Challenge

The goal is to design a state-of-the-art 300,000-square-foot sustainable facility that includes a museum, meeting facilities, an auditorium for conventions and a full-service restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.

The project is intended to reduce consumption of non-renewable resources, minimize waste and create a healthy, productive environment.

Solution
The design will feature geothermal HVAC, energy-efficient heat pumps and automatic lighting controls to help reduce energy consumption. Wind turbines and solar panels will produce enough energy to operate the facility, and natural airflow will ventilate the building. Self-dimming windows will minimize solar infiltration and heat load. The facility design will include a complete gray water system, which will capture roof runoff water to use in toilets. Instead of asphalt and concrete, the site will feature a gravel and grass paving system, which will allows the water to naturally filter back into the earth and into a lagoon for on-site irrigation.

Results
The facility will earn LEED Platinum certification.