North Boulder Recreation Center

Project Summary

City of Boulder
Boulder, Colorado

Project Type:
Recreational Center

Size:
61,000 Square Feet

Year Constructed / Occupied:
2002 / 2003

Project Details

The North Boulder Recreation Center expansion and renovation significantly increased the size of the existing facility and earned a LEED Silver Certification. The most significant energy efficient strategy was the installation of a solar water heating system with 5,700 square feet of collector area. Thought to be the largest solar hot water system installed in the United States in the past 20 years, the system will reduce natural gas consumption of the facility by 50% and provide year-round heating for the two indoor swimming pools.

To minimize the use of material resources, the design reused significant portions of the original shell, and emphasized recycled and environmentally sustainable materials throughout the building. Over 75% of the construction waste was diverted from landfills. Salvaged materials from the existing building were reused at other facilities, and existing trees from the site were transplanted to local parks.

Sustainable Design Features

LEED™ v. 2.0 Silver Certification
A large solar hot water system, high efficiency boilers, high performance glazing, a white roof, and tight envelope construction all contributed to an overall energy savings of roughly 37% annually over a minimally compliant ASHRAE 90.1-1999 building.
The facility was a renovation project with an emphasis on minimizing construction waste and using recycled and environmentally sustainable materials.
High indoor air quality was achieved through careful selection of paints, adhesives, carpets, and other finishing materials, as well as good housekeeping practices during construction.
An aggressive use of drought-resistant plantings reduces water usage.
Access to daylight is provided to occupants throughout the building.

Go to the LEED® Consulting section to learn more about how AEC can help with this type of project.