A New Green Building for the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality

As the state’s primary environmental agency, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality felt compelled to lead by example when it came time to plan its new headquarters—choosing, not only to build a “green” structure, but to have it assessed using the Green Globes™ system.  The end result: an impressive rating of three Green Globes.

The new, six-story building is near the Arkansas River and was constructed using materials sourced from local and regional vendors wherever possible. Materials had high recycled content and were highly recyclable, and were chosen with consideration of their life cycle assessment (LCA) results. Life cycle assessment considers materials over the course of their entire lives and takes into account a full range of environmental impact indicators—including embodied energy, solid waste, air and water pollution, and global warming potential.

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality headquarters received a rating of three Green Globes. (photo: © 2007 www.Shields-MarleyPhoto.com)

The main features of the 124,310 square-foot building include long north/south exposures which run parallel with the river and allow breezes off the water to help cool the facility, the storage and collection of recyclables to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill, and the establishment of a 100 percent smoke-free campus, which completely eliminates the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

To encourage greater environmental awareness, tours of the headquarters are available to the public. The building has space for classes and discussions, including an outdoor amphitheater and indoor auditorium. It also features a 21-acre education outreach conservation easement, which is set aside as a wetland mitigation and natural habitat setting. The site is forever designated by the state government to remain in its natural, unimpeded condition along the banks of the Arkansas River.

To achieve its rating, the design team used the Green Globes tool to assess and rate the building. The rating was then confirmed by a third-party building science expert, who reviewed the construction documents and conducted an on-site inspection.

For more information, click here to visit the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality Web site, or visit www.thegbi.org.