The Science & Technology Facility at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colo., has received a Platinum LEED rating from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The SmithGroup-designed Federal facility joins only 28 other buildings worldwide to have achieved this designation.

Dedicated in August 2006, this 71,000-gross-square-foot, multi-story facility houses solar, basic science and hydrogen research. The Science & Technology Facility enhances the laboratory’s research capabilities to meet the Department of Energy’s goals for advancing solar, hydrogen and other promising clean energy technologies.

"This cutting edge, environmentally sound high performing building is the best outreach and teaching tool that we can offer the public," said Nancy Carlisle, AIA, LEED AP, senior project leader at NREL’s Strategic Energy Analysis and Applications Center.

According to Mike Medici, AIA, President of the Phoenix office, SmithGroup’s energy-saving design innovations are numerous. In order to preserve as much of the natural ecosystem as possible, the structure evolved from a one-story facility to a multi-story structure, reducing the overall footprint. The orientation of the building, and appropriate placement of windows, including clerestory glazing, hold the facility’s energy consumption at bay while providing abundant natural light to the offices and laboratories within. Additional sun-control elements such as Briese-Soleil and horizontal shading fins were implemented to further conserve energy. SmithGroup’s engineers specified state of the art mechanical systems, reduced lighting power density, automated lighting controls and utilized underfloor air systems for the office, reducing energy consumption by over 40 percent as compared to similar new federal buildings. Close coordination with project team members ensured that 11 percent of the building materials were derived from recycled materials, 27 percent of the construction material was manufactured within 500 miles of the building site and 80 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills.