The Sea Pines Beach Club has achieved LEED Certification
The Sea Pines Resort has earned the US Green Building Council's LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) on its new Beach Club.
The Sea Pines Beach Club is the newest amenity in the Sea Pines Resort on the southern end of Hilton Head Island and the only LEED certified resort in Beaufort and surrounding Counties.
Sea Pines Plantation has a long tradition with sustainable development. When it was founded in the late 1950’s, the Sea Pines Company pioneered many neighborhood development practices such as bending roads and re-configuring the yacht basin to save majestic live oaks, establishing setbacks from beaches, wetlands, and adjacent properties, and preserving large blocks of forests within the development [See Sea Pines sustainability Initiatives for more info].
The new 25,000 SF Beach Club is a two story structure with indoor restaurant and bar; "fast casual" concessions such as pre-prepared sandwiches, salads and drinks; an open-air beach bar; a second-floor space for private receptions, conferences and parties; retail and office space; and expanded restrooms, showers and changing rooms. The design and construction team included Cooper Carry Architects, Thomas and Hutton Civil Engineers, Fraser Construction Company, and Julie Vaughn as a LEED Consultant.
With Hilton Head’s bike-ability, the Beach Club achieved every alternative transportation point, as well as other site credits for storm water design and site selection. The building materials scored points for low volatile organic compounds, recycled materials, local materials, lighting controls, and thermal comfort. Energy points were a challenge because of the indoor/outdoor spaces.
“I am very thrilled for the resurgence in LEED certified projects. Sustainability initiatives seemed to stall for a while after the recession in our area. With Hilton Head Island’s environmentally sensitive development legacy, the region needs to be a touchstone for future sustainable certified projects. Many of our local architects and builders now have experience with Green Rated buildings. We just need more clients to be excited as well.” –Jay Fraser, Chair of the USGBC SC Chapter – Beaufort Leaf.
