Raleigh, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/12/2011 -- Dan Fields, principal of BJAC Raleigh, pa (http://bjac.com/), an architectural firm offering professional services for specialized, complex institutional projects, has announced that principal Jennifer Amster will speak at the 2012 GreenNC Symposium and Expo on Thursday, Dec. 8 at the Durham Convention Center, located within the Durham Marriott City Center Hotel at 201 Foster St. in Durham, N.C. In the presentation, “The Green Balancing Act: Integrating LEED with Overall Project Needs,” Amster and Tony Romaine, PE, project manager for North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, will discuss the North Carolina History Center at Tryon Palace in New Bern, N.C., and how sustainability and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification became a critical factor late in a planning process that included brownfield remediation. The project team investigated “green” options that would be flexible, economical and support the project’s design intent, and then implemented a Collaboration Model approach with diverse stakeholders to gain consensus on sustainable strategies and garner public engagement and excitement.

QUOTES:
“I am excited to participate in this year’s GreenNC Symposium and Expo,” said Amster. “Awareness of and investment in sustainable design has become the standard, so it is more important than ever that clients, designers, builders and suppliers work together to incorporate green strategies into new projects. Anyone working on green projects will benefit from listening to the approach used at Tryon Palace.”

NEW MEDIA CONTENT:

Podcast about the North Carolina History Center at Tryon Palace featuring commentary from Amster:
http://www.bjac.com/podcasts

BJAC Flickr account:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bjac_pa

DETAILS:
- The GreenNC Symposium and Expo brings together and showcases those firms and individuals who are leading the transformation to a robust green economy in North Carolina. Hosted by the NC Triangle Chapter of the USGBC and the NC Solar Center, GreenNC has something for everyone, from the experienced LEED professional to the novice wondering what a “green” building is.

- The North Carolina History Center opened in October 2010. Situated in the historic downtown of New Bern, the History Center is located at 529 S. Front St., sited on the Trent River.

- BJAC led the design and construction of the center, including the transformation and revitalization of the waterfront and extensive site design and innovative exhibits (with collaborative partner Quinn Evans). The building’s design echoes New Bern’s historically industrial waterfront and its town plan created in 1710 and includes sustainable elements in design, construction and landscaping.

- As a green-designed project, the History Center is targeting LEED® Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Its design features wetlands to filter stormwater runoff, an underground cistern to capture rainwater for irrigation and replenishment of wetlands, and many regional and recycled building materials.

-The more than 60,000-square-foot museum features the Mattocks Hall, the Cannon Gateway, the Regional History Museum, the Pepsi Family Center, the Cullman Performance Hall, the Duffy Gallery and other visitor amenities.

Aboout BJAC
Architectural firm BJAC, pa, offers professional services for specialized, complex institutional projects. The firm provides design expertise to healthcare, K-20 education, research, museum and municipal clients, along with a broad range of in-depth services, including architectural design, pre-design, programming, design, master planning, interior design, construction management, contract administration and design build.

Established in 1994 by CEO and Managing Principal Lou Jurkowski, FAIA, BJAC is one of the largest woman-owned architectural design firms in the Southeast, with offices in Raleigh and Charlotte. In 2010, BJAC was awarded Firm of the Year by the North Carolina Chapter of The American Institute of Architects (AIANC). Most recently, the firm was awarded the 2011 Pinnacle Steady Growth and Profitability Master Award by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. For more information, please call BJAC at (919) 833-8818 or visit http://www.bjac.com.

Jennifer Fair
MMI Public Relations
(919) 233-6600
jennifer@mmipublicrelations.com
http://www.twitter.com/MMIPR
http://www.mmipublicrelations.com