Property Innovation with LEED Certification at EPA’s New Virginia Offices
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Award Finalist
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), working in partnership with GSA, is leasing a new, speculative facility in the Potomac Yard area of Arlington, Virginia, that serves as an example to both developers and tenants on how to develop more “green” speculative buildings.
Through a coordinated, team effort among agencies and the developer, the facility has achieved Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program—no small feat for an acquisition of this nature.
To ensure a sustainable facility, EPA drafted environmental provisions as part of the competitive Solicitation for Offers (SFO) for the space it needed for its Virginia office space, including energy and water efficiency and environmentally preferable materials and design. The ENERGY STAR label for buildings and LEED Silver level certification were mandatory requirements—with monetary penalties if they were not met.
The SFO was awarded to developer Crescent Resources, LLC for speculative buildings underway at One and Two Potomac Yard, two 12-story buildings with a total of 654,000 square feet of office and retail space located on a formerly abandoned railroad yard in Arlington, Virginia. Construction of the facility began in 2004, and occupancy began in May 2006, with the building dedication and full EPA occupancy in July 2006.
The Potomac Yard facility features:
- Energy and water conservation
- Site selection to minimize impacts on the surrounding environment
- Proximity to alternative transportation options
- Responsible stormwater management
- Waste reduction, recycling, and use of green building materials
- Improved indoor air quality through the use of low volatile organic compound products and careful ventilation practices during construction and renovation
- A small “green” roof to reduce the urban heat island effect
- Many other sustainable features.
The design and construction process was collaborative not only among team members, but within EPA, where occupants with expertise in a variety of programmatic areas provided technical expertise during the process. The result was a resounding success; by the time EPA had fully occupied the building in summer 2006, the facility had achieved LEED Gold certification.
Throughout the process, EPA learned a number of lessons that will serve the agency well in future acquisitions; for example, frequent contact and a good rapport with the developer are extremely important. LEED certification requires teamwork and careful planning to meet various—and sometime conflicting—requirements by GSA, EPA, USGBC (for LEED certification), Federal Protective Service (for security), and Arlington County, Virginia.
Perhaps the most valuable lesson for EPA in the long run is that incorporating LEED and ENERGY STAR certifications into a speculative building is an achievable goal. Through commitment of all team members working together, the building was able to attain many sustainable attributes, while maintaining reasonable costs and schedules for the developer. As sustainable practices are becoming more common and sought out, this serves as an example to EPA, other agencies, and developers, who have an opportunity to meet more tenants’ needs.
Contact:
Cathy Berlow, Architect
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Administration and Resource Management/Office of Administrative Services/ Facilities Management and Services Division
berlow.cathy@epa.gov
