Boulderspace

In second place at the United States Green Building Council’s Natural Building Competition, CU Architecture and Planning Students Michele Williams and Tina Alberico integrate design and technology to achieve 63 of the 69 LEED Credits.

Through collaboration and integration of the high performance design, The Alliance Center Expansion will provide the existing Center with a venue that moves towards their goal of a “truly sustainable world.” Creating a new building that meets and exceeds LEED Platinum, the structure will educate the Denver Community as well as the architectural community. This will create a positive impact on both the environment and society as a whole. Since the Alliance Center Expansion is located in the heart of lower downtown Historic District, similar patterns, glazing and massing have been replicated to create a contemporary design within the historic guidelines.

Innovation & Design:

• Educational digital screen
  • Digital screens located throughout the building will display educational information about the building and information about the non-profit that will occupy the building for guided or self-guided tours and passing by pedestrians
• Passive solar heating and cooling system
• Solar heated domestic water
• New materials
• Fans in alley for on site wind power

Sustainable Sites:

• Urban Infill Site
• Reduced Parking
• Open Space / Green Roofs
• Reduce Pollution from Vehicles
  • Located a quarter mile from two major transportation hubs
  • Bike storage and changing rooms located on site for easy storage and showering
  • Preferred parking for low emitting fuel efficient vehicles and shared vehicle program

Water Efficiency: Innovative Water Conservation

• The Alliance Center Expansion Space will be fitted with Denver’s purple pipe system, assuring that used water is recycled and reused around Denver as a non-potable water for watering plants and low flow toilet fixtures
• Faucet flow restrictors, spray power - Replace water with air, creating higher pressure and less water use through this method
• Low Flow Shower Heads
• Dual-Flush toilets
• “The Perfect Flush” one gallon toilets

Energy & Atmosphere:

• Optimize Energy Performance
• On site renewable energy
  • Wind powered fans on the alley side
  • Integrated PV panels and power glass will supply energy and reduce environmental impacts
• Use of Grid Source renewable energy
• Enhanced Refrigerant Management
• Measurement and verification
• Green Power

Materials & Resources:

• Material Reuse
• Recycled content in all products and materials
• Energy Star certified appliances
• Rapidly renewable materials
• Certified woods
• Post-Tension Concrete Structure
  • Reduces 2″of concrete per floor, saving in materials as well as labor costs

Indoor Environ. Air Quality:

• Outdoor air ventilation
• Low emitting materials
• Lighting
  • Comfortable flooring controlled be controlled by the occupants and will include occupancy sensors and perimeter zone sensors
• Thermal Comfort
  • Raised flooring controlled by groups or an individual will help to increase productivity, comfort and wellbeing
• Views
  • All spaces will be provided with views of daylight from the outside by means of indoor/outdoor spaces and atrium views
• Day Lighting
  • Natural light will be placed where the least amount of sun light reaches.
  • 84% of the spaces are naturally daylight

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For more details, graphs, and layouts on this project; check out their competition board below:

• Board #1

Links:

• United States Green Building Council’s Natural Building Competition - Winning Design

Tags: Alliance Center Expansion, CU Architecture and Planning, LEED Platinum, Michele Williams and Tina Alberico, USGBC's Natural Building Competition