(Belfast, ME) Waterfall Arts has successfully completed work on a project funded by a $10,000 National Endowment for the Arts Fast Track Challenge grant awarded in early 2012.

With the funds, Waterfall Arts’ Facilities Committee, through the leadership of Matt O’Malia, one of the partners of the award-winning Belfast architecture firm GO Logic, has made a thorough assessment of the energy, structural and safety systems of the Governor Anderson Elementary School building, which Waterfall Arts has operated since 2006.

The grant, awarded to only 162 organizations nationwide, supported the seven month long, professionally conducted study, which included a full energy audit, structural systems assessment and analyses of moisture, mold and lead paint conditions in the building.

GO Logic went beyond these assessments to propose both a renovation and multi-use addition incorporating super-insulated walls and windows, heat pumps with air exchangers and a photo-voltaic solar array which will bring the 1935-41 building to meet breakthrough Passive House net-zero energy standards as well as Americans with Disabilities Act handicapped access regulations.

Mold and lead-based paint testing was performed throughout the building by Department of Environmental Protection and Environmental Protection Agency certified technicians in accordance with established protocols using highly sensitive equipment licensed by the Department of Human Services. Testing revealed that over 95% of the 155 interior sites tested were lead-free. The remaining 5% are not in a toxic condition. Air testing revealed there is no appreciable mold present in any room of the building.

In the coming months, Waterfall Arts Board and Staff will be developing a phased project timeline, design details, size of the multi-use performance space and fundraising strategies.

“The NEA Fast Track grant, and GO Logic’s work, together constitute a solidly-established first step in providing Belfast and the mid-coast area with a highly energy efficient and aesthetically distinctive facility for expanded delivery of arts education, performances, exhibits and artist residencies,” said Alan Crichton, Board President and co-founder of Waterfall Arts. “Reducing our energy use and costs by nearly 70% and producing our own energy on-site will demonstrate that an 80-year-old brick building can be transformed into both a cutting-edge aesthetic and technological destination that demonstrates long-term sustainability for both the building and Waterfall Arts. We are very grateful to both the National Endowment and to GO Logic.”

For information on the participating organizations, please visit www.waterfallarts.org, www.gologichomes.com, and www.nea.gov.

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites

Comments

Add New RSS

Write comment
Name:
Email:	do not notifynotify
Title:
UBBCode:	-color-aquablackbluefuchsiagraygreenlimemaroonnavyolivepurpleredsilvertealwhiteyellow -size-tinysmallmediumlargehuge

3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."