Overview

• Location: Greensburg, KS, United States
• Climate Region: 4B: Mixed - Dry
• Building type(s): Interpretive Center
• New construction
• 1,670 ft2 (155 m2)
• Project scope: a single building
• Rural setting
• Completed May 2008
• Rating: U.S. Green Building Council LEED-NC, v.2.2--Level: Platinum

The 5.4.7 Arts Center takes its name from the date of the tornado that devastated Greensburg on May 4, 2007. The Arts Center will be a community arts center to raise awareness of fine arts, both visual and performing, making arts accessible to everyone and provide an environment to create and gather knowledge through classes, exhibits and performances. The arts are extremely important to our community in order to maintain and cultivate our identity, our heritage, and our culture.

http://www.547artscenter.org/

http://www.studio804.com/2008/greensburg.html

Environmental Aspects

The city of Greensburg, Kansas was devastated by a category F5 tornado that struck in the middle of the night on May 4th, 2007. Tragic as it was, the tornado has presented an opportunity for which the city has chosen to embrace. Seeking to rebuild as a "green city," Greensburg is the first in the United States to pass a resolution to certify that all city-owned buildings earn LEED Platinum accreditation, the highest level of the LEED rating system.

Although it is not a city project, the 5.4.7 Arts Center is just one example of the town's commitment to rebuild sustainably and responsibly for the future. The U.S. Green Building Council has certified the 5.4.7 Arts Center as LEED Platinum It was conceived and constructed by 22 University of Kansas architecture students in the Studio 804 graduate design/build program. It is the first LEED Platinum building designed and constructed by students, and is the first LEED Platinum certified structure in the state of Kansas. The building earned the LEED Platinum certification through its use of wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, geothermal climate control, recycled building materials and a host of other ecologically minded features.

Owner & Occupancy

• Owned and occupied by 5.4.7 Arts Center, Corporation, nonprofit
• Typically occupied by 1 person, 40 hours per person per week; and 100 visitors per week, 2 hours per visitor per week

The 5.4.7 Art Center is a community arts center designed to raise awareness of fine arts, both visual and performing, making arts accessible to everyone and provide an environment to create and gather knowledge through classes, exhibits and performances. The arts are extremely important to our community in order to maintain and cultivate our identity, our heritage, and our culture. Art is a visual and tactile experience that we all long for. Each of us has a desire to create something with our own hands that reflects who we are. The Art Center is excited to provide classes in multiple divisions of visual arts such as drawing, painting photography, ceramics, and sculpture as well as the performing arts with theatre and dance. They will also have a gallery space for exhibitions and meeting space. There will be after school and summer classes for kids, classes for adults, weekend workshops, visiting artist demonstrations, and more. This facility is an excellent opportunity for not only Greensburg but also for the larger surrounding area. 5.4.7 Art Center looks forward to reaching all ages with programs for preschoolers to seniors and by giving residents and visitors an opportunity to experience fine art in western Kansas. Everyone has a need to be connected to one another, and the arts are a perfect way to bring us together as a community, to remember our past as well as shape the future.

Building Programs

Indoor Spaces:

Other (75%), Lobby/reception (15%), Conference (10%), Office (5%)

Keywords

Integrated team, Design charrette, Simulation, Indigenous vegetation, Water harvesting, Efficient fixtures and appliances, Massing and orientation, Glazing, Passive solar, Lighting control and daylight harvesting, Efficient lighting, On-site renewable electricity, Salvaged materials, Recycled materials, Local materials, Occupant recycling, Connection to outdoors, Daylighting, Natural ventilation, Low-emitting materials

next topic: Process