LCG Building Renovation
What do you get when you mix together sustainability, 1942, the Departments of Administration and Environmental Quality? If you guessed the new and improved Last Chance Gulch building, then you win a gold star!
Constructed as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project, the cornerstone was set in 1942. The building served as home to the Montana National Guard until December 2001, when they relocated to Fort William Henry Harrison.
In 2004, the Department of Administration renovated the upper two floors of the building for its new tenant—the Department of Environmental Quality. Major improvements included replacing old T-12 fluorescent lights with state of the art T-5 lighting, reducing eye strain and energy consumption. Materials were re-used when possible. Old doors can be found next to new doors, and wooden baseboards recovered from the renovation are found in the level 4 hallway, some offices and meeting rooms. Re-cycled fiber carpet was installed through level 3 and 4, low VOC paints and low flow water fixtures were used. Two years later, the level one meeting room was updated with carpet squares containing recycled fiber and designed to mimic natural processes of preventing stains. http://www.interfaceinc.com/
In December 2006, a second and more extensive remodel added an elevator to the building and provided additional opportunities for sustainable construction. The Energy and Pollution Prevention (EPP) Bureau guided this project to heighten awareness, provided $85,000 in funding for energy efficiency improvements and showcased the use of sustainable products in state owned buildings. http://www.deq.mt.gov/ppa/index.asp
Low E commercial windows replace the 65 year old single-pane
windows allowing localized control of fresh air,
a new HVAC system includes Variable Air Volume controls and air conditioning
cools the entire
building in the summer for the first time.
http://www.descoarc.com/
A large solar panel, (19’10”x 23’6”), has been installed to pre-heat cold
air and deliver it to the new HVAC system.
http://www.atas.com/Products/Wall/Solar/InSpireWall/tabid/110/Default.aspx
Recycled glass tile surrounds the new drinking fountain.
http://www.sandhillind.com/colorpalette.asp
An air lock entrance on the west side increases staff comfort by eliminating the blasts of cold air from the door and reduces energy needed to heat the space. Carpet with recycled fiber will soon be installed at the main entrance.
This is not the end: Plans for the future include using glass cullet for perimeter parking spaces and landscaping, replacing worn out carpet with recycled-content carpet squares, restoring windows to allow natural lighting and upgrading older light fixtures on levels 1 and 2. In the Parking Lot, plans are underway to provide energy efficient lighting using solar.
And the pay off? $14,000 in energy costs savings a year!
