omni to take part in Lexington's growing commitment to recycling

August 10

Adding a new chapter to its long history of sustainable design, Omni has been selected as part of the project team led by RRT Design and Construction to design a new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) for the city of Lexington.
In 2007, the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) adopted a zero waste approach to provide focus to the Lexington’s recycling, composting, and waste reduction programs. A key component of this approach is the design of a new stand-alone MRF that will have two single-stream processing lines with an approximate capacity of 25 tons per hour each and will accommodate both commercially and residentially generated recyclable commodities.

To be located adjacent to the Division of Waste Management (also designed by Omni) in the Old Frankfort Pike Corridor, the MRF will encompass roughly 70,000 square feet of warehouse space and 10,000 square feet of office area. It is the first step in developing a campus approach to house recycling facilities and an environmental education center where Lexingtonians can learn more about LFUCG’s recycling programs and observe the recycling process itself. In addition, a Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHW) may be eventually located on the site.

RRT Design and Construction, who has been working with LFUCG Division of Waste Management since 1998 to provide and improve recycling programs and processes will lead the design team, working closely with Omni and J.R. Miller and Associates of Lexington. RRT is a national expert in solid waste processing systems and recycling facilities, and has designed 22 Materials Recovery Facilities all over the nation. A key role for Omni will be to ensure the facility has an aesthetically appealing design that complements the equine structures of the surrounding area. Omni will also take the lead on facilitating public meetings to gather community feedback and input into the design process.

According to LFUCG, Lexington currently processes 22,000 tons of recyclables each year. A waste stream analysis from 2009 revealed approximately 70 percent of materials that are thrown away could be recycled or composted. Nearly 350,000 tons of waste from Lexington is transported to landfills each year. The city recently announced the expansion of its Manchester Street recycling center, which includes installation of $3.7 million in new equipment to support single-stream recycling. This change to single-stream, which took effect on June 1, 2010 means residents no longer are required to separate glass from their other recyclables- the new equipment does this for them.

eku science building sets new campus standard in green construction

July 10

As Eastern Kentucky University buzzes with excitement watching their New Science Building take shape, a silent but significant ‘first’ is taking place on campus. More than 60 percent of the materials on the construction site of the new 178,000 SF facility are being diverted from the landfill, either through recycling or use as clean fill.

As required by Omni in the construction documents, Denark Construction has collected all of the trash from the project and sent it to C&M Disposal & Recycling, a local sorting and recycling center. As a result, 18.8% of the trash has found to be wood that can be recycled, 10% is usable metals, and smaller amounts of reclaimed plastic and cardboard have been recycled. In addition, 31% of the total weight of the trash material is being used as clean fill on site, saving significant energy and money on the movement in/out of alternative forms of landfill. In all, over 1 million pounds of construction waste has been sorted and separated, setting a new precedent on EKU’s campus, which has previously not tracked this construction activity.

In a modern world where buildings account for 70% of raw materials use and 30% of waste output (136 million tons annually), the EKU Science Building seeks environmentally conscious use of materials and resources in several other ways as well. The exterior of the building is comprised of approximately 50% brick, 40% zinc, and 10% concrete, all of which are manufactured within 500 miles of the construction site. The use of recycled woods and masonry also reduces environmental impact.

The Science Building, which has been privately toured by several campus groups including President Doug Whitlock, and is on schedule to be completed September 2011. See construction happening live on the the project web cam!

omni joins collaborative to develop LEED community

December 09

Earlier this year, Omni Architects became a partner in the Moderna community, America's first architecturally designed, LEED-certifiable residential development in Lexington, Kentucky. Located near Jacobson Park, the community is small by design and will feature 43 home sites developed as "high-concept" environmentally sensitive houses. The community is centered around the Miller Museum, which is owned by the Foundation for Advanced Architecture and designed by Jose Orbrerie, a collaborator with the legendary French architect Le Corbusier. Special access to the museum will be available to residents for events, parties, and receptions.

Omni is one of eight architecture studios assembled by The Miller Museum and The Foundation for Advanced Architecture to provide the design for each of the Moderna homes. Each homeowner will have the benefit of 175 years of collective experience in designing beautiful and functional residential space and the latest sustainable materials and techniques.

Projects are currently underway and lots are available for purchase. For more information, contact Michael Jacobs or visit the Moderna website.

omni co-sponsors top-10 ranked uk solar decathlon house

October 09

The University of Kentucky Solar Decathlon team brought home ninth place in the U.S. Department of Energy's 2009 Solar Decathlon held on the National Mall last week - an outstanding achievement for a first-time competitor! The house was designed and constructed by an interdisciplinary team of architecture, engineering and communications students, faculty and staff from six colleges and 16 centers at the University of Kentucky. UK's entry, s.ky blue, is a 800-square-foot, fully equipped, single-story prototype house that uses only solar energy to power it and is designed to achieve net-zero—creating at least as much energy as it uses.

After arriving in DC, the team had just four days to reassemble the solar house to be judged along with projects from 19 other invited universities. Entries were evaluated in ten different categories including architecture, engineering, lighting design, net metering, comfort zone, communications, appliances, market viability, hot water and home entertainment. Teams were required to demonstrate that, using just solar power, their homes can do everything that other homes can do, from running computers to heating water and doing laundry.

Omni Architects is one of several sponsors of the project and donated time and expertise to assist the team in the design phase. After the Solar Decathlon, the s.ky blue house will be showcased on campus in front of the Main Building during UK's 2009 Homecoming Oct. 29 - Nov. 1, and will also be on display during the 2010 World Equestrian Games next fall.

LEED silver public safety operations center out to bid

September 09

Targeted at LEED Siliver certification, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government is currently bidding the Public Safety Operations Center. Bid opening is October 14, 2009. More information is available on the LFUCG Marketplace website.