BAR Architects Increases Green Business Practice

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – February 3, 2009 – San Francisco-based architectural firm, BAR Architects was recently declared a Certified

Green Business by the City of San Francisco after three years of applications, inspections, interviews and enhanced regulations. BAR's dayto-day operations were thoroughly reviewed to assess the firm's internal green business practices including the firm's ongoing efforts energy conservation, pollution reduction and sustainable waste and water use.

In order to be designated as a San Francisco Green Business, a business must be in compliance with all Federal, State and local regulations and implement a minimum number of resource conservation, waste minimization and pollution prevention practices.

Some of BAR's conservation practices include:

• Providing standard recycling bins as well as those for paper, electronic waste and compost.
• Double-sided printing is encouraged and paper printed on one side is collected and bound into notepads for internal use..
• Use of permaware and recycled content paper products including compostable flatware and utensils.
• Eliminating the use of bottled water.
• All appliances and electronics are Energy Star rated and lights are controlled with dimmers, timers and/or motion sensors.
• Over 40% of the firm's technical staff is LEED accredited and BAR provides ongoing education on sustainable design practices.

In 2005, BAR renovated their new offices to meet LEED Silver criteria and implemented the in-house conservation steps noted above. As a result, BAR has seen a significant decrease in waste their company generates. BAR estimates its waste production has decreased by approximately 80% as a result of recycling and composting. BAR has also implemented an email filing program reducing paper use by an estimated 45%.

When designing their new office location, a majority of the 1928 warehouse building's original materials including the reinforced-concrete structure, heavy-timber framing and the original wood-sash windows were restored and reused. In addition, floor-to-ceiling operable windows maximize both natural light and fresh air and a highly efficient, evaporative-cooling HVAC system reduces energy consumption.

"BAR has always been committed to sustainable design principles, so it was a natural next step to apply these conservation measures to our practice, office operations and facilities," said Principal Linda Crouse. "Our industry should be at the forefront of the revolution in resource conservation and BAR is committed to doing what we can to align all of our business practices with our core values."

In addition to green business certification, several of the firm's projects were recognized in 2008 for sustainable design. UC Merced's Valley Terrace Residences and Dining Hall were certified LEED Silver; Principal Earl Wilson, AIA served as a panel member at Greenbuild 2008 and co-presented a case study of sustainable design incorporated into the Library of Congress, Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation in Culpeper, VA; the Student Services Building at CSU Chico, sustainably designed to meet LEED Gold, was given an Award of Merit for Best Project of the Year by California Construction Magazine; and design development began on 2001 Market Street a mixed-use project in collaboration with William McDonough Associates that will be designed to standards outlined for LEED Platinum.

About BAR Architects

BAR Architects is 80-person architecture and planning firm practicing in San Francisco for over 40 years. Projects are located throughout the US and internationally. The firm has been published in numerous magazines including Urban Land, Architectural Record, Architectural Digest, Interiors and Western Interiors among others. Recipient of over 170 design awards, BAR Architects was a past recipient of the Firm of the Year by the American Institute of Architects California Council and the Presidential Design Award by the National Endowment for the Arts.