NOAA Satellite Operations Facility (Suitland, MD)

LEED Gold

Project Team
GSA Contact: Jimmy Hopkins, Project Manager
Owner: U.S. General Services Administration
Architect: Joint Venture: Morphosis (Los Angeles, CA) and Einhorn Yaffee Prescott (Washington, DC)
Contractor: P.J. Dick, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
Sq. Ft.: 208,271
Completed: Substantial completion: Jan. 2006. Building dedication: June 11, 2006

Sustainable Site

  • BMP (Best Management Practices) are followed on the site in the event of any construction.
  • Erosion and sedimentation control plan equal to or more stringent than the referenced EPA standard.
  • The building is within a 1/2 mile of a public rail station.
  • Bicycle storage and shower/ changing rooms available for alternative transportation for occupants
  • Preferred parking for car/van pools.
  • 84% of the site has been restored to this previously developed site.
  • 20,126 sf of vegetated open space is provided to offset the buildings 13,127sf footprint.
  • The project has reduced the storm water runoff rate and runoff quantity from pre-development conditions.
  • 50% of the on-site parking stalls are located underground.
  • 99.9% of all non equipment roof area is planted.
  • Stormwater is treated on site with a removal rate of 85.24 for TSS and 55.46% for TP.

Water Efficiency

  • Water-efficient landscaping – No irrigation is needed for selected plantings.
  • Water use reduction - that the project has reduced potable water use by 20.3% from a calculated baseline design.

Energy & Atmosphere

  • Optimized energy performance - the project performs 27.4% better than ASHRAE 90.1-1999 requirements using the LEED ECB method. Energy efficiency measures incorporated into the building design include underfloor air, a green roof, high efficiency HVAC, variable frequency drives, air and waterside economizers, high performance glazing and slab insulation.
  • Additional commissioning requirements have been completed or are under contract to be completed.
  • The projects HVAC & R equipment does not contain HCFC’s or Halon.
  • The project has purchased Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), equal to 50% of the project's energy consumption, that meets the Green-E definition for renewable energy for a minimum two years.

Materials & Resources

  • Diverted 53.4% of on-site generated construction waste from landfill
  • 19.54% of the total building materials content, by value, have been manufactured using recycled materials
  • 26.42% of the total building materials (by cost) have been manufactured within 500 miles of the project site
  • 14.79% of the total building materials value have been manufactured using raw materials that were harvested, extracted, or recovered within 500 miles of the project site

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)

  • HVAC design complies with the recommended design approaches in ASHRAE 2001 Fundamentals Chapter 32, Space Air Diffusion
  • An indoor air quality management plan was used during construction.
  • Two-week flush-out period conducted prior to occupancy; construction IAQ Management plan was in compliance with SMACNA guidelines, during construction, MERV 8 filters were installed at grilles
  • Low Emitting adhesives, sealants, and carpets were used.
  • Indoor pollutant sources including janitor closets and copy rooms are separately vented and entrances have walk off mats or grills.
  • Regularly occupied non perimeter areas are provided with controls for airflow, ventilation, and lighting controls.
  • The project is designed to maintain indoor comfort within the ranges of ASHRAE 55.
  • Thermal comfort monitoring system installed for relative humidity and temperature
  • 94.3% of critical visual task areas have a daylight factor of at least 2%.
  • 94.2% of all critical visual task areas have direct access to views of the outdoors.

Innovation and Design

  • 99% of all non-equipment roof area is planted.
  • The project has purchased Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), equal to 100% of the project's energy consumption, that meets the Green-E definition for renewable energy for a minimum two years.
  • 84% of the site has been restored to this previously developed site.
  • Green Housekeeping program
  • LEED Accredited Professional (Doug Gehley)
Last Reviewed: 2019-02-26