The Associated General Contractors NM Building Branch named the Los Alamos Site Office (LASO) Building the Best Design/Build Project of 2009. The NSSB is a single story, 25,000 square foot office building that includes offices, conference rooms, kitchenettes, storage space and was designed to earn 26 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) points from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). To meet budget and environmental requirements the project team used a combination of recycled Concrete Masonry Units (CMU) and new CMU’s as the skin for the building. The recycled tan CMU’s make up the majority of the building, with new white and maroon CMU’s used to supplement the recycled material. To capitalize on funding, the architect used simplicity as the theme. The building was designed to minimize wasted floor area and maximize functionality. The design of the building includes several sustainable features. The construction team installed the following energy efficient materials; structural insulation, Solex glass, double glazed windows, mechanical systems, electrical systems, and an ambient lighting system. Also included were water efficient plumbing fixtures and a long-life cycle roof system. Recycled steel, aluminum, gypsum board and carpet were also used in the building. The design/build project delivery method allowed JBH to consult with the architects and engineers during the design phase assuring constructability of the specifications and drawings. During pre-construction, JBH helped identify several value-engineering ideas to accommodate the project budget mandated by the owner.
