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Rocky Mountain Institute, CO
Award winner
Northern Water Utility Campus
Colorado
Project Type Commercial | Office
Year Completed 2023
Project Size 25460 sq ft
Sustainable Features Premier SIPS
Environmental Certifications LEED/USGBC
Awards 2024 BEA Runner Up Classic Commercial Over 10K S/F
Architect RB&B Architects
Contractor Adolfson & Peterson
Project Overview
Northern Water Utility Campus Expansion Building F
End Use: Northern Water’s primary purpose is delivering water to Northeastern Colorado for agricultural, municipal, domestic and industrial uses by operating existing, and implementing new water supply projects. They also focus on water conservation, water quality, environmental stewardship, and regional water supply planning. With more growth on the front range and increased responsibilities of Northern Water, they have more employees and equipment and need more office and storage buildings to accommodate them. RB+B’s master plan for this client calls for approximately doubling the building square footage on the Headquarters site over several phases, and updating their security and functional operations with a new System Control Center. Phase I of this multi-phase project included the addition of three new buildings and their associated site work. Including this three-story office building.
Why SIPs: Pursuing LEED certification & SIPS contribute a significant number of points to the process. Due in part to energy efficiency, waste reduction, and indoor environmental health.
Benefits of SIPs: The speed of construction was an added bonus the architect and building systems team (Lamwood) spoke of and that the contractor was able to realize. The long term energy efficiency was key for the utility/owners.
Innovative Design Elements: Extensive wood beams were used to create interior features and structure with open conference rooms one each floor. The walls and roof spans easily accommodated.
Certifications: The project has achieved LEED Silver Certification.
HVAC: High Performance - The building’s envelope, HVAC, and lighting design resulted in a 29% energy cost savings per year and additional achievement of all three LEED Daylighting credits.
Energy-Saving or Energy-Efficient Products Used:
- This building earned significant Materials credits, including all three points under the Low Emitting Materials credits, and the materials Optimization points, which illustrates that materials were installed in the building that went above and beyond industry standard for environmental impacts and human health impacts.
- Achievement of the maximum Rainwater Management points for LEED in response to managing the storm water runoff on site and through the natural environment.
- An onsite water treatment system was specifically designed for wastewater and a pond and pumphouse were constructed to provide water for fire suppression.
- Through thoughtful landscaping, a 100% reduction in Outdoor Water Use (post establishment period) was achieved.
Client Comments:
"The building, situated on a wide-open ranch, is positioned to take advantage of southern exposure for north/south daylighting and beautiful views to the east from the conference area. With concerns for the snow this site receives, maximizing the solar exposure of the entrance and main yard while having no north-facing doors was very important. Natural lighting is implemented in the shops and vehicle bays. Natural materials with colors and textures blending with the rustic surroundings were also integral to the design. "
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