The new Nebraska Public Power District Operations Center in Norfolk, NE consolidates four previously separate locations into one highly sustainable, green facility. The 87,000 sq. ft. building has achieved LEED Gold certification.

Approximately 15,000 sq. ft. of Dri-Design panels using two different materials were used to clad the contemporary structure. The patented Dri-Design Wall Panel System is marketed as an affordable dry joint, pressure-equalized rainscreen system.

The majority of the Dri-Design panels (almost 13,000 sq. ft.) were fabricated from 1.5mm VM Anthra Zinc, a natural zinc material offered by Umicore Building Products. The remaining 2,157 sq. ft. of .080” aluminum finished in Classic Copper.

The building provides 45,000 sq. ft. of administrative space plus 42,000 sq. ft. for vehicle and equipment storage. The $20 million facility features three key alternative energy components: an expandable geo-thermal system with 128 ground source wells; the largest rotating solar collector in North America programmed to reset to the orientation of the rising sun each day; and three wind turbines of different types and sizes. Combined, the use of alternative energy sources provides a significant percentage of the facility’s required energy.

The building was designed by HDR, Inc. of Omaha. The Dri-Design panels were installed by SGH Inc., also of Omaha.

Dri-Design panels can be made from a variety of materials including painted aluminum, zinc, copper and stainless steel and are 100% recyclable. Panels are available in any Kynar color in both standard and custom sizes.