Highlights: ›› GSA’s Green Building Upgrade Information Lifecycle Database (gBUILD) on High Performance Green Building (HGPG) projects demonstrates clearly that historic buildings can meet very rigorous standards for improved performance and efficiency. GSA has found most of these actions taken have little or no adverse impact on significant historic spaces and features. ›› In 2015, Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Region was recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council with the LEED Gold Certification for integrating green, environmentally sustainable designs and energy efficient technological features into the major renovation of two historic buildings previously scheduled for demolition and located in and contributing to the Boulder City Historic District. ›› NASA mandates Centers to develop plans and strategies to incorporate technologies and best practices that will enable them to identify and execute the most cost-effective energy initiatives, which will improve NASA’s energy security and reduce the Agency’s total life- cycle costs in support of missions. ›› In 2017, CBP was awarded a joint award in the categories of Resilience Role Model and Historic Preservation for the successful modernization of programs and policies to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to climate change impacts on operations and agency missions and outstanding achievement to further the goals of the NHPA. The project exemplified the successful collaboration between multiple offices and the Puerto Rico SHPO. The team worked to maintain the historical significance of the NRHP-listed Customs House, while meeting resiliency goals of protecting the building from rising waters, high winds, and other climate threats present in hurricane and flood zones, in addition to reducing energy consumption. ›› The Department of the Treasury takes advantage of inherent features in its historic buildings to maximize resiliency. Prime examples include large windows that support the use of natural lighting, high ceilings that allow greater air circulation, and a durable natural masonry exterior wall with a significant thermal mass to help regulate interior temperatures. ›› Through successful completion of project reports, contexts, and other deliverables from DoD’s Legacy Resource Management Program, DoD is better positioned to manage its cultural resources for Defense mission sustainment and resiliency. Legacy provides tools to better enable DoD to enhance cultural resources through proactive management, which enables military readiness. Project examples from the reporting period include “Implementing Environmental & Economic Cost-Benefits of Reusing DoD’s Pre-World War II Buildings,” Legacy project #14-735; “Works of a Master? Addressing Evaluation of Routine or Prosaic Architecture by Famous Architects on Military Facilities,” Legacy project #15-779; and “20th Century Building Materials and Suitable Substitutes For Exterior Finishes and Roofs,” Legacy project #15-707. Using historic properties through leasing. For situations in which agencies may not have a current need for a historic property, but want to retain ownership of the property so it may be used to meet foreseeable needs, agencies lease the property to non-federal entities under Section 111 of the NHPA as a way to ensure their preservation. As time goes by, more agencies are exploring opportunities to outlease (as GSA refers to them) historic buildings and structures instead of outright disposing of them.
50 | IN A SPIRIT OF STEWARDSHIP: A REPORT ON FEDERAL HISTORIC PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 2018
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker