SEATTLE-The Seattle District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has moved into new headquarters at Federal Center South Building 1202, a design-build project led by ZGF Architects LLP and Sellen Construction. The 209,000-square-foot, high-performance building transformed an industrial brownfield warehouse site into the 21st century workplace, which is expected to merit LEED Platinum certification and an ENERGY STAR score of 100.

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, according to a prepared statement, and it is one of the first in the region to combine the use of geothermal heating and cooling systems with structural piles.

The $72 million project, funded by 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, is part of the US 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, according to a statement.

According to US Representative Jim McDermott, “This is the way buildings should be built if we are going to conserve energy and deal with climate change. With its innovative water capture and energy efficiency, the new district headquarters is a model for sustainable buildings.”

The flexibility, collaboration, and transparency of this building's physical layout provide the ideal environment to build on that legacy, adds US Army Corps of Engineers District Commander Colonel Bruce Estok.

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

The 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, according to a prepared statement.

Instant Insights /

Seattle&#146;s 1202 Building To Be One of Region&#146;s Most Efficient

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