Overview
The Center for Trades and Energy (CTE) Training (CTE Building) at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) is the first building at the College’s new regional campus in Hughesville, Maryland. This facility houses administrative offices, classrooms, and labs for a new center that will provide specialized training in contracting fields that are in high demand now and are projected to grow; thus, the CTE will play an integral role as an economic driver in the future economy of Southern Maryland.
Timmons Group teamed with Grimm + Parker Architects to bring the College’s vision for the CTE facility to life. As the first facility on the campus at the Hughesville Station Place development, the CTE Building will set the standard for ongoing development of the CSM campus. The landscape was designed in accordance with the Hughesville Station Development Standards and Charles City County requirements, both of which stipulate a strong emphasis on conservation landscaping and the creation of native plant communities and habitat. Over ninety percent of the perimeter and shade trees used on the project are native species. The bioretention basins adjacent to the building incorporate a regional palette of suitable species, and the parking lot landscaping emulates a native woodland habitat of trees underplanted with shrubs, grasses, and perennials. The surrounding grounds are planted in three types of low-maintenance, sustainable grasses and groundcovers: ecolawn sod, ecolawn seed, and a meadow mix.
A large portion of parking is pervious concrete that acts as localized ESD – environmental site design feature. As the original land site had no access to public water or sewer – the design had to accommodate a well and septic system.Additionally, the Timmons team provided a design of the adjacent roadway, which required significant coordination with the developer. Full permitting through Charles County Govt. and Maryland Dept of Environment and Health Department.
The 30,000-square foot CTE building is located adjacent to a future bike trail and village green area that provide site amenities to students, faculty, and staff and will connect the Center with the surrounding campus and Hughesville Station community. The Center for Trades and Energy also serves as the Maryland Center for Environmental Training (MCET). MCET provides environmental, safety and health training and compliance assistance for workers in the region and throughout the state. The building was designed to reduce its impact on the environment and meet the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for New Construction criteria. The CT Building anticipates being awarded a LEED Silver Certification.
