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Cover Story - November 2009

Sustainable City

Chandler Demonstrates its Commitment to Building Green

A multitude of projects are going for LEED certification in Chandler, including the 131,000-sq-ft city hall.

By David M. Brown

Four projects in Chandler are illustrating that the suburban Phoenix city is going green.

Two of the projects are on the original campus of Chandler-Gilbert Community College at Pecos and Gilbert roads. The 3,991-sq-ft Javelina Hall, a classroom and office building, opened for the fall semester, and the two-story, 62,948-sq-ft Ironwood Hall, a classroom and laboratory building, should open on schedule in November.

The design for the $12.9-million Ironwood Hall includes protective outdoor spaces and a sculptural steel bridge that connects to an adjacent building. Image courtesy Architekton

The 8,862-sq-ft Chandler CARE Center, 777 E. Galveston St., a health care and human-services project, is scheduled to open Jan. 11, and the largest project, the 131,000-sq-ft Chandler City Hall, is on track to open in fall 2010.

“Chandler is committed to green building, and we’re leading by example,” says Mayor Boyd W. Dunn. “We know the decisions we’re making today will have a long lasting, positive impact on Chandler for years to come.”

Chandler-Gilbert Community College

At CGCC, Javelina and Ironwood halls — as well as the earlier LEED-certified Jacaranda — reaffirm the school’s commitment to sustainable construction. The two most recent buildings are in accord with the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, which targets climate-neutral campuses by 2030.

Built under budget, Javelina Hall is aiming for LEED silver and includes many sustainable elements including shade structures and occupancy sensors. Photo by Color Repro Consulting Inc.

CGCC was the first of the 10 Maricopa County Community College District schools to sign this voluntary agreement. It’s now mandating that its campus buildings attain at least LEED silver or equivalent.

Javelina and Ironwood halls offer tangible evidence for CGCC’s continuing pursuit of improved sustainability techniques in construction planning, campus management and LEED-certification objectives,” says Bruce Scharbach, director of facilities services for the school.

Javelina Hall, which is going for LEED silver, was constructed under budget for $559,792 (not including furnishings), says Gary R. Eberhard, RA, architect-district project manager for MCCCD and project manager for both halls. The building was designed by Phoenix-based Gabor Lorant Architects and built by D.L. Withers Construction, Phoenix. Construction began March 10.

Sustainable elements include the use of shade canopies; natural light/sky lighting; 14.1 KW of solar roof panels; high-efficiency HVAC system; low-water-use plumbing fixtures; use of local, recycled and highly reflective materials; water-efficient landscaping; and occupancy sensors.

In addition, the project team recycled 85% of construction waste, says Quintin Smith, LEED AP, collaborative design coordinator for D.L. Withers.

A signature gateway for the campus’ north entry, Ironwood Hall is projected at $12.93 million in construction (not including furnishings), Eberhard says. Designed by Tempe-based Architekton and built by Caliente Construction, Mesa, the two-story project is tracking LEED silver.

The classroom and laboratory building should attain 25% energy savings compared with similar building types in the desert climate, says John F. Kane, FAIA, LEED AP, principal for Architekton. Tom Reilly, AIA, LEED AP, is the project manager.

The design includes protective outdoor courtyards, loggias, porches and campus entries. A sculptural steel bridge connects the second story to an adjacent building.

The primary bearing structure is an insulated concrete form system (ICF), with exterior foam. On the ground floor, the foam is removed to reveal a vertically combed concrete surface, which achieves a composite R-19 value.

“On the second level, a commodity metal siding is used over the ICF system, creating a maintenance-free colorful skin, while also achieving a system R-value of 50,” Kane says.

Chemistry labs, which require complete outside air, have been separated from lecture spaces that permit recycled air. “This reduces the square footage requiring 100% exhaust to only the spaces where experiments will actually be conducted — at the lab benches,” Reilly says.

The building should also gain LEED credits from indoor air quality, both during construction and when the building is occupied, notes David Hanson, LEED AP, assistant project manager for Caliente Construction. MERV-8 filters at thereturn air grill, for example, were installed because the permanent air handling unit was used during construction, he says.

Chandler CARE Center

Phoenix-based Brignall Construction began the $2-million Chandler CARE Center on Aug. 8. It was designed by the Tempe office of BCDM/Barduson Architects.

Tracking LEED silver, Chandler CARE Center will save more than 15% of energy compared to similar facilities. Image courtesy BCDM/Barduson Architects

Funded by Chandler Unified School District voters, the city of Chandler, the Chandler Regional Hospital and Foundation and private donations, the Childrens Assistance Resources & Education center will serve those in need with medical, dental, food, clothing and training programs. Volunteer doctors, nurses, fire-fighters, dentists, teachers and police officers will staff the CARE center, notes its director, Susan Scott Horan, Ph.D.

Brignall is tracking LEED silver for the Childrens Assistance Resources & Education center. LEED credits include high-efficiency water closets and urinals and daylighting through multiple solartubes and skylights. The facility will save more than 15% of energy compared with similar facilities, says Tammy Parker, director of marketing and business development for Brignall. The general contractor has also required subcontractors to use low VOC-emitting materials and do multiple cleanings of the site every day.

Chandler City Hall

The city’s new focal point structure, the five-story Chandler City Hall at South Arizona Avenue and Chicago Street, is tracking LEED gold but eyeing platinum. The Phoenix office of SmithGroup designed and is serving as MEP engineer for the $47-million urban redevelopment project. The Tempe office of Sundt Construction, as construction manager at risk, began construction in April.

Eyeing LEED platinum, Chandler City Hall maximizes daylighting due to its east-west orientation while a photovoltaic system atop the garage will develop energy that can be sold back to the power company. Photo courtesy Sundt Construction

The SmithGroup team, led by Mark Roddy, AIA, LEED AP, design principal, created an “urban-edge,” pedestrian friendly design that connects with adjacent city departments and to AJ Chandler Park. The central council chambers are clad in glass and will be a glowing beacon at night.

SmithGroup’s sustainable design leader Jeff Stanton says that the design maximizes daylighting through its east-west orientation, increased glazing on north and south exposures and narrow floor plates.