The generous porch provides a place to relax and take in the view.
Contractor Lyman Everett worked closely with the design and engineering team, and helped to educate every person who came onto the site. His philosophy about waste disposal was borrowed from his ethics as a hiker and outdoorsman.
Al Kisner chose Architect Peter Stempel to design his home. Stempel has a well established office in the area, and had a young and enthusiastic team of designers who were known for innovative environmentally sensitive design. Stempel was USGBC LEED Certified, and had designed his own office according to the LEED checklist in order to become familiar with the process. He worked closely with team member Olu Adeyanju on the design of Al Kisner's home. Also participating were Molly Wheelock, Nicole McDermott, Ethan Barlow, Will Mclaughlin, and Robert Porter. Mechanical Engineer Fred Nash who collaborated with Stempel on many projects, was essential to the team.
Lyman Everett, a general contractor who was known as a wood craftsman in his own right was chosen to be the General Contractor. Everett and Stempel had worked together in the past, and had a strong working relationship. As important, Everett was known for working with the best of local craftsmen, including stone mason Brad Quinn, and keeping work in the community. Although Everett had never worked on a LEED project before, he was eager to take on the challenge.
Managing the job and completing the documentation required a very close collaboration between Stempel and Everett. Everett adopted a "pack it in, pack it out policy" that is familiar to hikers and outdoorspeople. If a subcontractor brough lunch in a disposable package, they were expected to take that package home with them or recycle it. Simply tossing things in the dumpster was not allowed, as every ounce of construction waste was being monitored. Everett was agressive in finding recycling oportunities for various materials, many of which helped to build another home in a nearby community. The collaborative effort extended to every aspect of the job--from ordering precise amounts of materials, to verifying the the most efficient route for utilities.
Photographs by Peter Stempel