The Arizona Army National Guard (AZ ARNG) Readiness Center in Florence, Ariz., has been awarded LEED Silver certification, as established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), through its wholly owned subsidiary SAIC Energy, Environment & Infrastructure, LLC, provided design and contract administration services for the facility, including sustainable design and LEED administration services.
LEED certification of the AZ ARNG Readiness Center was based on a number of green design and construction features SAIC implemented that positively impacted the project and the broader community. These features included:
- Preferred parking stalls for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles and covered parking for motorcycles to encourage use of alternative means of transportation.
- Exterior and interior lighting system designs that reduce night sky light pollution and support the nocturnal ecosystem.
- Mechanical systems that reduce energy costs by 29%, thus saving money for AZ ARNG while lessening the building’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures that result in a 40% reduction in water usage, saving money and contributing to a more secure water future.
- Solar heated water system that reduces energy costs for hot water.
- Sustainable materials that contained 30% recycled content--more than 20% of which was harvested and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site.
- Wood products used in the project harvested from Forest Stewardship Council certified forests.
- More than 85% of construction and demolition waste diverted from landfill to be either recycled or salvaged for reuse.
- Interior finish materials, paint coatings, sealants, and adhesives that meet low-volatile organic compound standards. +
Related Stories
| Feb 23, 2011
Architecture Billings hold steady after two months of improving conditions
After showing positive momentum during the fourth quarter of 2010, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) slipped almost four points in January. The January ABI score was 50.0, which is down from a reading of 53.9 the previous month, but still reflects stable demand for design services. Any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings.
| Feb 22, 2011
LEED Volume Program celebrates its 500th certified Pilot Project
More than 500 building projects have certified through the LEED Volume Program since the pilot launched in 2006, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. The LEED Volume Program streamlines the certification process for high-volume property owners and managers, from commercial real estate firms, national retailers and hospitality providers, to local, state and federal governments.
| Feb 22, 2011
HDR Architecture names four healthcare directors
Four senior professionals in HDR Architecture’s healthcare program have been named Healthcare directors.
| Feb 15, 2011
Iconic TWA terminal may reopen as a boutique hotel
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey hopes to squeeze a hotel with about 150 rooms in the space between the old TWA terminal and the new JetBlue building. The old TWA terminal would serve as an entry to the hotel and hotel lobby, which would also contain restaurants and shops.
| Feb 15, 2011
New Orleans' rebuilt public housing architecture gets mixed reviews
The architecture of New Orleans’ new public housing is awash with optimism about how urban-design will improve residents' lives—but the changes are based on the idealism of an earlier era that’s being erased and revised.
| Feb 15, 2011
LAUSD commissions innovative prefab prototypes for future building
The LA Unified School District, under the leadership of a new facilities director, reversed course regarding prototypes for its new schools and engaged architects to create compelling kit-of-parts schemes that are largely prefabricated.
| Feb 15, 2011
New 2030 Challenge to include carbon footprint of building materials and products
Architecture 2030 has just broadened the scope of its 2030 Challenge, issuing an additional challenge regarding the climate impact of building products. The 2030 Challenge for Products aims to reduce the embodied carbon (meaning the carbon emissions equivalent) of building products 50% by 2030.
| Feb 15, 2011
New Urbanist Andrés Duany: We need a LEED Brown rating
Andrés Duany advocates a "LEED Brown" rating that would give contractors credit for using traditional but low cost measures that are not easy to quantify or certify. He described these steps as "the original green," and "what we did when we didn't have money." Ostensibly, LEED Brown would be in addition to the current Silver, Gold and Platinum ratings.