Charleston City Paper is expanding the office.
Architect Whitney Powers gives all the details in a release:
The City Paper is effectively putting its money where its mouth is by calling on a “green” architect to make its office more environmentally responsible.
“The City Paper’s offices are in a fun, 1940s-era, moderne building in a quasi-industrial area poised for redevelopment,” said Powers, whose firm is widely recognized as a leader is sustainable architecture. “And it’s a building that hasn’t been touched, other than with new carpeting and an occasional partition, since it was built. Our overall goal is to create a better working environment to improve productivity. So besides enlarging the physical space, we’ll focus on methods for improving energy efficiency and indoor air quality.”
The first phase of the multi-phased project will involve relocating the paper’s sales staff into an 1800-square-foot space recently vacated by a previous tenant. This will expand the total usable space from 3000 square feet to 4500 square feet.
Exterior landscaping is also a priority in phase one, Powers said. Morrison Drive is a major artery to the Charleston port, so a steady stream of large trucks passes by the building every day, creating noise and dust. Landscaping will help buffer both.
Another key component of the building’s upgrade is a planned atrium and skylight to “bring the outdoors in,” Powers said, and to contribute to indoor air quality.
Other “green” improvements will include replacing single-pane windows with double-paned for better insulation; replacing old plumbing fixtures and the current heating and air conditioning system with high-efficiency fixtures and systems; adding energy-efficient lighting; and selecting interior finishes that contribute to indoor air quality. A vegetated, or “green,” roof is also under consideration, Powers noted.
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.
