United States
                     Environmental
                     Protection Agency
                     Washington, D.C.  20460
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5105)
EPA-560-F-04-244
June 2004
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
    &EPA    Green  Buildings  on
                     Brownfields Pilot
                                                          Springfield, MA
 Office of Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment
                 Quick Reference Fact Sheet
Community Center
The New North Citizens' Council (NNCC), a non-profit social service organization, is building a three-story,
25,000-square-foot building to replace its cramped and deteriorated offices. The NNCC, which is developing
the property in partnership with the City of Springfield, operates in two predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods
with among the lowest per capita income and highest asthma rates in the state of Massachusetts.

The City of Springfield used its Green Buildings on Brownfields Pilot support to retain the services of a local
architecture firm with expertise in green design to prepare conceptual drawings for the new community center.
The firm worked with local stakeholders to develop apreliminary design that is not only green, but also reflect's
the community's Hispanic heritage. The resulting design energized local stakeholders around the project.

The NNCC Community Center may be the first building with significant green design features in Springfield.
According to a planner with the City of Springfield, EPA' s support was instrumental in building momentum for
agreen, "healthy" building among stakeholders, as well as illustrating how green design can be combined with
architectural features that reflect the community's Hispanic culture. EPA support also bolstered efforts from
the City and NNCC to obtain
support from other sources,
including Home Depot and the
Massachusetts Renewable
Energy Trust.

The final design for the new
community center may include
green  architectural features
such as photovoltaic cells for
solar  power, day-lighting,
exterior lightpollution reduction,
a green roof, water and energy
efficient fixtures,  rainwater
collection cisterns, and building
orientation for passive heating
and cooling.  The  City and
NNCC plan to apply for LEED
certificationatthe Bronze level.
                            Proposed site plan for the new North Citizens' Council Community Center.

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