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1375 East Court Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa is the address for this modern facility that will house more than 90 employees of the two agencies. It is modeled to consume 62 percent less energy than a typical office building that is compliant with the Iowa Energy Code and an onsite photovoltaic renewable energy source will reduce its energy use even further. The building will feature a long list of energy efficiency measures highlighted by a geo-thermal heating and cooling system, roof top solar panel electric production, and maximum use of natural lighting.
The Des Moines office of Berkebile Nelson Immenschuh McDowell Architects (BNIM Architects) of Kansas City, Missouri is the lead designer of the building. BNIM recently designed a “green” building for the State of Missouri and is also working with the tornado devastated town of Greensburg, Kansas as it rebuilds itself as a “green” community.
The State will seek the highest certification, LEED Platinum, from the U.S. Green Building Council. The building was designed and will be built using strategies aimed at improving performance in areas of energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. The building will use geo-thermal technology for heating and cooling, a daylight harvesting sunscreen, and the photovoltaic solar panels.
The IUB will have education programs to showcase the energy saving features of the building so that public and private entities interested in building similar sized facilities can see first hand many of the available options. An information kiosk is planned for the lobby and other activities will include building tours, speakers bureau programs, and printed materials to promote the energy efficiency features.
General contractor for the building is J. P. Cullen and Sons of Janesville, Wisconsin. The century old contractor has a number of public building projects to its credit in several states.
The new building replaces leased space occupied by the two agencies. By state law they are to be co-located and have been so at 350 Maple Street in Des Moines since 1998. The building is not being paid for with general fund money but is being financed through public bonds. Twenty-year bonds are being used to finance the construction of the new building and the bonds will be retired with funds that had gone to monthly lease payments by the agencies.
For additional information:
Building Announcement News Release - July 10, 2009
BNIM Technical Specifications Worksheet.
LEED Platinum Designation (off-site)
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