July 30, 2009
Heather D. Browning
Community Relations Manager
(540) 961-1199
hbrowning@blacksburg.gov
www.blacksburg.gov
Join the Town of Blacksburg for a Grand Opening Celebration
Blacksburg Motor Company
400 South Main Street
Friday, August 7, 10am – 1pm
The town of Blacksburg is pleased to announce that renovation of the historic Blacksburg Motor Company building is complete and a grand opening celebration is scheduled for August 7 at 10am, coinciding with the annual Downtown Blacksburg Steppin Out Festival. Town offices will begin moving on August 11-12.
The new Motor Company building has been restored using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) principals, and the project team has considered sustainability in every design and construction decision. As a result, the Town hopes to achieve a Platinum LEED certification, the highest level achievable.
The building will serve as the new home to the Blacksburg Planning and Building, and Engineering and GIS departments. In addition, the site and structure will illustrate green building and low impact development techniques throughout.
Features of the LEED renovation include a geothermal heat pump, where the constant temperature of the earth reduces heating and cooling energy use; carpet made of 77% recycled material including reclaimed carpet; refurbished original tin ceilings; motion sensor lighting; and environmental site design including rain gardens, porous concrete, and native landscaping. Lastly, the building is served by Blacksburg Transit, the Smart Way bus, and a network of sidewalks and trails encouraging alternative forms of transportation.
“We are excited to officially introduce the Blacksburg Motor Company building as a new addition to the Town’s downtown civic complex,” said Town Manager Marc Verniel. “Decades ago, we established a vision of a civic complex in downtown to include the existing Town Hall, the Police Station, the Library, Five Chimneys House, Alexander Black House, Thomas Connor House, and the Blacksburg Motor Company Building. The completion of the renovation is a major step towards implementing that vision. It’s an example of how to re-use a building in an environmentally sensitive way while preserving a key piece of Blacksburg’s history.”
The building has been listed as historically significant, and the construction was designed to comply with national standards for historic renovation projects. This enables the project to receive a significant level of funding through state and federal historic tax credits.