New AF Weather Headquarters gets green light Published May 2, 2008 By Carrie Kreisler, Bellevue Leader managing editor OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- The finishing touches are being put on the Air Force Weather Agency's headquarters at Offutt. The $27 million building is Air Combat Command's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified project, meaning it meets "green" standards Part of the program requirements from the Air Force was that the new 188,000-square-foot building be LEED certified. Points are collected to reach different levels of LEED certification and the AFWA building is hoping to obtain the silver level, said Miles Brown, AFWA public affairs director. AFWA personnel will begin transitioning into the new facility in the next couple of weeks. They have been working in the Martin Bomber Building for the last 35 years. About 800 people will make the move throughout the summer. Construction on the new building began in March 2006 and occupancy began this past January. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was the design and construction agent for the Air Force on this project. They contracted with Kenneth Hahn Architects for the design and provided construction management services during the building phase of the project. Kiewit Construction Group was the builder. "This is a treat for us," Mr. Brown said. "This is the first time an Air Force Weather Agency has had a new building." Building "green" meant keeping in mind energy savings and recyclable materials, among other things. The original plan also called for the building to be turned directly toward the sun, but to save energy, architects shifted it 90 degrees northwest. It is built at a higher standard with more sophistication than if it was not LEED certified, said Larry Hopp, who is on the board of the U.S. Green Building Council. The lighting is controlled with motion sensors and dimmers and the use of natural light. Also, temperatures at workstations can be individually adjusted with floor diffusers. Research has proven that "green" buildings increase worker productivity because heating and cooling systems are less noisy and cause fewer complaints from employees about the temperature, Mr. Hopp said. "Green building is certainly a growing phenomenon," he added. Additional "green" features include: - Nearly all of the construction materials were recycled, a requirement for government projects. - The white roof reflects light instead of absorbing heat into the building. - The special modular walls make it easy to reconfigure the cubicles. The desks in those cubicles are made of steel, which is also recyclable. - Centrally located areas for refrigerators and coffee pots, printers and fax machines and recycling bins reduces energy costs. - Special no-irrigation landscaping. The facility also includes a 250-seat auditorium that can be used by anyone at Offutt, space for food vendors, a video wall and display area for the history of AFWA. The basement of the building is divided into space for the agency's computer systems. AFWA will use 8,000 square feet plus 4,000 for testing. The National Weather Service will use 4,000 square feet for its primary computer system, which is currently housed in Maryland.