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
| Sep 30, 2022
Lab-grown bricks offer potential low-carbon building material
A team of students at the University of Waterloo in Canada have developed a process to grow bricks using bacteria.
| Sep 29, 2022
FitzGerald establishes Denver office
The new location bolsters FitzGerald’s nationwide reach and capitalizes on local expertise and boots-on-the-ground to serve new and existing clients seeking to do business in Denver and the Front Range, as well as the Southwest United States, California, and Texas.
| Sep 28, 2022
New digital platform to foster construction supply chains free of forced labor
Design for Freedom by Grace Farms and the U.S. Coalition on Sustainability formed a partnership to advance shared goals regarding sustainable and ethical building material supply chains that are free of forced labor.
| Sep 27, 2022
New Buildings Institute released the Existing Building Decarbonization Code
New Buildings Institute (NBI) has released the Existing Building Decarbonization Code.
| Sep 23, 2022
High projected demand for new housing prompts debate on best climate-friendly materials
The number of people living in cities could increase to 80% of the total population by 2100. That could require more new construction between now and 2050 than all the construction done since the start of the industrial revolution.
| Sep 23, 2022
Central offices making a comeback after pandemic
In the early stages of the Covid pandemic, commercial real estate industry experts predicted that businesses would increasingly move toward a hub-and-spoke office model.
| Sep 22, 2022
Gainesville, Fla., ordinance requires Home Energy Score during rental inspections
The city of Gainesville, Florida was recently recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Energy for an adopted ordinance that requires rental housing to receive a Home Energy Score during rental inspections.
| Sep 21, 2022
New California law creates incentive for installing outdoor dining safety barriers
A new California law provides an incentive for commercial property owners to install barriers to protect outdoor diners.
| Sep 21, 2022
Demand for design services accelerates
Demand for design services from U.S. architecture firms grew at an accelerated pace in August, according to a new report today from The American Institute of Architects (AIA).
K-12 Schools | Sep 21, 2022
Architecture that invites everyone to dance
If “diversity” is being invited to the party in education facilities, “inclusivity” is being asked to dance, writes Emily Pierson-Brown, People Culture Manager with Perkins Eastman.
