Gold: Outstanding Architectural Design
Salt Lake County Public Works Administration BuildingSubmitted by Blalock and Partners
Sustainability was a primary focus of the new 22,807-sq-ft Salt Lake County Public Works Administration Building after the facility’s occupants suggested that the finished building exceed LEED-Gold and work toward LEED-Platinum certification, which is pending. It will be the county’s first LEED-Platinum project, and first LEED-Platinum building in Utah constructed with no private funding. The project was delivered more than $1 million under budget.
Many of the building materials were chosen for their recycled content, as well as their ability to be recycled at the end of their lives. Recycled materials contributed more than 30% to the total materials cost. Recycled and reclaimed products include timbers salvaged from the Great Salt Lake railroad trestle, bottle glass used in countertops, a steel structure that is 80% recycled, and numerous wood products, paper, plastics and metals.
The shape of the roof allows natural light to penetrate deep inside, reducing the demand for electric lighting. The building orientation and roof overhangs are passive-solar system, limiting the amount of direct sun into spaces in the summer, and allowing more solar-heat gain in the winter.
Midvale, Utah
$4.6 million
Owner: Salt Lake County
Contractor: R&O Construction
Architect: Blalock and Partners
Engineers: Great Basin Engineering, Reaveley Engineers + Associates, Van Boerum & Frank Associates, Envision Engineering
Among the Subcontractors: Landmark Design Inc., Morrison Maierle Inc., RG Concrete, Amfab Steel Specialties, JD Sales, All Metals Fabrication, Mountain Valley Glass, Ron J. Peterson Construction
Start: Jan. 2009 Finish: April 2010
