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2007 Closing the Circle Award Winner, Sustainable Design
DoD converted the Pentagon Officer Athletic Center (POAC) into the Pentagon Library and Conference Center (PLC2) and incorporated green building techniques into the construction. The conversion established 115,000 square feet of space which consists of an Army library, 16 conference rooms, and several offices for the PLC2 complex. The buildings construction utilized sustainable architectural design practices highlighted by several main points of emphasis.
Siting: PLC2 uses the existing building shell. A green roof covers 50 percent of the roof, providing thermal tempering, heat island reduction and stormwater runoff mitigation. Being part of the Pentagon reservation, the building is near the Pentagon Metro station and the Pentagon’s designated bicycle, carpool and vanpool parking areas, encouraging mass transit, carpooling, and other means to reduce transportation-related air pollution. Energy Efficiency: Skylights allow for the building to take advantage of the large number of daylight hours the area receives. A green roof now covers 50 percent of the roof’s surface with plants and other types of vegetation in order to reduce the heat island effect and costs to cool the building. Overall the building is 20 percent more energy-efficient than a similar building following the ASHRAE 90.1-1999 standard. Water Efficiency: The building contains ultra-low-flow showerheads, urinals and lavatory aerators which will reduce water usage by more than 30 percent. The site now takes advantage of an existing lagoon to irrigate and the use of low-maintenance landscaping to reduce water consumption. Indoor Air Quality: Urea-formaldehyde free wood products, low-emission paints, sealants, adhesives, carpeting, and hard-wired carbon dioxide detectors were used. Indoor ventilation, heating and cooling components were protected from dust, moisture, and mold during construction. A demand-controlled ventilation system uses sensors to respond to the number of occupants inside a specific area. Materials: In addition to using the existing building structure, the PLC2 was constructed with recycled content materials, materials manufactured within a 500–mile radius, or environmentally preferable products. Based on the functional requirements of each particular space, environmentally preferable finish materials were emphasized. For example, flooring includes carpet tile, linoleum sheet or tile, ceramic tile, and terrazzo. In addition, more than 85 percent of the construction waste was diverted from the waste stream through recycling. Construction and Demolition Recycling: More than 85 percent of the construction waste was diverted from the landfill by recycling. Other Sustainable Practices: A Green Housekeeping plan has been created to ensure the minimal use of toxic chemicals during maintenance.
Contact Walter Nielsen at walter.nielsen@whs.mil or (703) 962-5167.
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