April/May 2009

LEED

Aardex Receives Double LEED Platinum From USGBC

The firm is one of only two in the world to achieve this distinction

By Mike Hehir, Sales, Aardex LLC

Indoor Environmental Quality

Individual air flow controls are located in the worker’s space for individual temperature and ventilation control, today’s number one office environment complaint.

Other air quality measures include:

• Implemented an indoor air quality management plan during construction
• Low VOC materials (adhesives, sealants, paints, carpet, composite wood)
• Indoor chemical and pollutant source control
• Minimum indoor air quality requirement meeting ASHRAE 62-2004 ventilation standard
• Mechanically ventilated outdoor air delivery monitoring system
• Increased ventilation by more than 30%
• The HVAC controls system has over 1100 points of data collection and produces reports on peak demand, HVAC energy demand and boiler, chiller and air handler efficiency.
• Indirect/direct fluorescent lighting is used within the building. Individual task lighting at desks or under shelving units is located within the office space (plugging into an in-floor modular electrical grid.) This daylighting system reduced power consumption to 3/4 watts per square foot, a 76% reduction from conventional designs.
• Solar Ban 70 low-E coated glass was also used throughout. Exterior (and interior) light shelves protect windows from direct sun ray and heat gain and reflect light up to 45’ into the occupied floor space inside the building. Photosensors and dimming ballasts throughout the building control lights for additional energy savings.

Design Innovations

Signature Centre is the prototype project of User Effective Buildings, a 2004 book focusing on improving productivity in the workplace through the built environment.

The project vision was to develop the highest quality office building to positively impact business achievement, improve human creativity and champion worker productivity in the workplace, fostering a life-sustaining environment of humanity and innovation.

Specific concepts and intentions included in the design were to:

• Create a life-sustaining, human interactive and productive business environment
• Bring natural daylighting and individual temperature and ventilation control to the entire building including temperature, air volume, natural and task lighting, visual and sound privacy
• Meet or beat total cost of conventional construction models
• Maximize a hygienic environment through one–time pass through air and hands-free restroom facilities
• Conserve, cleanse and return water to its natural state
• Increase use of green, recycled materials and sustainable methodologies
• Based upon User Effective™ principles of enhancing human health, comfort and happiness, absenteeism is targeted for a 20% reduction

The first certification is LEED Platinum CS (Core and Shell) for The Signature Centre. This is a five story 185,000sf structure, featuring underfloor air throughout the building with individual temperature and ventilation controls. Daylight harvesting via interior and exterior light shelving, abundant glass and individual lighting showcase the many features promoting productivity and creativity in this state-of-the-art workplace. The building’s performance for 2008 showed energy usage at 35% less than a building of comparable size.

The second certification is LEED Platinum CI (Commercial Interiors) for Aardex headquarters at Signature Centre. The space was recognized for its water savings, use of recycled materials, its energy performance and its indoor environmental quality. The space also utilizes demountable wall systems for flexibility and speed when reconfiguring space in an ever changing business environment.

“Aardex is to be commended for achieving yet another Platinum LEED certification.” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO, Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council.  “Aardex and the Signature Centre are a showcase for high-performance and energy-efficiency.”

Founded in 1983, Aardex LLC is a development, design, construction and property services firm based in Golden, Colorado.  A recognized leader in build-to-suit, Aardex also offers a wide array of design and construction services. The Company wrote User Effective® Buildings in 2004, a methodology that champions worker productivity in the workplace. Aardex builds structures that contribute to the bottom line while generating as much as 40% in utility savings at the same time. Learn more at www.aardex.com.

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CBG /April/May 2009