Orlando, FL – PBS&J is pleased to announce the establishment of a new Sustainable Building Design group headquartered in the firm’s Orlando, Florida, office. The group is a national practice providing a dedicated project management team to guide clients through the process of building for U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification, energy modeling, and building commissioning.
The Sustainable Building Design group is made up of individuals carefully selected for their experience, skills, and passion for sustainable urban development and energy-efficient building practices that protect the environment.
Leading the initiative is Vince Briones, PE, LEED AP, senior group manager. Vince has more than 13 years of experience as a professional engineer and has an expert understanding of the design and construction process. He has diverse experience on over 30 LEED projects including two of Florida’s first LEED-certified buildings. Briones was also a founding partner of a consulting firm that assisted building owners, architects, engineers, and contractors to implement cost-effective solutions for LEED and green building projects. He has also worked as a commissioning agent to help target energy savings for new and existing buildings. In his current role, he facilitates eco-charrettes and training workshops and is a frequent speaker at events for the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE); the American Institute of Architects; and the USGBC. Briones is on the Board of Directors of the Central Florida Chapter of USGBC. He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and holds a B.S degree in mechanical engineering.
Other members of the group include:
Rachel N. Cook, PE, LEED AP, senior engineer. Cook has more than five years of experience in mechanical building systems design, energy analysis, commissioning, and green building consulting for a wide range of building types including offices, mixed-use developments, educational facilities, laboratories, hotels/resorts, and military facilities. Clients she has served include the University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, Orange County (Florida), the City of Orlando, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She has extensive experience in building energy modeling utilizing software tools such as VisualDOE, Trane Trace, and eQuest. She has been a frequent speaker on LEED-related topics for corporate training programs and chapter events including the USGBC, ASHRAE, and the Society for Marketing Professional Services. Cook holds an M.S. degree in agricultural and biosystems engineering from Iowa State University and a B.S. degree in biosystems and agricultural engineering from the University of Kentucky.
Kellie Watson, EI, LEED AP, engineer. A University of Florida honors graduate with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering, Watson has experience working as a sustainability consultant specializing in energy modeling analysis. Watson’s expertise as an energy engineer helps project teams pursue an integrated design approach for high-performance building designs. She is experienced in reviewing construction documents to determine LEED certification eligibility and assisting with building commissioning tasks. She has experience with a variety of project types including health care, education, entertainment, and commercial buildings.
Kimberly Walton, EI, LEED AP, engineer. Walton is committed to a holistic approach to building design, construction, and operation. She directs the LEED certification process including managing credit templates, reviewing energy models, performing water savings calculations, and documenting sustainable construction practices. She holds an M.S. degree from Stanford University in civil and environmental engineering with an atmosphere/energy concentration and a B.S. degree in biosystems engineering from Clemson University. While at Stanford, Walton was awarded a Sustainable Energy Fellowship with the USGBC in Washington, D.C., where she helped facilitate the transition to the new LEED 2009 rating systems.
The sustainable building design group focuses on three core services:
- LEED project management includes facilitation of an integrated design approach for the entire design and construction team. During this process, a LEED checklist worksheet is developed and used to assign LEED credits to team members and help the team stay on track with the LEED process. This service typically includes an eco-charrette to help identify green building strategies and multidisciplinary assistance to understand LEED credit requirements.
- Energy modeling involves a variety of services, including creating computer simulations for LEED credit requirements, addressing federal EPAct requirements, and documenting green building tax deductions. Energy usage is predicted with a three-dimensional computer model based on U.S. Department of Energy software. The model is then used to analyze systems and thermal performance of materials to provide energy savings without exorbitant initial costs.
- Commissioning helps owners verify that building systems operate at intended energy efficiencies. This service includes assistance with developing the owner’s project requirements and basis of design, incorporating commissioning requirements into the architect’s and engineer’s specifications, developing a commissioning plan with functional and performance tests for equipment, and completing a commissioning report.
For more information, please contact Vince Briones at 407.647.7275 or vfbriones@pbsj.com.