Forward thinkers at Burke Hogue Mills Inc. have designed what might be the most environmentally conscious architectural office building in Florida.

by Sarah Sekula

A lot has changed for Bob Burke since the 1960s, when he attended the University of Florida and rallied for the environment. One aspect, however, remains constant. Today, as principal and chief executive officer of Burke Hogue Mills Inc., he is still wearing his ecological sensitivity on his sleeve.

This time, the stakes are a bit higher — $4 million higher, to be exact. After 35 years of renting office space, he and his partners were finally able to buy land and build a new headquarters in Lake Mary.

Inside, visitors quickly notice it’s not just any building. The two-story, 15,500-square-foot space is the only architectural office in Florida with a gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit group based in Washington, D.C.

“One major difference is how open and airy the office feels,” says Job Captain Katie Romano. “The abundance of natural light pouring into the two-story open design studio is energizing.”

Plus, from her workstation she can see past the low partitions around her and through the tinted windows straight to the pond and conservation area outside. And she has a climate control feature (as do all the office workstations), allowing her to adjust the temperature of her workspace.

Beyond that, the building’s aesthetics are equally impressive. The corrugated metal feature wall and exposed beams with circular cutouts give the space a contemporary look.

Once thing that’s absent: the new-office smell. “The air quality is a priority in our design,” says Burke. In turn, the architects nixed all phosphates and chemicals. Instead, they have Merv 13 filters on all air-handling units plus eco-friendly paints, sealants and green-cleaning supplies, making the air quality inside the building healthier than in the city and suburbs as a whole.

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Planetary Concerns

That said, why go through the trouble of designing a sustainable building? The answer is easy. Globally, the energy consumed inside buildings is considered one of the most problematic for the environment. In fact, building design, construction and operations account for more than 30 percent of the country’s total energy use.

“We are guests on this planet,” Burke comments, “along for a limited time ride. So, it is incumbent upon us to preserve and improve the environment for future generations.”

Parenthetically speaking, Burke says, this way of thinking translates into the use of dual-flush toilets, waterless urinals and energy-saving hand dryers. It means incorporation of a low-energy traction elevator and construction materials made of recycled goods. All of which BHM has done.

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Futuristic Model

The only downside? Cost. With all the green features BHM added to its building, the total bill was an extra 20 percent over the cost of a comparable conventional building. The HVAC system alone cost $420,000.

The overall price tag isn’t necessarily typical, however. “Our goals were very high because we knew we wanted to be a teaching facility,” says Cam Hogue, BHM architect and principal. “Had our aspirations not been so high, it could still have been green at less than a 5 percent premium.”

Overall, the partners hope others follow in their footsteps and embrace green architecture as an everyday reality. One eye-opener is the reactions of folks touring the building who spot the wildlife around the pond, including waterfowl, sandhill cranes, hawks, eagles and otters.

“This is why we should do what is responsible.” Burke points out. “Their world deserves it.”

It’s certainly a new way of seeing a building — as an integral part of the environment.