A signature gateway for the campus’ north entry, Ironwood Hall is projected at $12.93 million in construction (not including furnishings), Eberhard says. Designed by Tempe-based Architekton and built by Caliente Construction, Mesa, the two-story project is tracking LEED silver.

The classroom and laboratory building should attain 25% energy savings compared with similar building types in the desert climate, says John F. Kane, FAIA, LEED AP, principal for Architekton. Tom Reilly, AIA, LEED AP, is the project manager.

The design includes protective outdoor courtyards, loggias, porches and campus entries. A sculptural steel bridge connects the second story to an adjacent building.

The primary bearing structure is an insulated concrete form system (ICF), with exterior foam. On the ground floor, the foam is removed to reveal a vertically combed concrete surface, which achieves a composite R-19 value.

“On the second level, a commodity metal siding is used over the ICF system, creating a maintenance-free colorful skin, while also achieving a system R-value of 50,” Kane says.

Chemistry labs, which require complete outside air, have been separated from lecture spaces that permit recycled air. “This reduces the square footage requiring 100% exhaust to only the spaces where experiments will actually be conducted — at the lab benches,” Reilly says.

The building should also gain LEED credits from indoor air quality, both during construction and when the building is occupied, notes David Hanson, LEED AP, assistant project manager for Caliente Construction. MERV-8 filters at thereturn air grill, for example, were installed because the permanent air handling unit was used during construction, he says.