Created to house the city’s police department, fire department, and emergency dispatchers, the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building (PSB) is designed to function in both everyday and not-so-everyday circumstances. In addition to its use as a regular office space for 400 employees, the 174,000-square-foot building can withstand a magnitude-7.5 earthquake and remain operational. The PSB is a net-zero energy facility, meaning it creates as much energy as it uses, another key element in its ability to keep on running when outside systems may have failed.
Much of the PSB’s energy efficiency is achieved through its extensive use of windows and daylighting to reduce the need for electrical lighting indoors. A massive curtainwall on the building’s northwest side not only allow occupants ample daylight, but also reduces the facility’s need for back-up generators in the event of a power outage. Low E coatings on the glass help block heat, so the curtainwall adds light without driving up cooling bills.
The design of the wall is a signature architectural feature of the building, with a serpentine shape that cants backward through an S-curve. LCG Facades acted as the glazing contractor—a job the company took on even after others had turned it down due to the project’s complexity. LCG enlisted the help of Wausau Window and Wall Systems to engineer the curtainwall and window system. Each of the glass panels is a unique size and shape, which required customized design engineering, machining, fabrication, glazing and shipping.
In addition to the curtainwall, Wausau Window also engineered interior light shelves and exterior sun shades—integral parts of the daylighting and climate control systems. The light shelves and sun shades, as well as the aluminum frames for the curtainwall, all feature Valspar’s Fluropon Classic II Coating in MC Platinum, adding a pearlescent finish to the project that will provide long-lasting brilliance. Fluropon Classic II is a two-coat 70% PVDF fluropolymer resin based system that offers outstanding residence to ultraviolet radiation resulting in exceptional color retention, plus stubbornness to chalking and chemical degradation. Furthermore, the coating offers great flexibility and formability to adhere with the unique design of the building.
In an effort to continue to adhere with LEED criteria, Linetec was selected as the aluminum coating applicator as the company takes pride in being an environmentally conscious finisher, ensuring it extinguishes all volatile organic compounds found in liquid solvent-based paints before arrival on the development site.
CST Covers based in Conroe, Texas, designed and fabricated the entry canopy that extends off the front of the building, and enlisted LCG Facades to assemble the structure and glaze it with Photovoltaic glass from Schott Glass.
Furthermore, LCG Facades fabricated and installed the building’s fascia and soffit system that included ALPOLIC 4mm FR core panels finished with 2-coat Valspar Valflon® FEVE in Mica Platinum.
“One of our favorite types of projects is when an architect chooses to use both aluminum composite materials (ACM) and glass to create a harmonious final product,” said Tom Ratway, Architectural Regional Sales Manager, ALPOLIC Materials. “The Salt Lake City Public Safety Building is an excellent example of how the ACM, in this case coated in Mica Platinum, works in tandem with the curtainwall to create a distinguished façade that also mirrors its aesthetic demeanor throughout the interior space.”
Ted Derby of LCG Facades noted that the “Mica Platinum coating was selected for its color uniformity and sense of quality that the color emitted.” The Valflon FEVE Coil Coating is featured on nearly 23,000 square-feet of material and designed with durability and attraction in mind. A variety of alluring palettes make this product line a great choice for an array of exteriors. From schools to service stations, Valflon Coil Coating resists weathering, fading and chalking. Valflon also has terrific resistance to airborne chemicals, acid rain and most cleaning solvents. Offering beauty with benefits, it is clear the illustrious appearance does not sacrifice performance.
Completed in 2013, the PSB is the first net-zero energy public safety building in the U.S. It has achieved an Energy Star performance rating of 100 (the highest possible score) and LEED Platinum certification, and was also honored with an “Outstanding Award” from The Utah Pollution Prevention Association and Clean Utah.
At the building’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, Salt Lake City Major Ralph Becker summed up hopes for the building by stating it would help the city “lean forward into the arch of the possible and beneficial.” With its innovative design and efficient engineering, the PSB is an outstanding example of both the possible and beneficial.
GSBS Architects designed the structure. Okland Construction was the general contractor. Both firms are based in Salt Lake City.
ALPOLIC® materials are manufactured by Mitsubishi Plastics Composites USA of Chesapeake, VA. To learn more about the company and its products, visit www.alpolic-americas.com.
Linetec is one of the nation’s largest paint and anodize finishers, and the largest independent architectural finisher. To learn more, visit www.linetec.com