Turner Construction?s green work in the Washington, D.C., area includes a facility at the Pentagon.

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When building the new pentagon Athletic Center in Washington, D.C., Turner Construction Co.’s Arlington, Va., office incorporated a number of sustainable concepts. These took the form of design elements, processes and even amenities in the facility’s parking lot.

The company says it used on-site recycling, which kept 94 percent of the construction waste out of landfills. It rigorously monitored carbon dioxide emissions, and used low-emission sealants, paints and carpets. More than 40 percent of the materials used on the project were manufactured less than 500 miles away, reducing transportation-related pollution. The company even installed a recharging station in the parking lot for electric cars.

Although these measures might seem unusual, they’re becoming more prevalent as contractors continue to recognize the long-term gains to be had by sustainable and green building.

Turner, one of the nation’s largest contractors, says it believes wholeheartedly in green practices and strives to be the leading contractor in this area not only in the Washington, D.C., market, but also across the country.

“Turner is committed to the success and increased adoption of sustainable construction practices throughout the industry,” the company says. “As part of this effort, we train all new hires in the theory and practice of green building, emphasizing the LEED rating system.

“We believe green buildings are not only good for the environment, they also provide immediate and long-term economic benefits for developers, building owners and occupants.”

Strength in Green
Turner has completed a number of LEED-certified projects as well as projects incorporating sustainable features throughout Washington, D.C., and elsewhere in the country. This portfolio, coupled with the extensive sustainable experience within the company, gives it the expertise to handle green building projects just as easily as it would a normal building project.

“Turner has extensive experience across a wide variety of sustainable construction projects, enabling us to create a detailed databank of cost-effective green materials, processes and suppliers to assist our clients,” the company says.

“In each of the past two years, Turner has doubled its number of LEED-accredited professionals,” the company continues. “Turner employs over 260 LEED-accredited professionals.”

The company held a lottery for a Toyota Prius hybrid car open to employees who earned their LEED accreditation during 2006. The company had just 42 LEED-accredited employees in 2004, but that number increased to 106 in 2005 and 250 in 2006, according to the company.

Because the company has such an extensive network of suppliers and materials geared toward green building, the company says, Turner can deliver green buildings without the higher costs that have sometimes been associated with them. “From our experience, the costs associated with these projects can be contained to a level comparable to traditionally constructed buildings,” the company says.

The company takes an active role in ensuring sustainable building, it says. “Turner has a policy to divert construction waste on all Turner projects,” it says. “Over the past two years, Turner’s Construction Waste Management Program has resulted in diverting over 83,000 tons, which is the equivalent of three times the displacement of the U.S.S. Intrepid aircraft carrier.”

Turner has also created an operations manual specifically for green construction. All Turner management is required to receive green training, as are all subcontractors working on Turner projects, the company says.

Capital Projects
In addition to the Pentagon project, Turner’s Arlington office has worked on a number of these green and sustainable projects in Washington, D.C.

For example, the company provided interior build-out services for a 20,000-square-foot office space for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Sustainable design and construction was a driving focus of this project,” the company says.