(FORT MYERS, FL) – Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (O-A-K) was presented with the Commercial Contractor Summit Award for Best LEED Certified Project during the Lee Building Industry Association (BIA) annual awards held Saturday, Oct. 20. The award was for the Archbold Biological Station Lodge and Learning Center project in Venus, Fla. The awards are presented annually and recognize projects which have achieved a high level of success in five categories – Quality of Construction, Challenges, Timeliness of Completion, Client Satisfaction and Unique Safety Requirements Performed. In this award category, an additional area is considered – Adherence to LEED Standards.
The Lodge and Learning Center achieved the highest level of LEED certification, Platinum level, from the U.S. Green Building Council. It is one of only 12 LEED Platinum commercial buildings in Florida. The project construction included traditional means of saving energy with porches, large eaves, fans, breezeways, rainwater harvesting and harnessing natural daylight in addition to new technologies such as highly efficient air conditioning with programmable area/room zones. The project was constructed on an environmentally sensitive, state historic site which is also on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as a National Natural Landmark.
