Jacob White Construction Company Wins Texas Water Development Board’s Rain Catcher Award for Fall 2007
The Texas Rain Catcher Award recognizes Jacob White’s use of three elements that work
together to save and reuse water at its high-performance medical office building at 251
East Medical Center in Webster, Texas. The first element is the cistern which is
concealed beneath the parking lot and is used for both storm water retention and irrigation.
Jacob White excavated for over 700 lineal feet of 4' by 8' concrete box culverts to hold
175,000 gallons of water. The second element is the 14,559 square foot living roof on
the building, which can absorb and reuse up to a 2” rainfall; 70% of all rain that falls
on the green roof is retained to sustain the vegetation growth. The remainder goes to
the culvert detention system under the parking lot. The third element is that grey water
from sinks and drinking fountains is sent to the underground culverts instead of to city
sewers. Additionally, all plumbing fixtures are low water usage fixtures. “It’s not just
about doing the right thing and saving the environment; sustainability is a money maker,”
says Jeff Mickler, President of Jacob White Construction Company. Click here to read the press release.
Jacob White Construction Company Awarded Houston Business Journal’s Landmark Award 2008
Houston Business Journal recognizes Jacob White’s use of the latest in green technology and
methods at its medical office building at 251 Medical Center Boulevard in Webster. The roof’s
rainwater collection system stores run-off to be used for landscape irrigation and for use in
the building’s toilets. It is touted as one of the healthiest buildings in the area because
of its use of low volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. VOCs are emitted as gases from certain
solids or liquids and are the source of strong smells from paints, cleaners, disinfectants and
other strong odor-causing products. The building’s carbon dioxide levels do not exceed 700 parts
per million. And, the office complex’s air conditioning system is equipped with a high efficiency
particulate air, or HEPA, filter system, greatly improving air quality. For more information
about this award, visit the Houston Business Journal website (Week of April 4–10, 2008) or click here to download the article.