Project Photos

Case Study:

The Blue Elephant restaurant, sits in between the two vibrant Cincinnati neighborhoods of Hyde Park and Oakley, in one of the most diverse and walkable districts of the city.  The restaurant is located nearby several bus lines & adjacent to several groceries, restaurants, and pubs. LEED Certification was achieved for this unique building.

The decision to seek LEED certification came about early in the design process. It was based upon the common environmental goals of the owner and design team, and enhanced by recently passed green initiatives by the City.

Each team member was responsible for portions of the LEED documentation. CORE Resources project managers all have LEED AP status and with constant communication between the team & GBCI the certification process is moving forward.

The "green premium" proved to be a challenge. In this current economic environment, financiers are reluctant to provide the additional funds necessary to pay the extra costs associated with the upgraded materials and technologies. Thanks to the persistent persuasion & some careful value engineering by the team members, this project has been completed.

The restaurant's site is only 90'-6" x 100'-0" and the outdoor dining area and building sit back from the street just a few feet.  The compact facade is rendered in brick and Hardie plank siding. The storm water run-off is retained on-site in a small detention pond at the rear of the property with a parking lot designed to allow storm water to permeate through to the soil below. A bike-rack & shower facilities have been provided for employees to encourage alternative transportation options.

The vestibule entrance leads to the hostess stand and the sushi bar area, both highlighted by bamboo paneling. The open dining space is filled with sunlight during the day to help eliminate reliance on artificial lighting but the south facing storefront is protected from the harsh sun by fixed-louver sunshades. The lighting system in the restaurant is controlled by a mix of occupancy sensors and dimming daylight sensors. Many of the interior finishes used are recycled, low-VOC or local materials. A geothermal HVAC system is used in combination with high-performing insulation to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. The plumbing fixtures in restrooms are low-flow, including a dual-flush toilet.