The Applied Research and Development Building showcases the latest innovations in high-performance construction technology, energy efficient design, and use of renewable energy. It earned 60 points out of a possible 69 to meet the highest rating—Platinum—from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system. It is the greenest building in Arizona and has the third highest LEED point total in the world.

Construction: 90 percent of waste materials generated from the construction of the building were recycled instead of being sent to the landfill. About 30 percent of the materials used were made from recycled materials, including insulation made from recycled denim jeans. 57 percent of the materials used were produced, manufactured or harvested locally. Wood used in the building was harvested from a certified renewable forest in Arizona. The building’s concrete contains 40 percent fly ash (waste from coal-fired electric plants), keeping this material out of landfills and reducing the need for cement. Cement manufacturing is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy efficiency: A 160-kilowatt photovoltaic system donated by APS provides up to 20 percent of the electricity for the building. A back-up heating system uses roof - mounted solar thermal panels. Unique “enthalpy wheels” installed in the air-handling units extract heat from the exhaust air to pre-heat fresh air from the outside, capturing heat from the building that otherwise would be lost. Sunlight provides more than 75 percent of the lighting for occupied spaces.• Light-harvesting technology adjusts office lighting by reading the brightness of the room. Automated shade controls regulate solar gain to keep building temperatures within a comfortable range. All result in reducing energy needs by 60 percent.

Reduced building impact: Storm water runoff is reduced with the use of innovative pervious concrete paving. Landscaping is designed to collect and filter pollutants. The living or “green” roof on the conference unit is designed to insulate the building, reduce the “heat island” effect typical of large roofs and maintain a native vegetation cover that requires little or no supplemental irrigation after initial establishment.

Water efficiency: Indigenous landscaping reduces irrigation requirements by 50 percent. Reclaimed water replaces potable water for landscaping irrigation and flushing toilets. Low-pressure faucets, waterless urinals and low-volume toilets reduce water needs by 60 percent.

Gross square feet: 59,821
Architect: Burns, Wald-Hopkins Architects
Contractor: Kitchell Contractors, Inc.

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"ARD pulls in another honor"