and greatly reduce its energy consumption, thirty-six water source heat pumps, seven recycling stations, and two electric vehicle charging stations. Over the course of the project, upwards of 90% of all construction debris was either recycled or reused in the new facility, and construction was phased to allow for minimal disruption, as the business was in full operation throughout. “Our team spent almost four years planning and designing a facility that provides our team members and guests a healthy, inviting and beautiful place to connect,” said Amanda Grappone Osmer, a fourth-generation owner. “The energy efficiencies we’ll gain are another major highlight, and we’re proud to share this building with the entire New Hampshire community we serve. We regularly give tours of the building to local students interested in green design, energy efficiency, and social responsibility.” “This type of building is the wave of the future,” said Craig Jewett, president of Jewett Automotive. “It’s not only beneficial for the company’s employees and customers, and thus the bottom line, it’s simply the socially responsible way to go.” LEED Certification requires that buildings meet extremely high sustainability standards across six different categories—everything from water efficiency and environmental quality to innovation and design. It is a daunting undertaking, but Jewett is no stranger to Green Building Council standards, having completed several LEED Certified projects in the last few years.