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N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources

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Green Square

The Green Square Complex

The Green Square Complex is a two-block, multi-use sustainable development project that will bring North Carolina's state environmental offices and a nationally significant Nature Research Center to the heart of North Carolina's capital city.

The Green Square Complex will enable the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences to promote stewardship by example to the general public, while providing experiential learning opportunities focused on the current scientific research and environmental issues affecting our daily lives.

Green Square Web Cams

Watch the construction in real-time!

Rendering of Green Square

The Green Square Complex's location from above, on Jones Street between Dawson and Salisbury.

Green Vision

The Green Square Complex will be two "green" buildings that incorporate the most current sustainable design strategies. Green buildings are designed to cost less to operate and maintain by employing energy- and water-efficiency techniques, as well as providing greater occupant satisfaction through a healthy interior environment that promotes productivity. While many of the complex's unique features are still in the design stage, we're confident the Green Square Complex will serve as a national model of environmental efficiency and sustainability.

The following list includes some of the environmentally friendly and cost-efficient goals for all components of the Green Square Complex:

  • Maximizing the use of natural sunlight (daylighting) by building far fewer interior walls and many more windows than the typical office building. Using sunlight as much as possible will reduce reliance on electricity, energy bills and the amount of pollution generated by electricity production. In addition, studies have shown that increased exposure to sunlight makes workers more productive.
  • Conservation of water through the construction of several cisterns, or receptacles, to capture rainwater. The goal is to construct the complex with mechanisms for treating and recycling that water so that it can be reused to flush toilets and water plants. Stormwater runoff, North Carolina's No. 1 cause of water pollution, would be eliminated.
  • Environmentally-friendly construction through the use of low-emission paints and carpentry materials.
  • Using locally produced building materials. By using stone quarried in North Carolina or locally-recycled steel, our economy will be helped by reducing the costs typically associated with shipping building materials over great distances.

The Green Square Complex will strive for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification Gold for the DENR Office Building and the Nature Research Center.

Project Evolution

In October 2007, the pre-design phase planning process began with the implementation of the “Green Vision” for the Green Square Complex, as developed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. The pre-design phase included planning, site development and early construction for a 172,000 square foot office building for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; a 79,400 square foot building expansion to the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, and some underground parking spaces.

At the start of the project, both the office building component and the museum expansion were located on one site between Salisbury and McDowell streets, off of Jones Street to the south. However, in December 2007, it was determined by the state of North Carolina, that the office building component of this project would switch locations with the 900 car parking deck (under design by PBC&L Architects) on the south side of Jones Street between McDowell and Dawson streets former Old YWCA site). In order to provide a seamless and integrated urban design solution, DENR and the architectural team worked to integrate the 900 car parking deck with the DENR Office Building and the Nature Research Center (NRC).

The Green Square Complex now includes the area on the south side of Jones Street from Salisbury Street to Dawson street.  The DENR office building is a 149,350 square foot 5-story building.  The DENR building is connected via a one-level bridge over McDowell Street to the remaining DENR offices, which were incorporated as part of the NRC building.  The NRC, including the DENR office space, now comprises a total of 101,040 square feet.  The NRC is connected to the existing museum via a two-level bridge over Salisbury Street.  Two levels of underground parking are located under both the NRC and the DOA parking deck on the NRC site of the Green Square Complex.
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