Entry number: UB07029
Project Name: Clark County Development Services Expansion & Remodel
Location: 4701 W. Russell Rd. Las Vegas NV
Building Type: Public Office Building
Completion Date: January 2008
Architect:  Welles Pugsley Architects

Sustainability Description

Design Team:
Architect / Interior Designer / Landscape Architect: Welles Pugsley Architects
Electrical Engineer: TJK Consulting Engineers
LEED Consultant: The Weidt Group
Civil Engineer: Nevada By Design
Structural Engineer: Mendenhall Smith

Narrative/Project Description:

The existing Clark County Development Services building was originally intended to be used as an inspection and plan check satellite facility. In 2005 Clark County decided to renovate and expand the existing Inspection and Satellite Facility and move all of the Development Services Department into to the Russell Rd. campus. Programming for the expansion began in 2004 and was completed in 2005.

The expansion will be located to the south and west of the existing building. The simple forms of the 2 story expansion are not intended to compete with the angular and sometimes chaotic forms of the existing building. The main entry will remain, along with the massing of the existing building from the site's main access. While the forms do not mimic the existing building the materials do. Cor-Ten panels are suspended from the building acting as a thermal screen, keeping the building cool in the hot dry climate of Las Vegas. Cement fiber board is used instead of stucco giving the expansion
it's own identity. Cement fiber board is more durable than stucco, and has a lower maintenance cost than stucco. Over the years the Cor-Ten will weather matching the existing Cor-Ten. Customer parking will be expanded along the east side of the building, with a secondary entrance that will connect to the new lobby. The new lobby connects to the existing lobby creating one large continuous lobby allowing Clark County to better help its customers.

Sustainability Description:

The Clark County Development Services project consists of an existing building, approximately 47,000 s.f. and the new addition and remodel, approximately 75,000 s.f. The original building was built in 2000 with passive and some active systems that helped the building perform more efficiently, however, LEED was not considered during the design process. For the past seven years, the existing building has been studied, along with other major Clark County projects and was deemed one of the most efficient to operate thus demonstrating that simple, low cost passive/active design strategies do make a difference.

With the new expansion, the County asked that the building be designed to the level of certification under the LEED requirements. Due to the efficiencies of the existing building and good design practices implemented as part of the new expansion, the project is now seeking LEED Silver certification.

The site requirements are a challenge on this project. All County vehicles, private vehicles and customer vehicles have to be accommodated thus taking up a large majority of the site with asphalt paving. The site will contain all surface run-off being captured in the landscape islands and perimeter landscape zones. All required underground infrastructure is being put in place now for a future photovoltaic array to be placed above the southern parking lot. This will act as shade structures for parking while supplying the building with all required power.

The building will implement several sustainable practices. The exterior east and west walls will have a trombe wall to block the desert sun from hitting the building directly and help circulate hot air away from the building. These walls will be made of Cor-ten steel to match the existing building. The interior of the expansion is mostly open office thus reducing the need for full-height walls and excessive hvac controls. This strategy is helping the building to meet the maximum energy and atmosphere points allowed under LEED. Lighting is efficient indirect T5-HO fixtures with task lamps at each work station. A majority of materials used are recycled or recyclable.

With these and other strategies in place, the design team is confident that the building will obtain a LEED Silver certification once completed in early 2009.