Phoenix --The new Phoenix Regional Office of DPR Construction, designed by SmithGroupJJR, has been officially certified as a Net Zero Energy Building by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). It’s the largest building in the world to achieve Net Zero Energy Building Certification through the Institute to date.
SmithGroupJJR designed the comprehensive renovation of the windowless, 1970s concrete block building, transitioning it into a model for sustainable adaptive reuse.
Located at the corner of 44th and Van Buren in a once declining area of Phoenix, the 16,533-square-foot storefront had most recently operated as an adult-themed boutique before standing vacant for three years. The eyesore building was purchased by DPR Construction, a national general contractor and construction manager, which was looking to build a highly-efficient, sustainable workplace and reaffirm its commitment to better the community in which it works.
Today, DPR’s new building is an ultra-energy efficient and modern workplace that’s embraced by its employees and the community.
“Many building owners may think it’s impossible to turn an aging, neglected building into something highly sustainable – especially in an extreme climate like Phoenix. But that’s precisely what we’ve achieved,” said Mark Roddy, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, SmithGroupJJR design principal. The entire project was completed in less than 10 months and is the first Net Zero Energy Building SmithGroupJJR has designed.
Net Zero Energy facilities integrate a combination of energy-producing technologies like solar and wind, and implement efficient HVAC and lighting systems to reduce a building’s overall energy usage. To achieve Net Zero Energy Building Certification, a facility must demonstrate a net energy consumption of zero over the span of one year.
SmithGroupJJR incorporated a range of advanced, sustainable design solutions to achieve Net Zero Energy consumption, such as:
— An 87-foot solar chimney enables a passive cooling system, releasing hot air out of the building while drawing cooler air in.
— Nearly 90 operable windows throughout the building work in tandem with the energy monitoring system to open and close based on indoor and outdoor temperatures.
— Eighty-two solar optical tubes, Solatubes harness light from rooftop domes and bring it into the workspace, nearly eliminating the need for artificial lighting.
— Twelve 8-foot diameter Big Ass Fans® circulate air flow throughout the office.
— A “vampire” switch cuts off 90 percent of plug loads, which would otherwise continue to draw power at night when the building is unoccupied.
— Four evaporative Shower Towers direct water-cooled air inside, also helping to regulate building temperatures.
— Producing power for the building is a 78.96 kW photovoltaic-covered canopy over half of the parking lot. The system is capable of generating enough power to offset the building’s annual energy usage and is critical to allowing the facility to achieve Net Zero energy consumption.
Tracking the building’s energy production and consumption in real time is an online building dashboard, prominently on display in the office’s reception area.
The new office building for DPR employees working in Phoenix is more than a sustainability powerhouse. Inside, SmithGroupJJR designed a “workplace of the future” environment, where employees share a common, open work environment void of enclosed, private offices. Unique, on-site amenities include a gym complete with men’s and women’s showers, a Zen Room for quiet breaks, and an 18-foot wine bar. A kitchen with café and two green-screened outside courtyards provide additional breakout venues. Video conferencing rooms, a learning lab, and a glass-walled Innovation Room with whiteboards and reconfigurable furniture encourage collaboration and teamwork. Rolling, glazed, garage-style doors can be raised to join the inside offices with an outside courtyard.
Since its completion in October 2011, the new DPR Phoenix Regional Office has become a living laboratory for the community, showcasing how to live and work sustainably in a desert environment. DPR has opened its building to host gatherings and meetings for a range of businesses and non-profit organizations. The company openly shares its building and the lessons that were learned during design and construction with audiences that include professional organizations, public and private programs, and school children of all ages.
DNV KEMA Energy and Sustainability served as sustainability consultant. Structural engineering was provided by PK Associates.
SmithGroupJJR (www.smithgroupjjr.com) is a recognized integrated design firm, ranked Top 10 in the U.S. by Architect, the magazine of the American Institute of Architects.A national leader in sustainabledesign, SmithGroupJJR has 351 LEED professionals and 88 LEED certified projects. SmithGroupJJR has four other buildings currently in design or under construction that aspire to be certified by the ILFI as Net Zero Energy Buildings.
Related Stories
| May 15, 2014
Paints, coatings, and sealants: 10 new ways to seal the deal
Color-shifting finishes, dry-erase surfaces, and stain-blocking paints are highlighted in this round up of new offerings in paints, coatings, sealants, and finishes.
| May 15, 2014
Biking to work up by 60 percent, according to Census Bureau report
Many U.S. cities are seeing an increase in bicycle commuters, according to new a U.S. Census Bureau report. While bicyclists still account for just 0.6% of all commuters, some of the nation's largest cities have more than doubled their rates since 2000.
| May 15, 2014
'Virtually indestructible': Utah architect applies thin-shell dome concept for safer schools
At $94 a square foot and "virtually indestructible," some school districts in Utah are opting to build concrete dome schools in lieu of traditional structures.
| May 15, 2014
First look: 9/11 Memorial Museum opens to first-responders, survivors, 9/11 families [slideshow]
The 110,000-sf museum is filled with monumental artifacts from the tragedy and exhibits that honor the lives of every victim of the 2001 and 1993 attacks.
| May 14, 2014
New study shows employees aren't happier working in green buildings
People working in buildings certified under LEED’s green building standard appear no more satisfied with their workplace environments than those in conventional buildings, according to new research from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Nottingham.
| May 14, 2014
Construction growth looking up: Gilbane Spring 2014 Economic Report
Construction spending for 2014 should finish 6.6% higher than in 2013, with nonresidential work contributing substantially.
| May 14, 2014
Prefab payback: Mortenson quantifies cost and schedule savings from prefabrication techniques
Value-based cost-benefit analysis of prefab approaches on the firm's 360-bed Exempla Saint Joseph Heritage Project shows significant savings for the Building Team.
| May 13, 2014
First look: Nadel's $1.5 billion Dalian, China, Sports Center
In addition to five major sports venues, the Dalian Sports Center includes a 30-story, 440-room, 5-star Kempinski full-service hotel and conference center and a 40,500-square-meter athletes’ training facility and office building.
| May 13, 2014
Drexel University case study report: Green Globes cheaper, faster than LEED
GBI’s Green Globes certification process is significantly less expensive to conduct and faster to complete than LEED certification, says Drexel prof.
| May 13, 2014
Steven Holl's sculptural Institute for Contemporary Art set to break ground at VCU
The facility will have two entrances—one facing the city of Richmond, Va., the other toward VCU's campus—to serve as a connection between "town and gown."
