Cherokee CRC Achieves Premier Mark of Achievement in Green Building at Riverside Indian School

TULSA, Okla. — Cherokee CRC, a division of Cherokee Nation Businesses, has been recognized for its efforts in green building. The company recently completed construction of two new dormitories at Riverside Indian School in Anadarko, Oklahoma, which received LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

“Achieving LEED accreditation is wonderful recognition of our team's commitment to building in a sustainable manner and our ability to innovate and excel in green construction methods,” said Cheryl Cohenour, president of CCRC. “I am proud of our CCRC team, designers and subcontractors for their contributions to this achievement and am thankful for the opportunity to work for the BIA on a project that I know will impact the lives of Native students for years to come.”

LEED-certified buildings cost less to operate and reduce energy and water bills by as much as 40 percent. The CCRC team made special considerations to ensure that both construction and operation of the dormitories would be eco-friendly.

By using regionally sourced materials with high-recycled content, the company was able to divert 98 percent of jobsite waste from landfills. All existing concrete curbs and building slabs were broken up and delivered to the county commissioner to use as rip rap for erosion control, and asphalt was pulverized and used for temporary roads and parking lots on the jobsite.

“Our team went above and beyond to ensure that this project was done with the highest regard for the environment and a cost savings for the school,” said Jodie Gilbert, project manager for CCRC. “Our construction methods maintained a high level of indoor air quality, which kept the HVAC equipment clean and operating at peak efficiency.”

The energy-efficient design includes solar panels that provide virtually unlimited hot water to the facilities and ultra-high efficiency windows that reduce the need for electric lighting and keep heat out.

The company also took a new approach when constructing the dormitories" roofs. To increase efficiency and reduce waste, CCRC shipped raw materials to the jobsite and workers fabricated roofing panels as needed. This reduced the number of shipments, lowered fuel emissions and saved space in work zones.

“Our industry is constantly changing, and we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of that change,” said Cohenour. “We are looking forward to additional green building opportunities in the future.”