GSA Achieves Excellence in Sustainable Design
The General Service Administration (GSA) is leading the country in sustainability. GSA, as part of its Design Excellence Program, was the first federal agency to require all new GSA construction projects and substantial renovations to be certified through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED^®) Green Building Rating System^TM of the U.S. Green Building Council (USBGC). This rating system consists of a set of prerequisites and credits, with specific requirements for earning enough credits for a building to be certified as "green."

Exterior, Byron G. Rogers U.S. Courthouse, Denver Rendering courtesy of Mary Morissette, AIA

In 2002 GSA initiated a four-year design and construction process to modernize the Byron G. Rogers U.S. Courthouse (BRCH) in Denver. Over the past 40 years, little had been done to upgrade the building’s systems, functions, or appearance.

As a means of evaluating and measuring green building achievements, the GSA requires major modernization projects like this to exceed basic LEED certification, achieving at least a LEED Silver rating. Working with Bennett Wagner & Grody Architects of Denver, GSA planned and executed a comprehensive interior renovation that carefully integrated sustainable design features, resulting in a LEED Gold rating. The courthouse renovation was one of 50 projects designated for the USBGC's LEED EB (Existing Buildings) pilot program.

Partial exterior of BRCH entrance Photo courtesy of Mary Morissette, AIA

Renovation Overview
The planning and design effort included reprogramming the building; a new public entry and lobby; renovation of the entire building interior; complete mechanical, electrical, life safety, security, and technology upgrades; full asbestos abatement; ADA compliance; rejuvenated exterior façade; and site upgrades that integrated security elements, landscape design, and public art. The courthouse contains two levels of underground parking. The landscaped plaza consists of the entry canopy, trees, lawn panels and outdoor seating.

Constructed in 1965, the five-story Byron G. Rogers U.S. Courthouse and 18-story federal office building are notable icons in the downtown Denver federal district. Many local historians consider the complex (named after a Colorado congressman) to be a Formalist masterpiece, and the renovation preserved and re-created notable architectural details of the Formalist style.

The courthouse complex exhibits many hallmarks of the Formalist style: two self-contained blocks with symmetrical elevations and flat roofs and the incorporation of artwork and ornament. Both buildings are faced with precast stone, marble and glass—additional qualities of the Formalist style.

Main lobby inside BRCH entrance Photo courtesy of Mary Morissette, AIA

Sustainable Features

BRCH elevator lobby Photo courtesy of Mary Morissette, AIA

Sustainable site:
• Urban redevelopment. Reuse of the existing building and site. The building area is about 260,000 gross square feet.
• Alternative transportation. Easy access to both bus and light rail transportation lines
• Reduced site disturbance. Increased open space, with more than 50 percent of the site area planted using native and low-water-consumption materials
• Heat-island reduction. New white, high-emissivity roof to reduce reflectance
• Light pollution reduction. Low cut-off fixtures to minimize light pollution and light trespass

Reuse of existing materials:
• Wood wall paneling, judges' benches, and spectator seating in the courtrooms
• Marble panels and terrazzo floors in the lobby and public corridors
• Stainless-steel and brass elevator doors and frames and decorative radiator covers
• Painted metal decorative bands and original plaster reveal details.

New materials:
• Most of the new wood installed meets the Forest Stewardship Council guidelines for sustainable harvested wood products.
• Half of all materials used on the project had some level of recycled content

Indoor environmental quality:
• The entire structural system's fire protection was asbestos-containing material. This material was completely removed and the structure reprotected with non-asbestos-containing materials. Materials painted with lead-based paints were removed and replaced. The abatement process took an entire year to implement.

BRCH courtroom Photo courtesy of Mary Morissette, AIA

Optimizing energy performance:
• The mechanical, electrical, and plumbing system replacements are anticipated to achieve an Energy Star score of 88, which equates to 6 out the 10 possible LEED credits for Optimizing Energy Efficiency. The BRCH renovation is anticipated to save 30 percent on energy costs
• Plumbing fixtures such as faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads were selected, which save 20 percent compared to typical plumbing fixtures.
• The courthouse is 100 percent wind-powered, which is anticipated to eliminate 3,678,500 pounds of CO2 and 7,930 pounds of NOx.

Outcomes
In addition to achieving LEED EB Gold, the project has been recognized by AIA Denver with a Design Honor Award and Sustainability Award. Colorado Construction has recognized the project with a Golden Hard Hat Award for Outstanding Sustainable Design. The BRCH modernization project exemplifies how LEED and sustainability can be integrated with thoughtful design to create successful outcomes for renovations of existing buildings.

Bennett Wagner & Grody Architects
RMH Group
Martin/Martin
Walsh Environmental
E-Cube
Lime Green Design
Ambient Energy
MCDS/PCL Construction
Ron Pollard Photography
Jim Campbell, Artist

Mary Morissette, AIA, is a senior associate with Bennett Wagner & Grody Architects of Denver. She functioned as project manager on the courthouse renovation over a four-year design and construction duration. Morissette has 23 years of experience specializing in criminal justice and health-care architecture. She has a bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech, is an adjunct professor in the University of Colorado¹s College of Architecture and Planning, and also serves on a City and County of Denver Design Advisory Board.