Hoffman LLC: Green monastery designed & built by Hoffman continues to earn high marks

Contact:

Scott Pigeon

Hoffman LLC | Director of Marketing

Phone: 920-380-2175 | Email: spigeon@hoffman.net

(Appleton, WI) Holy Wisdom Monastery in Madison, WI, the highest-rated LEED®-New Construction building in the United States, has earned accolades for its numerous sustainable features and the use of green design and construction practices. Considered one of the greenest buildings in Wisconsin and the country, the monastery continues to receive awards on state, regional and national levels.

Hoffman LLC, the Appleton-based Total Project Management firm, provided the planning, design, and construction services for the Benedictine Women of Madison and the two-story monastery, which earned 63 out of a possible 69 points and a Platinum certification under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) New Construction from the U.S. Green Building Council®.

In addition to being previously honored by The Associated General Contractors of America, the Wisconsin Green Building Alliance and Wisconsin Builder magazine, the monastery recently received the following awards:

* Best Green Building from Midwest Construction magazine

* BUILD Wisconsin Design Build – New Construction winner from The Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin

* 2010 Top Ten LEED Projects (#5) from Interiors and Sources magazine

* Award of Merit from the Design Build Institute of America

With one of the Sisters’ goals to inspire and encourage others to build and live responsibly while demonstrating that it can be done affordably, Holy Wisdom Monastery was completed with a construction cost of $209 per square foot. The total project cost was $246 per square foot and consisted of all project-related costs (except land), including the deconstruction of the Sisters previous 60,000 square foot retreat and conference center. This total project cost came in below the average estimate of at least $250 per square foot for comparable, non-certified buildings in the Madison area and is on the very low end for LEED Platinum projects nationally.

“We are very pleased to see Holy Wisdom Monastery receive so much positive recognition,” stated Paul J. Hoffman, owner and president. “The Sisters had high expectations for their building, so it was extremely important to collaborate with them from the very beginning of the project. The fact that the facility has received as much recognition as it has only reinforces that their many environmental project goals were met.”

The 34,000 square foot building includes spaces for worship, retreats, concerts, conferences, dining, reading and administration.

Sustainable highlights of the monastery include:

* Photovoltaic panels on the roof that provide 13% of the monastery’s total energy requirements.

* Skylights and daylight-capturing solar tubes that maximize the use of natural light.

* High-performance Andersen® wood windows that keep heat losses / gains to a minimum, reduce glare and provide abundant daylight and spectacular views.

* The use of bamboo, a rapidly renewable resource, throughout the facility.

* Solar light fixtures in the parking area.

* A white, membrane roof, highly reflective pavers, and vegetated (“green”) roofs help to keep the surroundings cool.

“We are honored that the monastery continues to be recognized locally and nationally,” said Hoffman. “Holy Wisdom Monastery draws attention to the importance of using sustainable design and construction practices and methods and demonstrates that achieving a high-quality, sustainable building can be done at or below conventional costs.”

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Hoffman LLC, based in Appleton, Wisconsin, is a firm of planning, design, and construction professionals whose mission is to make a positive impact on people’s lives and their environment by providing creative ideas and responsible solutions. Total Project Management: Vision Taken to the Power of Green® (TPMg), is Hoffman’s exclusive process that integrates efficient, healthy, and cost-effective building solutions that respect the environment while enhancing a building’s quality and value and reducing initial and long-term facility costs. Learn more at http://www.hoffman.net.

Hoffman was the first commercial planning, architectural, and construction management firm in Wisconsin to be awarded membership in Green America’s Green Business Network, the oldest association of socially and environmentally responsible businesses in the country.