McKinney Green Building Nears Completion

The building, pre-certified by the USGBC, will serve as an example of how commercial office developments can be compatible with good stewardship of the environment.

HDR-Designed Office Building Seeks LEED Rating

The McKinney Green Building, which is seeking a LEED platinum rating for core and shell, recently achieved pre-certification from the USGBC. Image courtesy of HDR Inc.

The McKinney Green Building, designed by HDR Inc. headquartered in Omaha, Neb., is seeking a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design platinum rating for core and shell. Scheduled for completion next month, the project has already achieved a LEED for core and shell platinum pre-certification rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, which oversees LEED certification.

Austin Commercial LP of Dallas is the general contractor. Another local contractor, Andres Construction Services, served as the construction manager.

HDR worked to incorporate sustainable elements from all categories of the LEED rating system into the 61,000-sq.-ft., three-story facility in McKinney.

Since the building is a speculative office building, HDR and the owner focused on incorporating features that contribute to high-energy efficiency and excellent indoor environmental quality to reduce long-term operating costs and provide high-quality space for future tenants.

The site will use no potable water for irrigation. Instead, irrigation water will be provided by captured stormwater stored on site in underground and above-ground containers. The building will use 30 percent less water than a typical office building, with wastewater being reduced by 50 percent. The building will use geo-thermal heat pump HVAC systems, energy-efficient lighting, sunshade devices, natural daylight, under-floor air distribution, solar hot-water heating and an exhaust air-heating and air-conditioning recovery system. More than 10 percent of the energy use of the building will be produced by on-site photovoltaic panels. Green power, purchased from a wind farm, will supply the balance of any needed electrical energy. All of these features contribute to a projected decrease in energy use of approximately 62 percent.

HDR is developing Green Tenant Guidelines to encourage the office building's tenants to incorporate sustainable design into their spaces.

The LEED Core & Shell Pilot Program, while still in the pilot phase, is designed specifically for speculative office buildings such as the McKinney Green Building. It enables the owner to get a pre-certification for the building, allowing it to be marketed as a LEED-certified project.

As the first architectural firm to join the USGBC, HDR has been involved with the development and launch of the LEED rating system since it began in 1995. Since that time, HDR has registered more than 4.7 million sq. ft. of LEED space and ranks among the top 10 firms nationally for total number of LEED-accredited professionals.

Cadence McShane Completes Enduro Manufacturing Facility

Enduro Systems Inc. will relocate to its new build-to-suit manufacturing headquarters facility in Houston built by Cadence McShane. (Rendering courtesy Cadence McShane.)

Cadence McShane Corp., headquartered in Dallas, recently announced the completion of the new 117,000-sq.-ft. build-to-suit manufacturing headquarters for the >> Composite Products Division of Enduro Systems Inc. on behalf of developer Liberty Property Trust. Enduro Systems is a leading producer of fiberglass materials for applications including building products, electrical systems and structural systems.

The new Enduro Systems manufacturing facility, located within Liberty Property Trust's Central Green Business Park in Houston, was constructed of painted tiltwall panels accented by colored reveals and three glass storefront entries. In addition to the 107,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing floor and warehouse, 10,000 sq. ft. houses the firm's corporate and administrative offices. The facility features a 24-ft. clear height throughout the manufacturing area and includes two truck docks to facilitate the movement of raw materials and finished goods.

Enduro Systems Inc. will be relocating and consolidating its existing Composite Products Division from facilities in Houston and Fort Worth. The Composite Products Division fabricates fiberglass solutions including building panels, electrical components, walkway and grating systems, piping and tank systems, structural systems and instrument stands, as well as custom-designed fiberglass materials for clients worldwide.

Seeberger & Associates LP of Houston provided the architectural services.

Larrison Builds Broadcast Center at Texas Motor Speedway

Larrison Construction Texas Inc. of Fort Worth recently began construction of the new Media Broadcast Center at Texas Motor Speedway. Stuckey Architects of Weatherford is the project's architect.

The broadcast center, which partially surrounds the speedway's Victory Lane, will be a two-story multi-purpose facility for television and radio media outlets covering events at the speedway. The Victory Lane Broadcast Center will consist of seven media suites overlooking Victory Lane that will serve as sound-proof studios for television and radio, two raised outdoor platforms for live stand-ups, a deadline work room for television and radio outlets, an interview room/edit bay area and a conference room. The upper level of the center, which includes the media suites and raised platforms, is scheduled to be completed prior to the Samsung/RadioShack 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series/Busch Series race next month. The lower level is scheduled for completion prior to the Dickies 500 NASCAR triple-header weekend in November.