Aspen Distilling

Project Overview

• The Embodied Carbon Footprint Imperative strives to minimize a project’s carbon footprint ­– the carbon that is associated with the materials used to construct the building. To meet this Imperative, the design-build team incorporated carbon reduction strategies early in the project’s design phase. Choosing SIPS in the wood framing and as the primary structural element was critical because it has one-sixth of the embodied carbon of steel or concrete.
•  In addition, the Imperative aims to offset the environmental impact of the project’s construction process. Reducing jobsite waste is a well known benefit of SIPS offsite construction methods.
• Further, energy savings from SIPS airtight and thermal properties lend to the sustainable operational goals of the distilling complex.
• SIPS also contribute 40+ points to commercial LEED certification aiding significantly in the LEED Platinum application process.
• The desire to reduce materials in this project worked perfectly with SIPS OSB which can be left exposed as a finished surface allowed the interiors spaces to achieve the environmental goal and aesthetic. 

Innovative Design Elements: Wood is the primary structural material, and SIPS ability to span large expanses enabled the open nature of all facilities. See imagery from design team. 

“Aspen Distillers’ design is one the most detail-oriented projects that I have consulted on. The uniquely creative design that combines efficiency and sustainability makes it a must-see for those in the industry” said Patrick Kelty, president of VITOK Engineers. Kelty has more than 30 years of experience and has played a role in almost every new distillery or major expansion for almost all of the major beverage distillers in North America.

Certifications:  Aspen Distillers™ is proud to be the first distillery to register for the Living Building Challenge sustainability certification — the built environment’s most ambitious performance standard. For context, this achievement is now shared by only 30 buildings in the world. 

This certification goes beyond LEED and others to include the following:
1. Sourcing materials that are Red List free
2. Tracking embodied carbon from construction
3. Using salvaged materials and responsibly sourced wood and stone
4. Striving to eliminate waste during construction
5. Sourcing materials from local industries

Also currently pursuing LEED Platinum Certification. 

HVAC:  High performance programmable multi zone HVAC (pending specific details from from design team.)

Other Energy-Saving Materials or Design Features: 

• Triple pane windows starting with the envelope
• Solar orientation to use the large acreage
• The developers and design team carefully selected building materials and process to ensure responsible sourcing and minimize environmental impact - intentionally limited material palette using mostly wood and limited steel/concrete.
• The lumber for the buildings was sourced from the US Forest Stewardship Council. The responsibly managed forests provide environmental, social and economic benefits.
• The black exterior of the buildings was created using Shou Sugi Ban, an ancient Japanese architectural technique that was used to preserve wood by charring the surface with a hot flame. The process involves charring the wood, cooling it, cleaning off any soot or burnt debris on the surface, and finally finishing the boards with an oil.
• Shou Sugi Ban is a sustainable means of naturally protecting exterior siding that enhances durability and is a natural means of preserving wood without chemicals, paints and other surface treatments. The process is environmentally friendly and doesn’t contribute to harmful pollution. The technique gives Aspen Distillers’ buildings their dramatic black appearance in the landscape, and there are no chemicals present in the siding to potentially leach into the environment.
• The roof eaves use Beetle Kill Pine harvested from stands of dead timber. If not harvested, these trees are left to fall over and decay, resulting in millions of board feet of kindling in our forests ultimately releasing their carbon back into the atmosphere as they decompose.

Solar Panels:  Net positive energy relies on solar energy generation. Pending specific product information from design/construction team. 

Client Comments:  

"Located outside Basalt, Colorado — will be a farm-to-bottle distillery producing premium quality spirits. Through partnerships with local growers and by growing a variety of plants on the site, Aspen Distillers will produce high-quality products that speak to and support the agrarian roots of the Roaring Fork Valley in Pitkin County, Colorado."

"The idea driving Aspen Distillers™ is the same one that powers the entire community. It’s called The Aspen Way, and for eight decades our friends at The Aspen Institute have spread it around the globe, calling on people everywhere to use reason, empathy, and innovation to solve the challenges facing our world. Following the Aspen Way has led us to design and build a new kind of distillery — one that produces exceptional spirits in harmony with the land we love. The goal and end result was enabled the development to integrate into the stunning Rocky Mountain context with humility, inspired by the extraordinary landscape in which it is located, and shaped by the textures, materials and building forms of the Roaring Fork Valley. And it reflects a true
commitment to the stewardship of the land and environment of which it is a part."

"Completing this sustainable feat (The Living Building Challenge, Materials Petal) "required a great deal of coordination between the various project teams,” says Matt Patel, Aspen Distillers founder. From start to finish coordination was critical: "Our architecture, interiors, structure, civil, landscape, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing teams all had to work together to ensure responsible sourcing, eliminate waste, and minimize impact."

Premier SIPS is thrilled to have been part of the energy-efficient, award-winning Aspen Distillery project in Colorado. Featured on Forbes.com, this distillery is now the world’s largest carbon-negative distillery, achieving green certification goals with the help of Structural Insulated Panels, SIPS.  Premier's offsite panelized construction enabled long-term energy efficiency, total net positive energy operations, and full electrification, playing a crucial role in the project’s design, construction, and carbon-negative operation. Here are the primary benefits of choosing SIPs for this remarkable project:

1. The Embodied Carbon Footprint Imperative strives to minimize a project’s carbon footprint ­– the carbon that is associated with the materials used to construct the building. To meet this Imperative, the design-build team incorporated carbon reduction strategies early in the project’s design phase. Choosing SIPS in the wood framing and as the primary structural element was critical because it has one-sixth of the embodied carbon of steel or concrete.

2. In addition, the Imperative aims to offset the environmental impact of the project’s construction process. Reducing jobsite waste is a well known benefit of SIPS offsite construction methods.

Learn more about sustainable design aspects of this project here.
Location: Aspen Distillers, CO
SIPS Used: 10” Roof
Architect: Anderson Mason Dale Architects
Builder: RWI Construction