Green Design in process at the Tempe Historical Museum

By Scott Moulton, LEED®  AP

I thought it would be interesting to use one of our current projects, the Tempe Historical Museum, as an example of some of the different sustainable strategies that we are employing here at Gyroscope. It also gives us an excuse to show off some cool in process photos of an exhibit being built and installed.

Our approach to green design on this project can be found in the way exhibit content was developed: a modular display system that allows for ongoing adaptation, the minimal use of integrated lighting, and in the specification of beautiful, durable green materials.

Today I'll focus on the topic that everyone loves when talking about green design - the materials. Here is a laundry list of some of the interesting materials we used along with their properties.

• Lyptus Wood - Fast growing variation of eucalyptus that is sustainably forested. Solid wood was used extensively for it's durability.
• Expanko Cork - Combination of recycled cork and rubber. Cork is a rapidly renewable resource and XCR4 is a very durable flooring material.
• 3 Form Chroma - translucent plastic material can be re-surfaced and re-colored. 3-form has a program to reclaim material.
• Wheatboard - a panel material made from a rapidly renewable agricultural resource. Net greenhouse gas contribution during life cycle analysis of wheatboard is negative!
• Valchromat - a through colored mdf (for durability) using organic dyes. No added formaldehyde, wood fiber from forrest waste.
• Yemm and Hart plastic - made from recycled plastic detergent bottles