The Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center

I toured the The Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center for a homework assignment on LEED certified buildings and was completely blown away at how sleek, modern, and environmentally supportive the building is. The building is open for self-guided tours during regular business hours. Even if you're like me and are not at all agriculturally minded the building is still stunning and imaginative. It's located right in the heart of the OSU Chadwick Arboretum. This beautiful backdrop supports the mission of both 4-H and United States Green Building Council. The mission of 4-H and LEED are both promoted by the center as they work hand in hand to instill environmental resource responsibility, community sensitivity and education. Has any building ever touched your life for the better or worse? Have you been impacted by the environment of your work or school building?

Building Basics 

• 2201 Fred Taylor Drive Columbus OH, 43210 OSU campus
• 12,000 square feet 
• Uses one sixth of the energy of a traditional building its size
• Built in 2008 
• Attained LEED silver level. 
• Designed by Lincoln Street Studio

Lighting 

• Combination of daylight and task lighting.
• Large windows on the first floor are on the east hand side of the building reducing a raising in temperature
• Short cubical walls, allowing each employee a outside view
• Ninety percent of the occupied spaces have been designed with outside views 
• Motion sensors in windowless rooms

Energy 

• Geothermal system 
• Seventy five holes have been drilled down to nearly three hundred feet creating the closed loop geothermal system
• The roof is layered with highly reflective materials which minimizes the heat absorption
• The temperature of the building is monitored consistently to regulate energy consumption 

Water

• Dual flush toilets in all restrooms 
• Water less urinals in the men's restrooms 
• Sinks are equipped with faucet sensors
• Stormwater is managed through the planting of clover in downward sloping areas.

Transportation

• Strategically  located near the Columbus and OSU city bus lines
• Parking spaces closer to the building set aside for carpooling groups 
• Showers inside The Center to support those who choose to cycle to work 
• Bike racks

Waste Management and Landscaping

• Handled through OSU 
• Single stream recycling
• Minimally mowed zones planted with local Ohio wildflowers and grasses

Indoor Air Quality

• Low volatile organic compounds materials were used in the whole building during construction
• Rooms that contain cleaning supplies are vented separately

Construction

• Carpets are made from recycled materials
• Welcome desk is made from compressed sunflower seeds and husks as is one room on the third floor
• Steels and the concrete used within the building contain recycled components 
• During the building process over fifty percent of the debris was collected and recycled.