An integrated design and engineering effort led by AECOM, with a team including William McDonough + Partners, has guided NASA to the USGBC’s Platinum LEED rating for the new N232 office building at the NASA Ames Research Center in California.
The facility, known as Sustainability Base, officially opened April 20.
When NASA planned to add the first new building in 20 years to the Ames Research Center, home to much of the agency’s most innovative technology, the goal was that the facility be an exemplar in sustainability. The result is a working environment that prioritizes user health and comfort with natural daylight, fresh air and temperature control while making minimal environmental impacts. Sustainability Base will save more than 60% of the energy and more than 80% of the water typically used by a facility of its type.
An onsite fuel cell, roof-mounted photovoltaic solar panels, a geothermal heat pump, passive and low-energy HVAC systems, and intelligent building controls that interact with users are among the building’s advanced engineering features.
AECOM served as architect, engineer and landscape architect of record for the project, bringing on William McDonough + Partners for development of the design vision and sustainability goals for the project.
The Building Team also included Loisos + Ubbelohde (lighting consultant), Siteworks Studio (landscape design), MBDC (materials assessment) and Todd Ecological (wastewater treatment). BD+C
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