Von Lee Theater given awards for sustainability

The Von Lee Theater is a meeting of the past and present.

The unique Spanish revival tile roof combined with skylights has combined historic preservation with sustainability. the building’s developers say.

The Von Lee redevelopment has recently earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, as well as a Revitalization Award for Historic Preservation from Downtown Bloomington Inc. and other awards for preservation and sustainability.

“My partner and I believe that it makes sense to build green,” said Will Kreuzer, principal of the Chicago-based Tartan Realty Group, Inc., which also built the Flats on Kirkwood.

The “tenacious process” began two years ago, Kreuzer said, but the redevelopment is now receiving its LEED certification.

To be considered for LEED certification, developers had to adhere to a laundry list of guidelines, including maximizing water efficiency by 20 percent and installing low-emitting materials to reduce air contaminants.

During construction, 50 percent of non-hazardous waste materials had to be recycled and the company had to purchase new building materials with recycled content. Also, building materials had to be purchased within 500 miles of the project site. The project also earned points for the Von Lee’s proximity to bus routes.

For every green measure taken, the project gets a certain amount of points, and based on the number of points, the building project can earn different degrees of LEED certification.  

Amanda Shaw, education and outreach coordinator for the newly-formed South Central Indiana chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, said that LEED certification is “a philosophy behind building.”

With a third party measuring sustainability, Shaw said LEED certification “sets a standard that is measurable” and impartial. She said that it’s important “to see how the building is functioning later,” not just during the renovation.

While developers had to take special measures for LEED certification, Kreuzer said another challenge was maintaining the historic integrity of the building. In 2000, the building was awarded historic designation by the Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission.

“We wanted to keep the historic nature of the building,” Kreuzer said, which required the developers to save three walls.

“We built a building within a building,” which was difficult because there was a fear that one wall might fall down, Kreuzer said.

Nancy Hiestand, Program Manager for the City’s Housing and Neighborhood Development, who worked with Kreuzer on historic preservation for the Von Lee, said the marquee, the roof and other details in the lobby were important to preserve the building.

She said the Von Lee is “a campus fixture” that returning alumni like to see.

“It’s the Gables, Nick’s, the Von Lee,” she said.

Hiestand said that historic preservation and sustainability don’t have to be conflicting goals.

“Demolition is usually not a good idea for sustainability.”