Reclamation Green Building in Boulder City
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American Recovery & Reinvestment Act
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Platinum Certification Event
On January 17, 2013, Reclamation’s Green Building received a Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) under its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, sustainability rating system. The building opened in September 2011 as the newest addition to Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Regional Office and is the first Reclamation building (and the third for the Department of Interior) to receive the highest LEED rating. Also see photo gallery.
Ribbon-Cutting and Dedication
On Sept 8, 2011, approximately 140 staff, dignitaries and local residents joined Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor and Lower Colorado Regional Director Lorri Gray-Lee in a dedication/ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the agency’s first Green Building. Following the ceremony, participants toured the building eager to view the features this unique building brings to the historic town. The building uses, through low-flow technology and reclaimed water use, 39% less water than a typical building of this size. It also implements a water-cooled air conditioning system that uses less electricity than an air-cooled system, and features its own 588-panel, 135-kilowatt capacity solar farm to generate enough electricity to provide 62% of the building’s annual energy demand. Also see news release, photo gallery and video.
Background
The Bureau of Reclamation constructed a new “green” office building for approximately 170 employees in its Date Street Complex in Boulder City, Nevada. The project was funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Public Law 111-5) at a total cost of about $14.8 million, including all planning, regulatory compliance, design, construction, and contract management.
The City of Boulder City was developed in southeast Nevada through the Boulder Canyon Project Act to house workers building Hoover Dam. Since 1943, Boulder City has served as the Regional Office headquarters for Reclamation's Lower Colorado Region which administers water resource management programs in southern Nevada, southern California, most of Arizona, and small sections of New Mexico and Utah.
The Regional Office workforce of approximately 320 employees was dispersed among four separate office locations in Boulder City. The new "green" building allowed the Regional Office to consolidate its staff in two central locations: the Date Street Complex and the Administrative Complex near Wilbur Square Park. This consolidation provides economic, environmental, operational efficiency, and productivity benefits.
Description
Reclamation and a contractor interactively planned, designed, and constructed a high performance and sustainable office building and related systems, including parking.
The building and related systems are designed and constructed in accordance with the 2008 Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings, which include optimizing energy performance, protecting and conserving water, enhancing indoor environmental quality, and reducing environmental impact of materials. Additionally, the building and related systems will achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) “Platnium” rating as described by the United States Green Building Council LEED Rating System for New Construction and Major Renovations, Version 3.0 (2009).
This building is located adjacent to and within the view-shed of the Boulder City Historic District listed in National Register of Historic Places. As such, the building’s features are compatible with the Boulder City Historic District and existing surrounding buildings.
Regulatory Compliance
As part of the regulatory compliance process, Reclamation prepared an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act that analyzed potential effects on resources associated with project alternatives, and identified several best management practices to avoid, minimize or compensate for potential Project effects. Also, Reclamation consulted with the Nevada State Historic Preservation Officer in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act. As part of this consultation, Reclamation engaged interested parties, including the public.
Acquisition Process
A solicitation (and amendments) for the design and construction of the office building and related systems was advertised using full and open competitive procedures and in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 36.3 - Two-Phase Design/Build Selection Procedures. The resulting contract was awarded to Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. of Baltimore, MD. (See news release.)
For more information on this project, navigate through the menu options above, or contact David Palumbo at dpalumbo@usbr.gov or 702-293-8131.
