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A Midland facility has recently become recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program as the third only Silver Certified facility in the Great Lakes Bay Region. This certification is used to represent a facility that has utilized “best-in-class” methods and practices to create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly facility, both during construction and in operation.
The facility, located on Contractor Drive in Midland and completed in 2013, was designed and built by Three Rivers Corporation for Fisher Contracting. Three Rivers worked closely with Fisher throughout design and construction in order to improve the finished building for end use in the fields of sustainability and energy efficiency.
The facility contains many exceptional features that save energy and resources. Chief among them is a system for producing energy from waste oil. After oil is used by machinery, it is combusted in a small boiler rather than transported off-site for disposal. This process produces enough energy annually to heat the facility for nearly a full winter. Another notable energy-saving feature is a geoexchange system. This system heats and cools the building using water that is tempered by the earth’s natural ambient temperature. The facility also minimized their water use by 32% through the use of “low-flow” fixtures and other means. In addition, the 50-acre site development was built using all recycled gravel, crushed concrete, milled asphalt and storm sewer pipe, structures and castings.
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The LEED Silver certification caps a cooperative effort on the facility which is rooted in a rich history between Fisher Contracting and Three Rivers Corporation. The two organizations have worked together on projects dating back to the 1970s.
“We were proud to work with Fisher Contracting on a project that means this much to them and to Midland, and we congratulate them on this LEED Silver certification,” said Randy Sherman, president of Three Rivers Corporation. “They wanted to go the distance and do whatever it took to reach this milestone. Getting them there was an effort our staff genuinely enjoyed, and it’s wonderful to see the facility achieve this goal.”
Sherman also noted that the project prioritized the use of local businesses to complete construction, and that Three Rivers was honored to be a part of the community-based, team effort. In addition, about one-third of the materials used in construction were acquired within the Midwest – materials such as carpeting, concrete and steel were all made within 500 miles, helping to achieve LEED certification.
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“We thank Fisher Contracting for teaming with the many skilled tradespeople right here in our community,” Sherman said. “Electricians, plumbers, HVAC specialists … these were primarily local professionals, which is wonderful for the area. Fisher Contracting is invested in our community and it shows.”
“This was a big step for us,” Fisher Contracting President J. W. Fisher said. “We had been in our old building since 1957 and it had become an impediment to our growth. When we decided to build a new facility, it was very important to us that the work be done by local companies and local craftsmen. Just as it was important for it to be built in a responsible and sustainable way. Three Rivers was a natural choice, and they have built us a beautiful and environmentally friendly building. The LEED Silver certification is icing on the cake, and affirmation that we achieved what we set out to do.”
About Three Rivers Corporation
Three Rivers Corporation (www.TRCcompany.com) provides design and construction services to the industrial, commercial and institutional markets, specializing in design/build, mechanical, general contracting and construction management.
About Fisher Companies
The Fisher Companies (www.fishercompanies.net) consists of ten separate companies, located in Mt. Pleasant, Midland, and Bay City, Michigan. They are a leading integrated supplier of contracting services, asphalt production and paving, heavy-haul transportation services, ready mixed concrete, sand and gravel, natural aggregates, equipment rentals, engine rebuilding and more.
® LEED is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council