People: Architect, Albanese-Brooks Associates, Tucson; general contractor, Lang Wyatt Construction, Tucson
Products: The facilities utilize metal building components from Oklahoma City–based Star Buildings Systems, a company of Houston-based NCI Group. Also used were Battenlok HS roof panels in snow white from Houston-based MBCI.
Fine Points: This 21,127-square-foot, three-building project for the city of Tucson Water Department provides office and warehouse space as well as a shop. Masonry accent walls and full-height glass walls are incorporated into the metal building design. All of the buildings are single-slope structures with the high side facing north to reduce exposure to the desert sun. This, along with Battenlok roof panels, at-eave and below-eave canopies, shade fins, and R-38 insulation, contribute to cooling strategies. Water harvesting, passive heating and cooling, and use of recycled materials helped the project earn LEED Silver from the U.S. Green Building Council.