6.12.13 | Las Vegas, NV | The new City Hall of Las Vegas has received LEED-NC Gold certification from the US Green Building Council. Designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, with Executive Architect JMA Architecture Studio, the building and interior design tells the story of the city’s past and present energy resources, and embodies the City’s commitment to a sustainable energy future.

The energy story, told by Elkus Manfredi’s design for City Hall, begins in the City Council Chamber’s sand-colored form, which recalls the ancient desert mounds created by underground springs that once sustained the area’s first inhabitants, the Paiute tribe. The Hoover Dam, chief energy source of today’s Las Vegas, is represented on the building façades and in the Great Room lobby. Glass fins on the main façade depict the Colorado River cascading down the walls of the dam; in the lobby, laminated glass of varying thickness is lit from behind to suggest the water of the dam falling over the concrete blocks with which the Dam was built. The sun, sustainable energy source of the future, is represented by rays shooting across City Hall’s east-wing façade and falling onto the plaza’s 33 solar trees.

The finale of the story occurs at nightfall, when programmable LED lights affixed to the edges of City Hall’s southern facade’s glass fins are illuminated. Dancing across the building’s face, the solar-powered light shows are an exuberant tribute to the citizens of Las Vegas and a beacon to all that the new Las Vegas has arrived, a place where an open city government celebrates the city’s history and commits itself to a vibrant and sustainable future.

Sustainable design strategies included:

Site

§ Building orientation along east-west axis maximizes solar orientation and minimizes heat gain from the low western sun.

§ Native vegetation suitable for hot, dry environment.

§ 100% rainwater retained on site. Drip system directly irrigates vegetation.

§ Photovoltaic “trees” shade open plaza; transformed energy redirected to street power grid.

Building Envelope

§ Low-emissivity

high performance glass curtainwall. Fritted glass on west elevation reduces heat gain from low-setting sun. Fritted glass in skylights reduces interior glare.

§ Floor-to-ceiling windows and open office plan around perimeter maximize daylight penetration to interior spaces.

§ Increased thermal insulation and highly reflective roof.

Electrical

§ Reduced interior lighting power density

§ Lighting controls (automated, manual) in office areas: daylight monitoring balances daylight and interior lighting; occupancy sensors automatically switch lights off/on

§ Premium efficiency lighting fixtures, ballasts, supply/return fans, and pump motors.

Mechanical

§ Direct evaporation cooling of outside air; water-cooled chiller for remainder of cooling

§ High-efficiency condensing gas boiler

§ Variable speed drives on cooling pumps

§ CO2 control of outside air: sensors reduce ventilation in proportion to occupants served

§ Improved efficiency domestic hot water equipment.

Plumbing

§ Dual-flush water closets; low-flush urinals; low-flow lavatories, showers, sinks.

Miscellaneous

§ Charging stations for alternative-fuel vehicles

§ Low-emitting materials: paints, sealants, adhesives, carpet, composite wood.

Photography Credit

© Brad Feinknopf

About the Firm

Elkus Manfredi Architects is a nationally recognized design firm providing architecture, interior architecture, urban design, master planning, and programming services. For more information visit www.elkus-manfredi.com.