Five Minutes with Brad Nies,

Director of Elements Division at BNIM

What is the background and history of USGBC and LEED?

The USGBC (US Green Building Council) started meeting in 1995. At that time, it had ten members. Members on USC-level are firm or organization members. In 2006, at the end of GreenBuild, here in November, there were 6300 member organizations. Four thousand organizations added themselves to that group from 2002 to 2006. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) was set up for office buildings and it’s been voluntarily applied to different building types—schools, hospitals, factories, retail.

How long has BNIM been a sponsor of the US Green Building Council (USGBC)?

You’re talking about the local chapter? Myself and several others have been on the steering committee for the formation of the chapter. Several of us have co-chaired several committees in the local subcommittees within the local chapter. Bob Berkebile (founding Principal of BNIM) is part of the founding group of the (KC chapter of) USGBC.

Was there an initial challenge to Green Building and what has reversed that?

Six years ago, we were invited to a project for a state university and, during the interview process, they said, “Leave your sustainable design thinkers at home.” Right? That building took three years or so to build. They came back to us at the end of construction and said, “Our competitors are getting LEED-certified buildings. We’d like to know how to get the building we just completed LEED-certified.” The business model has been slow to pick up. Originally, the interest was in energy savings, but as these things have been put into practice, there have been studies showing the financial benefits. If you look at schools, (you see) 20 percent better test performance. In hospitals, (you see) people leaving two-and-a-half days earlier. In the retail market, (you see) increase in sales per square foot for green building. Factories increase production. Office buildings (have up to) 16 percent productivity increase.

What is the difference in LEED certification ratings of Platinum, Gold, Silver?

The LEED system is based on credits and there are four levels. The credits are spread out across five categories—sight, water, energy efficiency, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality. Then, there’s a sixth category for innovation that’s not on the list. Within those, there are seven things you must do—(including) have a recyling program, nonsmoking buildings, meet ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) energy standards.., Simple things. Once you meet those, you can receive any of the 69 possible credits any way you wish.

When does a building get LEED-certified?

The certification process starts in schematic design and it’s something that takes the teams working integratively together—the architects, the engineer, the contractor, the owner. It’s a process that starts throughout design and continues through construction. Even through the commissioning process.

There’s a system for existing buildings where you can enhance how your building operates and performs. 

What has changed in the past five years in Kansas City?

Kansas City, I believe, is still in its infancy of green design construction. I believe that it will move forward more rapidly than some other cities who have gone before us. Our things, like the USGBC, the American Architecture Committee on the Environment, the collaborations with the Mid-America Regional Council, Bridging the Gap, the Environmental Excellence Business Network and Dennis Murphy’s presence as the Chief Environmental Officer for the City of Kansas City (are) already making an impact with the climate change initiative that he’s steering with the help from several committees, including the chamber of commerce The LEED ordinance in Kansas City passed. We’ve only got five (LEED-)certified projects in the region. There’s the EPA Science and Technology Lab, the Johnson County Sunset Drive Office Building, a project that was done at the Sprint Campus, the Olathe Municipal Center and the EcoWorks Project.

What’s been the biggest surprise you’ve witnessed in Green Building?

The rapid amount of innovation. People across the country have voluntarily taken up this challenge and are making the challenge harder. We’re in Version three of LEED for new construction. The amount of innovation has spurred continual improvement of the certification system. It’s pushing the industry forward. One example, for material selection, it used to be to manufacture and produce your materials within a 500-mile radius. Now, the credit is to harvest (get materials closer to source), produce and manufacture. (The improvement) has spurred the industry so much that, now, they’re looking at a Living Building standard, something that has not been accomplished yet. A building that has no negative impact.

How far in Kansas City’s future is a Living Building?

I hope that it’s going to be very soon. We’re working on three and one of them is in Salina. Not in Kansas City, but it’s close.