U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Moves into One of the Nation's Most Energy Efficient Office Buildings

With an aggressive energy-saving design, it is anticipated to be among the top one percent of office buildings in the U.S. for energy-efficiency

News provided by

ZGF Architects LLP

Nov 26, 2012, 10:07 ET

SEATTLE, Nov. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Seattle District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers moves into new headquarters at Federal Center South Building 1202 today, a design-build project led by ZGF Architects LLP and Sellen Construction. The 209,000 square foot, high-performance building transforms an industrial brownfield warehouse site into a 21st century workplace and sets a new standard for the marketplace.

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The $72 million project, funded by 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, is part of the U.S. General Services Administration's Design Excellence program to promote sustainability, help communities and advance a clean energy economy. GSA aimed to develop a state-of-the-art office building that meets the current and future needs of the Army Corps and its Seattle workforce. It is expected to merit LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and an ENERGY STAR score of 100.

"This is the way buildings should be built if we are going to conserve energy and deal with climate change," remarked U.S. Representative Jim McDermott at a recent dedication ceremony. "With its innovative water capture and energy efficiency, the new district headquarters is a model for sustainable buildings."

The 1202 building is anticipated to be the region's most energy-efficient air conditioned building – using one fifth of the estimated energy for a standard office building in the Northwest. It uses an innovative "Phase Change Material" that releases and stores cold-energy to reduce the building's cooling needs, and it is one of the first in the region to combine the use of geothermal heating and cooling systems with structural piles.

Sustainable features include:

25,000 gallon cistern stores rainwater from the rooftop for use in toilet flushing, irrigation, etc.
90% of the building is naturally daylit through optimization of floor depth and facade
100% outside air is filtered and distributed via underfloor ventilation
300,000 board feet of reclaimed timber is used from an existing warehouse on site
50% reduction of impervious surfaces, creating 4.5 acres of pervious landscape

"We now have the right physical space to maximize our contribution as the nation's engineer. Throughout our history, innovation and sustainability have been Seattle District hallmarks. The flexibility, collaboration, and transparency of this building's physical layout provide the ideal environment to build on that legacy," said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District Commander Colonel Bruce Estok.

The distinctive U-shape of the building configured around a central atrium introduces biophilic design principles such as daylight, views, natural forms and elements into the workplace to enhance employee health and productivity.

"The Oxbow configuration pays tribute to the historic course of the Duwamish Waterway and honors the Corps' mission of 'Building Strong,'" said Allyn Stellmacher, ZGF Architects LLP Design Partner. "It allows light to penetrate deep into the core where the office floor plates wrap around a central atrium with shared conference rooms and building amenities that encourage interaction and collaboration."

For more information on the building: http://gsa.gov/portal/content/288961.

About ZGF Architects LLP
ZGF Architects (www.zgf.com) is a national practice offering services in architecture, urban design and interior design with offices in Seattle, Portland, New York, Los Angeles and Washington, DC. The firm has received over 650 awards for design excellence, including the Architecture Firm Award, the highest accolade given to a company by the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

SOURCE ZGF Architects LLP