Site Design
   - Site Analysis & Planning
   - Stormwater Management
   - Natural Landscape
   - Parking & Transportation
   - Exterior Site Lighting

Building Design & Energy Use
   - Building Design
   - Energy Efficiency
   - Daylighting & Int. Lighting
   - Alternative Energy
   - Building Commissioning

Materials & Resources
   - Exterior & Interior Materials
   - Water Conservation

Construction & Demolition
   - Waste & Recycling
   - Erosion & Dust Control
   - Pre-Occupancy Controls for
     Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Environmental Quality
   - Indoor Air Quality
   - Acoustic Quality

Operations & Maintenance
   - Operations Manual & Monitoring
   - Facility Maintenance
   - Maintenance and Stewardship
     of Site and Landscape Elements

Supporting Documentation

Printer-Friendly Guidelines

RenewTheValley.org
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Click here for a representation of a high performance building in the Menomonee Valley.

The goal of the Menomonee Valley Sustainable Design Guidelines is to help redevelopment projects contribute to the vision of a sustainable Menomonee River Valley, and enhance the value of the Valley to the Milwaukee community. Specifically, the Guidelines are intended to:

• Simplify and demystify sustainable design throughout the redevelopment process, in part by sharing lessons learned from other projects;
• Provide a predictable climate for future investment;
• Help Valley businesses stay competitive by improving the performance of their facilities;
• Improve the aesthetic quality and environmental performance of the Valley;
• Expedite the municipal and state permitting/approval process.

Recommendations in the Guidelines have been evaluated for their benefits, practicality, and cost-effectiveness. Tips and benefits are highlighted and the Guidelines provide links to other standards or resources that can help guide the decision-making process. To print the entire guidelines, click here to download the .pdf.

Technical Assistance

A broad collection of professionals has been engaged in the development of the Guidelines and the overall Menomonee Valley redevelopment effort; these professionals represent a large body of knowledge and expertise. Menomonee Valley Partners is available to provide assistance in understanding and clarifying the substance and intent of the Guidelines, and can put you in touch with experts in the appropriate fields and disciplines addressed by the Guidelines.

Other Regulations

The performance goals contained in the Guidelines are expressed wherever possible in terms of meeting or exceeding current industry or regulatory standards. Adherence to the City of Milwaukee Code of Ordinances, State Building Code, the Menomonee Valley Land Use Plan and other regulatory requirements is implied herein. A list of permit issues and information can be found at: http://www.mkedcd.org/build/dcTopics.html

U.S. Green Building Council and the LEED™ Green Building Rating System

Many of the strategies in the Valley Guidelines may also earn credits under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED™ Green Building Rating System.

LEED™ is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED™ strives to improve the environmental and economic performance of commercial buildings using established and/or advanced industry principles, practices, materials and standards.

It is important to recognize that even a moderate incorporation of sustainable design elements, and achieving a basic LEED™ certification, will generate a wide range of benefits for the facility owner, including increased property value, improved facility performance and operational cost savings, international corporate recognition and marketing benefits.

Appendix 1 to the Guidelines includes additional background and guidance on using the LEED™ rating system.

Key Lessons From Past Projects:

1. Identify sustainability objectives as early as possible in the design process and maintain those objectives through initial occupancy and over the life of the building.
2. Include all members of the planning & design team, and key internal management throughout process.
3. Collaborate closely with applicable regulatory agencies; their staff can give you guidance to prevent costly mistakes.

According to Corporate Environmental Strategy (2000), Over the thirty year life of a building, an owner generally spends nine times as much to build a facility than to design it, three times as much to operate and maintain it than to design and build it, and 460 times as much to pay the people that work in it than was spent on the design of the facility.

30-Year Facility Costs

"We're excited about the future growth of our company, which will be fueled by the investments we have made in our Menomonee Valley facility. Careful planning and the use of sustainable design elements have had a positive impact on our work environment and will improve employee productivity. At the same time, our development is contributing to a cleaner, healthier Menomonee Valley. These benefits will continue to add value to our organization for years to come."

- Kenneth Kaszubowski, P.E. - Principal, The Sigma Group