flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Dow Business Services Center building named 2012 “America’s Best Buildings of the Year” winner

Dow Business Services Center building named 2012 “America’s Best Buildings of the Year” winner

Building constructed with air sealing and insulation products from Dow Building Solutions.


By Posted by Tim Gregorski, Senior Editor | October 2, 2012
The three-building, 205,000-sf campus was designed to consume 20% less energy th
The three-building, 205,000-sf campus was designed to consume 20% less energy than required by current building codes.

Dow Building Solutions is proud to announce that the Dow Business Services Center Building was selected as a Merit Award recipient in the 2012 BUILDINGS ABBY (America’s Best Buildings of the Year) Awards Program.

The three-building, 205,000-sf campus was designed to consume 20% less energy than required by current building codes. This completed facility located in Midland, Mich., was constructed using insulation and air sealing solutions from Dow to help successfully integrate sustainability with aesthetics. It is on target to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification.

A variety of high-performing building products from Dow Building Solutions were used to maximize air, moisture and energy management within the building envelope of the facility:

•      THERMAX Wall System, featuring continuous insulation, flashing, and an air barrier, was installed on the exterior walls to streamline construction and allow Dow to downsize HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) equipment and thus reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions; 

•      The building’s energy-efficient “cool roof” reflects solar heat and protects the underlying insulation and roof structure. STYROFOAM™ Brand Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Foam Insulation was installed under the white roof, the slab, and around the foundation to provide long-term R-value and enhance overall building energy efficiency.

•      Roof and wall junctures, the roof perimeter, and other air infiltration points were sealed with FROTH-PAK Foam Insulation and GREAT STUFF PRO Insulating Foam Sealant, to provide a moisture-resistant seal and help reduce air leakage.

As for the design of the facility, the interior incorporates as much daylight as possible. Horizontal sun shades block sunlight when needed and self-tinting windows eliminate glare. Roughly 99% of workspaces are in an open office design, allowing daylight to penetrate. Interiors also feature low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints, finishes, adhesives, and wood products, with all carpets meeting the CRI (Carpet and Rug Institute) Green Label Plus standard. Individual temperature controls signify Dow’s attention to personal comfort, as do CO2 sensors that run the ventilation system as needed.

Outside, the parking area includes 26 spaces that meet accessibility standards, 67 spots reserved for fuel-efficient vehicles, and six Level II charging stations, along with infrastructure for 20 more electric cars. Sand obtained from digging out the retention pond was reused to raise building foundations and large areas of naturally landscaped green space and a live pond provide natural habitat for wildlife. +

Related Stories

| Dec 6, 2013

Goettsch Partners selected 2013 AIA Chicago Firm of the Year

Architecture firm Goettsch Partners (GP) has been named the 2013 Firm of the Year, as conferred by the Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Chicago). The award is the highest honor a firm can receive from the chapter.

| Dec 5, 2013

Maximizing the impact of online marketing

Because most professional services firms exist to help their clients reduce risk and navigate an uncertain future, they tend to approach the world of online or digital marketing with some caution. Here are four tips for maximizing the impact of online marketing.

| Dec 5, 2013

Translating design intent from across the globe

I recently attended the Bentley User Conference in Vejle, Denmark. I attended the event primarily to get a sense for the challenges our Danish counterparts are experiencing in project delivery and digital communication. One story I heard was from a BIM manager with Henning Larsen Architects in Denmark, who told me about a project she’d recently completed overseas in the Middle East. She outlined two distinct challenges and offered some interesting solutions to those challenges. 

| Dec 3, 2013

‘BIM for all’ platform pays off for contractor

Construction giant JE Dunn is saving millions in cost avoidances by implementing a custom, cloud-based BIM/VDC collaboration platform.

| Dec 3, 2013

Historic Daytona International Speedway undergoing $400 million facelift

The Daytona International Speedway is zooming ahead on the largest renovation in the Florida venue’s 54-year history. Improvements include five redesigned guest entrances, an extended grandstand with 101,000 new seats, and more than 60 new trackside suites for corporate entertaining.

| Dec 3, 2013

Creating a healthcare capital project plan: The truth behind the numbers

When setting up a capital project plan, it's one thing to have the data, but quite another to have the knowledge of the process. 

| Dec 3, 2013

Architects urge government to reform design-build contracting process

Current federal contracting laws are discouraging talented architects from competing for federal contracts, depriving government and, by inference, taxpayers of the best design expertise available, according to AIA testimony presented today on Capitol Hill.

| Dec 3, 2013

Construction spending hits four-year peak after rare spike in public outlays

An unusual surge in public construction in October pushed total construction spending to its highest level since May 2009 despite a dip in both private residential and nonresidential activity.

| Nov 27, 2013

BIG's 'oil and vinegar' design wins competition for the Museum of the Human Body [slideshow]

The winning submission by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and A+ Architecture mixes urban pavement and parkland in a flowing, organic plan, like oil and vinegar, explains Bjarke Ingels. 

| Nov 27, 2013

Retail renaissance: What's next?

The retail construction category, long in the doldrums, is roaring back to life. Send us your comments and projects as we prepare coverage for this exciting sector.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category


Warehouses

California bill would limit where distribution centers can be built

A bill that passed the California legislature would limit where distribution centers can be located and impose other rules aimed at reducing air pollution and traffic. Assembly Bill 98 would tighten building standards for new warehouses and ban heavy diesel truck traffic next to sensitive sites including homes, schools, parks and nursing homes.



halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021