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The new Western District Police Station, Saint Paul's fourth station, opened in December and sought an assessment and rating under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards.
The city and the project planners had expected a LEED Silver designation. Instead, they learned their new building met the threshold for a gold rating.
The project team worked with the Police Department, public works staff and others in the city worked with the Energy Design Assistance program of the Xcel Energy company to produce the high-efficiency building that houses almost 100 officers, their command staff and the Police Department's Crime Prevention Unit. The building also has a workout center, an indoor parking garage and space for community meetings.
According to the city, the new building exceeds the Minnesota State Building Code for energy efficiency by at least 40 percent and is 48 percent more energy efficient than conventionally built commercial structures of comparable size.
The station's green elements include a high-efficiency heating and cooling system with in-floor heating for the garage and first-floor perimeter and an energy recovery exhaust system that uses the air exiting the building to temper incoming air; an Energy Star-rated white roof system; eastern and southern exposures to make the most of sunlight and illuminate offices with natural light when possible; a storm water management system that incorporates rain gardens, holding ponds and permeable pavement to manage run-off; a smart lighting system with occupancy sensors; locally-produced pre-cast concrete wall and floor panels; and use of A-410 refrigerant in the cooling system to avoid producing emissions that deplete the ozone layer.
The new station opened in December and celebrated its LEED designation in October.
