FORT PIERCE - Work is already underway on St. Lucie County's new $12.7 million Special Needs Shelter/Auditorium, which will feature a number of "green" products in its construction.

The county's project architect, SchenkelShultz of Orlando, plans to use a number of environmentally-friendly products when building the two-story, 60,000-square-foot Special Needs Shelter. Plans included up to 75 percent recycled steel, 50 percent recycled aluminum, gypsum board products made from 100 percent recycled, unbleached paper facings with recycled and synthetic gypsum cores and asphalt-free pavement.

"We realize that if we want the development community to embrace green technologies, then we should lead by example," said County Administrator Doug Anderson. "In addition to trying to incorporate green technologies in all of our new buildings, we're also looking to retrofit existing buildings when we have the funding available."

Expected to be complete by the fall of 2008, the new Special Needs Shelter will include a gymnasium with an NCAA regulation basketball court that will double as a shelter during an emergency, kitchen area, laundry rooms, restrooms, showers and Park and Recreation offices on the second floor. In addition to serving as the special needs shelter for up to 750 people during an emergency situation, the building will accommodate up to 2,000 people for graduations, meetings or other community events.

More than 90 percent of the construction cost is being funding through insurance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and grants from the State of Florida. The rest of the funding is being covered St. Lucie County's general fund.

St. Lucie County is also incorporating green technologies in the new $12 million Clerk of Court Building, which is expected to open in downtown Fort Pierce later this year. The five-story, 57,000-square-foot building will incorporate green designs such as passive lighting and regional chiller plant.

To learn more about green building technologies, be sure to attend The Treasure Coast Green Conference on Oct. 18 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Port St. Lucie Community Center at 2195 S.E. Airoso Blvd. Organized by St. Lucie County and the City of Port St. Lucie, area developers, builders, architects, engineers, landscape architects, realtors, government planners and decision-makers are invited to hear from some of the top experts in the state about tools, incentives and marketing strategies for green development. The early registration fee is $45 (before Oct. 4). Book your reservation now, as space is limited and filling up fast. For more information, visit the website at www.treasurecoastgreen.com, e-mail info@treasurecoastgreen.com or call (772) 785-5833.

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