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Walker's Grille - Local Alexandria Restaurant Receives LEED Certification First Reported in the Coun
February 16, 2012
February 17,2012 (Alexandria,VA) – A newcomer whose dedication tothe environment, community and neighborhood history are ever present throughoutthe concept and its Local Craft American cuisine, Walker’s Grille (6909 Metro Park Drive, Alexandria,VA, 22310;703-922-6200;www.walkersgrille.com) became the recent awardwinner of the coveted LEED Gold Certification Award by the U.S. Green BuildingCouncil (USGBC) on February 17, 2012.
Just as significant, Walker’s Grille is the first reportedrestaurant recipient of the award in the County of Fairfax and Commonwealth ofVirginia. The award represents Leadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign.
“Wespent over one year designing the restaurant; it is veryf ulfilling tosee the project comet o fruition and to be awarded theLEED GOLD Certification,” states co-ownersSam Misleh and Jason Musleh.
USGBC National Capital Region ChapterChairman Michael Babcock released a statement on the accomplishment. “Beingthe first LEED Gold Certified restaurant in the Commonwealth, this projectdemonstrates a steadfast commitment by the owner in conjunction with a creativeteam that challenged each other to identify better materials and processes whilepushing the envelope of energy efficiency and water conservation.”
"TheWalker’s Grille fit-out is a validation of how sustainable designandconstruction principles are not just reserved for traditional commercialoffice, institutional and municipal construction, but rather effective energyefficient and sustainable strategies that can be applied to allfacilities;including the restaurant industry. As consumers continue to expect moretransparency regarding where our goods come from, how they are cultivated, andwhat manufacturing practices are employed, we need to remain responsive to thatexpectation when it comes to our built environment. Walker’s Grille’sleadership and investment in sustainability reinforces this message and goal.”
"LEED,or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is redefining the way wethink about the places where we live, work and learn. As an internationallyrecognized mark of excellence, LEED provides building owners and operators witha framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction,operations and maintenance solutions.
With nearly 9 billion square feet ofbuilding space participating in the suite of rating systems and 1.6 millionfeet certifying per day around the world, LEED is transforming the way builtenvironments are designed, constructed, and operated --- from individualbuildings and homes, to entire neighborhoods and communities. Comprehensive andflexible, LEED works throughout a building’s life cycle.
LEED certification provides independent,third-party verification that a building, home or community was designed and builtusing strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmentalhealth: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmentalquality.”
*Reference: U.S. Green Building Councilwebsite
Walker’s Grille promotes sustainable practices by using agreen concept design and implementing greenrestaurant strategies. The space, designed by Collective Architecture, is classicand clean, formatted by straight lines and sleek textiles of recycled materials. Bill Eklund of the National Capital Region Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Councilworked tirelessly to ensure the design’s full circle development would meet U.S.G.B.S.standards. The building itself is LEED Platinum Certified and is owned by “greenthinking” developer Akridge. Clarion Partners played an instrumental roll in thefinancing of such a strategically engineered, forward thinking building.
Walker’sGrille uses practices and equipment that reduce energy consumption and water usage.A rigid recycling program effectively reduces the restaurant’s carbon footprintand maintains the existing sustainable efforts already in place. The restaurant serves asa leader in green restaurant design to other restaurants in Fairfax County and theCommonwealth of Virginia. The menu at Walker’s Grille offers a choice of healthier,all natural foods by using fresh products sourced from local and regional farmingcommunities.
Walker’s Grille has received two other awards based on this greendesign: the ABC Certificate of Merit for Excellence in Construction by TrinityConstruction, and the NAIOP Award of Merit for Interior Retail Projects. The restaurant was also just named Best New Businessof the Year by the Mount Vernon Lee-District Chamber of Commerce.
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