A new three-building project for the City of Tucson Water Department provides office and warehouse space, along with a shop facility. Totaling 21,127 sq. ft., the buildings feature metal systems from Star Building Systems. The project earned LEED Silver Certification.

The office building measures 7,735 sq. ft. and the shop is 6,820 sq. ft.; these buildings sit offset of each other, endwall to endwall, with flash tie-in only. The shop was designed with a 4-ton, single girder top running crane and the office area has an open web design which creates aesthetic appeal. The open joist rafters were designed by Star Building Systems and manufactured in Houston, TX.

All of the three buildings are single-slope structures, which aided in water harvesting. Other features – including Star Building Systems’ recycled material content and design efforts, MBCI Battenlok HS Snow White roof panels, and passive heating and cooling - all contributed to the LEED Silver Certification of this project.

The high sides of the single-slope structures face the north to reduce the area exposed to the desert sun. This fact - along with the use of the Snow White roof panels, at-eave and below-eave canopies, shade fins and R-38 Therm-All insulation - contribute to the cooling efficiencies of these buildings.

The warehouse utilized R & S weathertight curbs with ‘Day Brite’ skylights for natural lighting. Masonry accent walls of varying heights and full height glass walls were also incorporated into the metal building design.

Steadfast Structures, Inc. was the metal building systems contractor. The architect was Albanese–Brooks Associates PC. The general contractor was Lang Wyatt Construction. All are located in Tucson, AZ.

For more information on MBCI, visit www.mbci.com.

For more information on Therm-All, visit www.therm-all.com.