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Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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LEED standards actually are directly relevant to exhibit design.   
There are  six separate types of LEED certification governing  
different types of projects.  LEED NC covers new construction, but  
there are also LEED EB for retrofits of existing buildings, LEED-CI  
for commercial interiors, and three others.  All are based on earning  
points for various sustainable practices—the certification is not  
prescriptive, but rather offers the design team multiple avenues to  
earn points.  One category for earning points is choice of materials,  
which includes re-use of salvaged materials, recycled content, use of  
regional materials (reduces need for transportation), use of rapidly  
renewable materials, and use of certified woods.   There are other  
categories that cover energy use, indoor air quality, water  
conservation, design innovation, and more.  Many, though not all, of  
these standards are directly applicable to exhibit design, and if the  
exhibits are being created in coordination with new construction or  
major renovation, it is possible to earn points through exhibit  
choices that can be applied to the overall project goals for LEED.   
But at the end of the day, LEED isn't about earning points but rather  
about encouraging sustainable practice, so it certainly makes sense  
to apply the standards even for stand-alone exhibits that don't  
directly qualify for certification.

Chuck Howarth

Gyroscope has moved!  Please note our new address:
Gyroscope, Inc.
283 Fourth Street, Suite 201
Oakland, CA  94607
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510-986-0111



On Mar 29, 2008, at 11:41 AM, jason jay stevens wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> ********************************************************************** 
> *******
>
> I don't see how individual exhibits can be LEED-mandated without  
> LEED specs being made much broader.
> LEED is very much about building systems (like utilities); it  
> doesn't address things "in" the building anymore that standard  
> building codes apply, and it doesn't rate materials.
>
> As architectural as many museum exhibits are, I gather most  
> exhibits have more in common with furniture and appliances than  
> buildings, from an architect's point of view.
>
> Rather than waiting for LEED to provide guidelines that'll give  
> designers a clear path to the "sustainability" stamp we so desire,  
> I recommend looking towards developments in other areas--industrial  
> design as opposed to what the architects are doing.
>
> Right now, we have UL and Energy Star safety and efficiency ratings  
> for some mechanical components.  Maybe in the near future, consumer  
> demand will lead to broader efficiency rating systems.
>
> Materials, of course, are more of a balancing act.  There's  
> frequently a dilemma when choosing between the cost, ingredients,  
> manufacturing processes, and shipping distances.  And while these  
> values may be rated one day, across industuries, somehow, I'd wager  
> we'll never get a clear rating system for the social costs.
> If you want to assure a good choice of materials, I don't think you  
> can beat a well-educated design team.
>
> Which was the original question, wasn't it?   "cutting edge U.S.  
> exhibit design firms"  --I like walking in circles.
>
> --Jason
>
> Remember, when in doubt, the MOST sustainable energy is human energy!
>
>
>
> __
> JasonJayStevens
> JasonJayStevensStudio
> [log in to unmask]
> www.potterbelmar.org/jjss
> 536 Roosevelt Avenue
> San Antonio, Texas 78210
> 210.818.0642
>
>>





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