Next-Generation ‘Sustainable Development
Community’ Emerges In The Heart of Utah’s Prime Ski Country
Newpark hires DOMANI for expertise with LEED-ND Certification
April 17, 2007; Denver, CO - One of the nation's first new
neighborhood construction projects to participate in the U.S. Green Building
Council's LEED-ND (Neighborhood Development) pilot program is emerging in the
heart of Utah's ski country, just outside of Park City.
Newpark, a thirty-eight acre 'green' community, is being planned and constructed
with the latest sustainability concepts in mind.
The community's development firm, Newpark Corporation Inc., retained
Denver-based sustainability consultants,
DOMANI, to facilitate the
LEED-ND planning, design, and oversight process.
Attractive, environmental-friendly living and commercial space at Newpark will
feature green planning and architectural concepts to minimize land consumption,
energy and water usage, and traffic generation. Innovative green building
concepts designed and built into the community will be exhibited in an appealing
nature education center that will be LEED-platinum certified.
Residential structures are being built within a few walking minutes of retail
stores and public transportation--to prevent sprawl and minimize vehicular
traffic in the mixed-use, planned community.
Public spaces, including an amphitheater, sun calendar plaza, and walkways are
being designed to create a pleasurable, interconnected community environment.
High-tech down-faced lighting will keep the skies above Newpark dark at night.
Signage along walkways throughout the community will explain important features
that make Newpark a 'green' community.
"Great land planning and open space preservation can substantially enhance the
'green' performance of a community versus just a group of traditionally placed
buildings that use the latest celebrated 'green' technologies," said Jim
Doilney, co-partner of the development company. "Newpark will feature many
forward-thinking land planning concepts in addition to many of the latest
'green' technologies."
Newpark's sustainability benefits, in conjunction with its beautiful
architectural design, affordable housing for staff, and close proximity to some
of the finest ski slopes in North America, is attracting a lot of interest among
businesses and recreation enthusiasts.
Case in point: The world-class ski equipment and mountain lifestyle
manufacturer, Rossignol, is now completing its new North American headquarters
at Newpark.
"This will be a very highly-dense and active community," said Marc Wangsgard,
co-partner of the development company. More than five acres of open space will
be dedicated for every acre that is developed. "This is ten times more than what
is specified in the LEED standards," said Wangsgard.
DOMANI has successfully prequalified Newpark for LEED-ND certification.
"We will continue to participate in the ND pilot program throughout the
remainder of the design and construction phases of the project," said Erin
Leitch, project manager for DOMANI. DOMANI will also support the team throughout
the LEED-ND documentation and certification processes.
According to published reports, some of the great ski resort areas of the world
have not been immune to the harmful effects of global warming. "People are
increasingly interested to learn how to minimize their impacts on the
environment," said Leitch. "I believe that Newpark has the potential to become a
prototype for smart-growth, environmentally-responsible and sustainable ski
resorts throughout North America."
Note about LEED:
LEED-ND stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design--Neighborhood
Development. A complement program to LEED-NC (which focuses on individual 'New
Construction structures rather than on communities), LEED-ND attempts to
integrate the principles of smart growth, urbanism, and green building into a
first 'national standard' for entire neighborhood planning and design. LEED-ND
certification is a verification by a third-party expert that an entire
development's location and design meet accepted high standards for
environmentally responsible, sustainable development. LEED-ND is a collaboration
between the U.S. Green Business Council, the Congress for New Urbanism, and the
Natural Resources Defense Council.
DOMANI (www.domani.com) is
an executive level consulting and management firm that has helped dozens of
large corporations realize new bottom line value through precise, market driven
sustainability strategies. DOMANI is a subsidiary of ENR 200 environmental
consulting firm, Roux Associates, Inc. (www.rouxinc.com).
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For more information about DOMANI, please contact:
Maureen Meegan: mmeegan@domani.com
Tel: (303) 232-0193
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Media Contact: Al Lewis, Environmental Marketing & Communications Inc. Tel: 212-496-1940 E-mail: alewisEMCI@aol.com