Green homeless shelter verified in Virginia

The Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter in Fairfax, Va., was recently recognized as the first homeless shelter in the U.S. to be recognized by the Green Building Initiative's (GBI) Green Globes environmental assessment and rating system for commercial buildings. The 16,931-sf building serves as a home for about 20 families, mostly mothers with school-age children. The shelter provides a safe, temporary home for families where they can begin developing a plan to locate permanent housing. The shelter was designed by Alexandria, Va., architecture firm Wisnewski Blair & Associates, built by general contractor Brechbill & Helman Construction of Chambersburg, Pa., and is owned and managed by the Fairfax County government.