First Utah State University Building Goes Green and Receives National Honor

Salt Lake City, Utah (July 7, 2009) - One of only a handful in the state of Utah, the Utah State University (USU) Wetland Discovery Point at Utah Botanical Center now stands as the first USU building to earn the highest honor possible for sustainable and green design-LEED Platinum Certification. In garnering the certification by the U.S. Green Building Council the center (http://utahbotanicalcenter.org) is not only green, but able to maintain itself without disturbing the ecological balance of the surrounding wetlands.

ajc architects (http://www.ajcarchitects.com), a Salt Lake City-based architectural firm, designed and achieved LEED certification for the Utah State University Utah Botanical Center Wetland Discovery Point. The new LEED Platinum-certified building is designed to "open-up" to the wetland environment and extend the indoor space to the outdoors, while providing an indoor-outdoor learning experience for the more than 4,000 school-age children visiting the Utah Botanical Center each year. (http://utahbotanicalcenter.org/htm/innovation/demonstration/wdp/)

The Utah Botanical Center Wetland Discovery Point in Kaysville, Utah has been designed with green features including:

• a passive solar trombe wall
• solar water heating and solar power
• sustainable building materials
• high-performance glazing
• geothermal and radiant floor technology
• water saving plumbing and Utah-native landscaping.

"The primary goal of Wetland Discovery Point is to be an example of sustainable design through its architecture and building systems," said Derek Wilson, AIA, LEED AP, project architect for ajc architects. "The building's form is the result of both passive and technology based systems. For example, the butterfly roof functions as both a rainwater collector and sun regulation device, maximizing interior solar exposure in winter months, while blocking the summer sun from entering the building."

The Utah Botanical Center Wetland Discovery Point is the result of a shared vision and partnerships between Utah State University, public agencies, individuals, businesses and foundations.