Environmental Center

City of Sioux Falls Public Works Environmental Center | Sioux Falls, SD

Merit Award

a

City of Sioux Falls Public Works Environmental Center

The City of Sioux Falls began a grant-funded Sustainability Masterplan in early 2011 resulting in measurable goals and outcomes to guide environmental improvements. As an outgrowth of the masterplan, the City desired to embody the mission of its new Leading Green initiative through an addition to its hazardous waste drop-off location. The addition demonstrates salvaged material re-use, innovative use of common materials, sustainable landscape management and energy conservation. The building is the City’s first LEED project, now certified at the Gold level.

City of Sioux Falls Public Works Environmental Center

b

City of Sioux Falls Public Works Environmental Center

Upper Level Floor Plan

O

O

O

O

O

O

Community Workspace

DN

DN

Main Level Floor Plan

f Mechanical/Electrical

Mud

a

Reuse Room

Conference

Reception

Storage

d

Document Storage

Classroom

e

c

b

The new facility provides office and classroom space, and additional paint and electronics storage to supplement the hazardous waste drop-off operations. It also houses the public Reuse Room where used paint, household and automotive chemicals and electronics can be picked up for free.

City of Sioux Falls Public Works Environmental Center

c Heating and cooling is supplemented by horizontal geothermal loops buried beneath a naturally planted landscape designed to slow water run-off and benefit loop efficiency.

Shading for south side glazing was to be provided by a green screen cut early in the project. The aspen trees, also part of the original project, will eventually provide summer shade while allowing winter sun to warm the interior concrete floor. Clerestory windows are operable to aid in natural ventilation and provide light to second story offices.

City of Sioux Falls Public Works Environmental Center

d

City of Sioux Falls Public Works Environmental Center

tires

bottles

OSB

particle board

e

milk jugs

The design philosophy kept finishes to a minimum. Polished concrete floors, an OSB feature wall and exposed particleboard casework demonstrate the inherent beauty of everyday construction materials. Lighting is simple except in the case of two artist-commissioned light fixtures created from salvaged materials, including Budweiser bottles, copper wire and milk jugs which adorn the entry areas. Inexpensive corrugated metal provides exterior cladding accented by tire treads. (During a tour of the landfill the City asked the design team to use a disgarded pile of tires in the building’s design.)

City of Sioux Falls Public Works Environmental Center

f

City of Sioux Falls Public Works Environmental Center

North Elevation

East Elevation

South Elevation

West Elevation

City of Sioux Falls Public Works Environmental Center

South Facing Building Section 2

East Facing Building Section

North Facing Building Section

West Facing Building Section

South Facing Building Section 1

City of Sioux Falls Public Works Environmental Center