Army Hawaii Breaks Ground on Nation's First USGBC Smart Growth Community for Military Families

The world’s largest solar powered-community takes green building to the next level and celebrates groundbreaking for LEEDŽ ND pilot project.

Army Hawaii Family Housing LLC, the world’s largest solar-powered community, is one of an elite group of residential communities chosen to participate in the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEEDŽ for Neighborhood Development pilot program. The blowing of conch shells followed by an `oli (Hawaiian chant) and the sprinkling of water on the grounds were part of a traditional Hawaiian blessing that took place at the Simpson Wisser groundbreaking on June 17.
U.S. Army officials and civic leaders joined with Army Hawaii Family Housing and Actus Lend Lease to welcome guests and offer the blessing.

“What makes this groundbreaking so important and exciting, is the fact that we are quite literally building the future,” says Jeffrey Simon, President of Actus Lend Lease. “With our Army partner and the other USGBC LEED-NDŽ pilot developers, we are putting into motion sustainable green building practices that ensure quality of life and respectful use of natural resources for generations to come-it’s a serious and important responsibility. Further, we see this as an opportunity to not only develop neighborhoods that truly support and enrich the lives of our nation’s deserving Service Families, but have the potential to forever change the world’s view of residential community development.”

Rigorous standards must be met to achieve LEED-ND certification. Compliance includes third-party verification that site locations and neighborhood design strategies meet the highest levels of environmentally responsible and sustainable development, including density maintenance to reduce urban sprawl; energy efficient, pedestrian oriented development; protection of threatened species and provisions for social well-being and healthy living. Certification also includes specifications for home design and construction. All Simpson Wisser homes will meet, or exceed, LEED certified standards.

The future vision for Simpson Wisser includes responsible replacement and recycling of all existing multi-family homes built in the late 1950s. In contrast to these existing homes, the LEED-ND homes will provide photovoltaic power generation, solar hot water and private open spaces, as well as larger dwellings, adequate off-street parking and significantly increased storage. Neighborhood development at Simpson Wisser will incorporate recreational amenities, community centers, walking and congregating areas designed specifically to strengthen the unique social fabric of Military communities. These are signature elements in all Actus Lend Lease Residential Communities Initiative (RCI) sustainable development projects.

Exhibits showcasing Smart Growth urban plans and home design features, including building materials, household amenities, and new technologies being incorporated into the Simpson Wisser LEED-ND pilot program, were on display to inform and educate the community and attending guests.

For more information about USGBC’s LEEDŽ for Neighborhood Development pilot program please visit: http://www.usgbc.org.

About Army Hawaii Family Housing LLC

AHFH is a 50-year partnership created between the Department of the Army and Actus Lend Lease through the Military Privatization Act. AHFH is one of the largest military family housing privatization projects to date that will have nearly 8,000 homes upon completion. AHFH will also boast one of the world’s largest solar-powered communities by incorporating photovoltaic and solar technologies, and will incorporate green building principles and practices throughout development, design, construction and ongoing property and maintenance management.