NAU Receives LEED Platinum for Applied Research and Development Building

Northern Arizona University’s Applied Research and Development (ARD) Building was awarded a LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council in January of 2008. The project was designed by Burns Wald-Hopkins Architects and built by Kitchell Construction. The top floor of the three-story facility will house NAU's Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics. The 59,821-sf facility, which opened in September of 2008, is the most sustainably designed building in Arizona and one of the top three greenest buildings in the world. Earning 60 out of a possible 69 points for environmental design criteria, the ARD includes a photovoltaic solar power system, automatic shade controls, venting windows, and an enthalpy wheel. 90 percent of construction waste was recycled, and 30 percent of the building supplies came from recycled materials. 57 percent of the materials were sourced from local producers or manufacturers. Wood used in construction was harvested from a renewable forest management system and interior finishes contain no volatile organic compounds. The facility includes a green roof over the conference unit and a pervious concrete parking lot that allows water to be captured in natural aquifers to be used for irrigation and flushing toilets. Reclaimed water use and the installation of low pressure fixtures reduce water consumption by 60 percent. 75 percent of the lighting is provided by natural light throughout the building’s open design, which includes an atrium. The construction cost of $26 million is estimated to be 10 percent higher than a conventional building due to inclusion of sustainable design elements. Energy savings produced by the facility will be substantial; it is also expected that lessons learned from the facility’s design and construction will enable similar projects to be constructed in the future with greater ease and cost savings. Additionally, NAU’s Engineering and Business facilities, completed in 2006, have both received LEED Gold certification.