Williams Mechanical project, the Norm Asbjornson Engineering Hall on the Montana State Campus, receives national recognition as LEED ‘Platinum’ building
Williams Plumbing & Heating was awarded the mechanical contract on the $53 million Norm Asbjornson (NAB) Engineering hall, which broke ground back in September 2016. After two years of construction, the innovative facility is set to open to the public next month. The 110,000-square-foot building is not only architecturally beautiful but is also one of the most energy efficient buildings in the state.
NAB Hall received certification as a LEED Platinum – one of only 10 buildings in the state to do so. The building was designed with the intent of getting as much energy as possible from the sun and surrounding earth to assist with the heating and cooling of the large building. In order to integrate the energy-efficient design into the students’ everyday learning, parts of the heating and cooling system are prominently displayed and accessible for teaching.
A few of the exciting projects in NAB that contributed to the 82 points on LEED’s 109-point scale:
- Closed-loop geothermal system that circulates water through pipes to a depth of 500 feet below the ground’s surface to either help cool or warm the building
- Diversion of 96 percent of construction waste from landfill
- Stormwater management system that includes vegetated retention ponds and an underground storage facility, reducing use of the city’s stormwater system and resulting in increased water quality
- Selection of materials containing recycled content and sourced regionally; wood was sustainably harvested
- Selection of paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants and floor coverings with low or no emission of volatile chemical