POC: April Wackerman
Resources: Report and
Press Release - March 2012Uploaded: May, 3, 2012
“The Town of Vail and Vail
Fire and Emergency Services are extremely proud to have achieved a LEED Gold
certification for the new West Vail Fire Station # 3. Vail has embraced environmental
sustainability and the construction of the new fire station was one of the
first projects in which we collaborated with the Institute for the Built
Environment. Our project was not only a success, but we enjoyed the learning
process along the way. Our Architect, Belford-Watkins Architect Group, was very
knowledgeable and invaluable in the LEED process. As one of only five fire
stations in Colorado to achieve LEED certification, we are thrilled to be
leading by example and reaping the benefits of exceptional energy savings.”
–Mark Miller, Fire Chief.
The Town of Vail, CO. has just opened its newly LEED Gold
Certified Fire Station and as stated above it is one of only five in the entire
state of Colorado to achieve this level of efficiency in building, design, and
construction. Much of the credit is due
to the diligence of the designers and contractors who were able to recycle 91%
of the construction waste to keep it from going to the landfill. 16% of the materials used in construction
were regionally sourced with an additional 10% of the materials containing
recycled content. By setting design and construction goals early in the project planning process,
the team was able to reach some amazing efficiencies.
·
Highly efficient
indoor water fixtures have reduced the daily water consumption by 41% compared
to a typical building.
·
High performance
glazing, daylighting, lighting controls, increased R-values in the roof and
walls, and other features contribute to the superior energy performance of the
building, allowing it to perform over 21% better than a similar building built
to code.
·
Daylighting
throughout 99% of the building reduces energy consumption and improves the
quality of the indoor environment.
·
Low VOC adhesives,
paints, and carpets increased the air quality of the indoor environment.
·
The Town of Vail
has also decided to purchase Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to offset 70% of
the estimated electricity needs of the building for 2 years.
The building
is a 15,000 square foot facility which includes housing to accommodate up to 12
firefighters and modern training facilities.
These modern professional training facilities are state-of-the-art apparatuses designed to increase the
effectiveness of fighting fires in the high rise multiple occupancy structures.
The location of the building is
conveniently located close to alternative transportation corridors and access
points giving it a high profile and adding to its appeal for the town. It serves as an educational center piece by
displaying panels that detail the green design elements of the building. Visitors, students, and staff gain valuable
insight and understanding by experiencing the building and reading about the
techniques that went into the design and construction of the building. In addition, Graduate student interns with
the Institute for the Built Environment were directly involved in the LEED
coordination and documentation process. Graduate students from the Departments
of Construction Management and Interior Design participated and guided the LEED
certification process. These real-world
project experiences are invaluable educational tools that not only help
students understand the LEED process but give them a leg up in our extremely
competitive employment environment.
Funding
for Vail Fire and Emergency Services Station 3 was provided by the Town of Vail
general fund reserves and from the Capitol Project Fund.
