SUSTAINABILITY
The choices we make as architects and designers affect our natural and built environment. As such, considerations for sustainability are central to the way we approach our work. We believe we have the opportunity and responsibility to ensure a healthier, safer environment thereby enhancing people’s lives.
The pursuit of a sustainable master plan and/or ultimate achievement of LEED or Green Globe certification is an important decision for the direction of any project. Our mission is to provide our clients with sustainable services that intertwine economic development with environmental protection. In return, our clients may receive overall enhanced quality, increased asset equity, lower operating costs, environmental recognition, reduced liability risks from environmental hazards, and a head start on future regulations.
Utilizing project siting, natural or recycled products, and low-energy concepts do not have to cost more but do need to be considered throughout the design process. Many of DAG’s projects along the Gulf Coast have incorporated natural siting to maximize ventilation and reduce cooling loads. Building orientation, window placement, and landscaping can save energy costs without adding any expense. In addition, many of DAG’s projects are located in “new urbanism” developments, which focus on alternative transportation systems, maximizing open space, natural site development, and the use of native landscaping materials, and utilizing these concepts is common throughout all our work.
Eight of DAG’s employees are LEED Accredited Professionals.
LEED CERTIFIED PROJECTS
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Perdido Key Fire Station and Community Center, Pensacola (LEED Certified)
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Florida National Guard Armory Renovation, Quincy (LEED Silver)
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Bexar Street Redevelopment Investment Center, Dallas (LEED Gold)
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Florida Department of Revenue Office Building at Capital Circle, Tallahassee (LEED Gold)
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Gainesville 802 Office Building (LEED Silver)
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University of West Florida Building 70 Renovations, Pensacola (LEED Gold)
GREEN GLOBE CERTIFIED PROJECT
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Molino Tax Collector and Property Appraiser Offices, Molino (Certified Two Globes)
LEED REGISTERED PROJECTS
PENDING CERTIFICATION
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National Guard FMS #10 Renovation, Pensacola (Targeting LEED Certified
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National Guard FMS #6 Renovation, Bonifay (Targeting LEED Certified)
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Hartsfield-Jackson Airport Fire Station #10—with Fitzgerald Collaborative (Targeting LEED Silver)
GREEN GLOBE PROJECTS
PENDING CERTIFICATION
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Workman Middle School Gymnasium (Targeting One Green Globe)
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SDEC Northwest Middle School (Targeting Two Green Globes)
This LEED Gold classroom renovation serves as a teaching tool for UWF's Building Construction and Engineering Technology students.
When the University of West Florida decided to move new users into this circa 1970-era vocational-technical facility, it afforded an opportunity to rethink the building completely, while upgrading its systems and spaces to meet current accreditation, codes and sustainability goals. The rear loading dock area became the new main entrance, and the exterior was updated to better relate aesthetically with the neighboring campus buildings.
New fenestration and a clerestory were added to bring daylight into the formerly dark interior spaces. Lab areas were redesigned to provide more flexibility and the interior was renovated to incorporate state-of-the-art information technologies, new mechanical and electrical systems, and new finishes.
Sustainability was an overriding issue throughout the design process, and the project received LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council. In order to support the Building Construction program, many aspects of the building were purposely planned as teaching tools. View windows were placed into mechanical rooms, multiple HVAC systems, including geothermal, were installed, monitoring gauges were placed in classrooms, and many ceilings were left open to showcase conduit and duct runs.