Southwest Power Pool Corporate Headquarters Awarded LEED Gold Certification
The new Southwest Power Pool Corporate Headquarters was awarded Gold level of certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The Southwest Power Pool Corporate Campus is the 33rd Gold LEED Certification in the state of Arkansas.
Located in West Little Rock, surrounded by commercial shopping centers and a privately owned parcel of land, the 166,920 square foot, four-story office building was developed using the guiding principles of sustainable design as well as external factors specific to the site. The WER Architects/Planners team worked closely with the client on the overall site design – considering and organizing concepts derived from the investigation of existing site conditions and project requirements. The plan appropriately located elements with a respect for the existing topography while maintaining a physical and visual connection to the outside. The elongated, thin building form serves to maximize daylight penetration into the spaces and provide all workspaces with views to the exterior.
LEED is a voluntary third-party verified green building rating system that addresses the site, water energy, materials, and indoor environmental quality of the facility. The LEED certification of Southwest Power Pool Corporate Headquarters was based on building achievements that have a positive impact on the facility itself and the broader community.
Some of these achievements include:
– 40% reduction of potable water over a baseline modeled comparison due to efficient shower, faucet, toilet, and urinal fixtures – a reduction equivalent to more than 361,000 gallons, or almost 9,500 full bathtubs per year
– 32% energy efficiency improvement over a baseline modeled comparison to a similar building constructed to the energy efficiency standard of ASHRAE 90.1-2007 – this is equal to over $46,000 in cost savings per year
– Heat island effect was reduced by providing cover for 67% of all parking spaces and covering 100% of its roof with either a low SRI or creating a green roof
– The site was made more sustainable by ensuring that over 55% was restored with native or adaptive vegetation and almost 49% was dedicated as vegetated open space
– To incentivize alternative forms of transportation, 30 low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicle preferred parking spaces, as well as, bicycle parking and 3 showers are provided
– Of the materials used in construction: over 24% contained recycled content and over 31% were both extracted and manufactured from within 500 miles of the project site
– 67% of the total construction waste generated was diverted away from landfills
– Interior paints and coatings, adhesives and sealants, and flooring systems contained minimal or no Volatile Organic Content (VOC)