10/01/09 – Renewable Business, Sustainable Building

By Geoff Glueckstein

The second building in Minnesota to earn LEED Platinum certification comes from Avon, the town credited with providing one of the main inspirations for Garrison Keillor’s mythical Lake Wobegon. For the two-story Blattner Energy headquarters to receive such an honor emphasizes that the LEED program is available for anyone willing to invest the effort.

Blattner Energy, a leading provider of wind power built upon the foundation of a 100-year-old family construction company, began with a logistical need to create a new workspace for its increasing number of home office employees. But the company quickly recognized a natural connection between the business they’re in and the type of building they wanted to create. Blattner’s management team moved beyond thinking of it as an office building, instead recognizing an opportunity to create something that represented what they stand for.

First and foremost, Blattner wanted to create a wonderful place for its employees to come to work every day. “Not only is Blattner a family business, but employees are part of that family. So the building was designed with everyone in mind, ” explained Janice Carleen Linster, a principal with Studio Hive, one of the principal designers of the building.

“We wanted the best possible atmosphere for our employees,” added Ken Hilgert, chief estimator and director of marketing for Blattner.

Moreover, Blattner’s management team wanted their new headquarters to reinforce the company’s dedication to being leaders in stewardship to the environment. But the decision to pursue LEED certification was about much more than earning a plaque for someone’s office. It was about creating a healthy environment that fosters wellness and encourages productivity.

They ended up with everything they expected, and more. Hilgert says the building has a very holistic feel “We’re on a beautiful site, and outside views of water and wooded areas are possible from just about anywhere in the building.” It has become a building that clients, vendors and family members want to visit.

Early in the process, Blattner selected the design-build partnership of Knutson Construction and URS Architects and Engineers to develop the building. “Knutson brought in such a strong team, with so many experts and so much knowledge about LEED, it was unanimous who we were going to choose after those initial meetings,” Hilgert said. Studio Hive was soon added to the design team, and subcontractors Parsons Electric, Horwitz-NSI and others joined the team later in the development process.

The 52,000 square-foot Blattner Energy building consists of two rectangular office structures that are connected by a two-story arc visible from both the interior and exterior. Employees use these areas near the arc—kitchen, fitness area, coffee, and employee café-- for informal gatherings, meetings and even social activities.

“Our employees love coming here to work. The building officers a healthy environment, encourages collaboration, and enhances productivity,” added Hilgert.

For the site of the building, Blattner and the team chose land near Interstate 94 that had previously been used to store equipment and materials. The proximity to Linneman Lake, a wooded Avon hillside, and a variety of community resources made it an ideal location.

The headquarters for Blattner Energy—and for its sister company, D.H. Blattner—were designed to meet some specific employee priorities. Employee involvement in the design process is evident throughout the building, as is management’s consideration for their people. For example, when leadership noticed the spectacular views available from one of the corner offices, they made the decision to turn it into an area accessible to all employees so that everyone could appreciate the view.

Blattner’s involvement of senior management, department heads and employees throughout the company matched the collaborative approach of Knutson, URS and Studio Hive. The Knutson/URS/Studio Hive team began working on the Blattner project in summer of 2006. It took a one-year planning and design process, and another year for construction. Blattner employees moved into their new offices in June of 2008.

Pursuing LEED

The quest to earn LEED certification became a key area of focus for all team members. “The Blattner commitment to sustainability is remarkable,” explained Peter Styx, lead principal for URS and the project’s executive architect. “They brought the subject of certification up at the beginning, and their people dedicated the time early in the process to learn about the LEED expectations.”

Designing it was a fluid and collaborative process, according to Shawn Gaither, also with Studio Hive. “We were continuously assessing options, evaluating ideas, considering sustainability, examining costs and timing issues. There was collaboration all the way through to completion. It made the project more successful.”

As the project proceeded, the team looked at environmental impact, reusing and recycling materials, and considered long term operating expenses. They realized that the Platinum certification level - requiring 52 LEED credits--was within reach. “The building’s energy performance greatly increased our ability to gain the Platinum level—we added 10 credits once we made the decision to use the geothermal wells, ground source heat pumps and ice storage for heating and cooling,” Hilgert explained. In the end, the building earned 57 points.

Styx coordinated and drove the LEED process, a big job that required input from everyone. Knutson led the effort on site to ensure compliance to all the necessary regulations. “The Blattners were extremely focused on achieving certification,” explained Scott Wingrove, Knutson’s project manager. “Their commitment added excitement for everyone involved, and it made it easier for us to push that mentality out to people at all levels of the project.”

Despite having nearly 20% of Knutson’s workforce accredited as LEED AP, Wingrove said that getting everyone trained was a big job. “This is still a fairly new process, and we’re still teaching employees and subcontractors about what is expected.  For example, people had to learn to use separate dumpsters for cardboard, steel, plastic, and other materials.”

In the end, earning LEED Platinum required a bigger commitment from all parties involved in the project. “Certainly there is a cost to the process,” explained Styx. “It takes time to plan the program, consider needs, and educate the client.”

Blattner’s management team took a long-term approach to the building. Hilgert said that the company is proud to be looking forward as a steward of environmental resources. “Our building exemplifies our decision to be a strong part of the renewable marketplace.”

What kinds of design and construction features earned LEED credits?

• Replaced 40% of cement with alternate materials to reduce CO2 emissions.
• 20% of building materials were recycled and supplied within a 500-mile radius.
• Recycled 294 tons of construction waste, or 77% of total construction waste on the project.
• Chose specific interior finishes—paint, adhesives, sealants, floor coverings—that limited toxic emissions
• Used geothermal wells, ground source heat pumps, and ice storage for heating and cooling.
• Installed efficient water fixtures that reduce daily usage by 40%
• On-site native plants—flowers and grasses—require no permanent irrigation
• Outdoor air ventilation system reduces indoor air pollutants in by 2/3
• Restoring habitat on site
• Added inside and outside features to accommodate alternative transportation
• Included controllable lighting and thermal systems that allow employees to conserve energy.
• Installed white parking lot and roof designed to reflect sunlight and reduce heat absorption

Geoff Glueckstein is Vice President of Project Planning and Development with Knutson Construction Services.