Vision 3 Architects' 50,000 s/f Home & Hospice Care of RI design earns LEED Gold

Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island's new headquarters and hospice facility has been awarded LEED Gold certification as established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). It is the first healthcare facility in the state to achieve LEED certification. To date, Rhode Island has 15 LEED certified buildings, and Home & Hospice is only the second to achieve Gold level certification. Opened in June 2009, Home & Hospice Care of R.I. is a four-story, 50,000 s/f building that houses the administrative offices, 24-bed Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center, and community and education spaces of the state's largest and most comprehensive provider of hospice and palliative care. The project team of Home & Hospice Care of R.I., Vision 3 Architects, and New England Construction originally targeted Silver certification, but ultimately was able to achieve Gold. "We are extremely proud to achieve Gold certification," said Diana Franchitto, president and CEO of Home & Hospice Care of R.I. "The first major sustainable design decision Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island made was to reuse existing land and building stock," said John Pignataro, president of New England Construction, general contractor for the project. Since Home & Hospice Care of R.I. is a healthcare provider, design emphasis was placed on indoor environmental air quality and high performance ventilation systems. "We designed the building to be as healthy and comfortable as possible for its occupants," said Keith Davignon, principal of Vision 3 Architects. "First we specified low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints, carpets, and furniture to reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are irritating or harmful. Second, high performance heating and ventilation systems provide 30% more outdoor air than code requires. Individual controls on these systems ensure user comfort." During construction, New England Const. implemented an Indoor Air Quality Management Plan to reduce air quality problems that could occur once the building was occupied. And now that the building is up and running, Home & Hospice Care of R.I. is doing their part to continue their commitment to sustainability. Home & Hospice Care of R.I. has also signed a four year contract with a renewable energy provider to obtain 35% of their power from renewable sources. Other sustainable design features include a reflective roof to prevent heat absorption; low-flow water fixtures with motion sensors; underground water storage systems which collect, treat, and return rainwater to underground aquifers; diversion of 91% of construction and demolition debris from landfills; new materials with recycled content; and views to the outdoors from 90% of the occupied spaces within the building.