Sustainability was a priority for the
Johnson Brothers Liquor Company, developers of
The Lyric at Carleton Place apartments, which opened a year ago on University and Hampden avenues in St. Paul.
Recently, the Lyric
received an award from the city recognizing its strides in this area. The 2011 sustainability awards went to a dozen businesses, organizations, and individuals on the cutting edge of everything from green construction to cleanup and beautification, according to city information.
To add to that, this week the apartment building will host an event called "
Hats Off to the Corridor," featuring art, music, and food to celebrate the
Central Corridor light rail transit line that is planned to connect Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The 171-unit apartment building, which has a black-box-style theater, exercise room, community area, and gallery, is connected to the
Carleton Place Artist Lofts. It's the first new construction project to be completed along the Central Corridor. The Lyric has also been designated part of the city's Energy Innovation Corridor, which spotlights sustainable developments along the light-rail line.
Beth Pfeifer, a spokesperson from
The Cornerstone Group, one of the project's collaborators, says that in keeping with previous Johnson Brothers projects, "It's important to them to develop something that stands the test of time."
Collaborating with the Cornerstone Group,
BKV Group,
Yen Chee Design,
Jaeger Construction,
Xcel Energy, and the
Weidt Group, the Johnson Brothers found numerous ways to reduce noise and waste, improve air quality and energy efficiency, and filter stormwater, according to project materials.
To do so, it took full advantage of advanced heating and cooling systems plus
Energy Star-certified appliances, native plants, and a rooftop garden, among other things.
As a result, the building is 22 percent more energy efficient than similar developments. Pfeifer says the cost of achieving this level of energy efficiency was
minimal, overall, and it'll pay for itself within a couple of years. "We hope it's an impetus for others to invest in [energy efficiency] as well."
Source: Beth Pfeifer, The Cornerstone Group
Writer: Anna Pratt