Completed by the Hunt/Lydig Joint Venture in December 2008 with Integrus Architecture, Coyote Ridge Corrections Center recently received its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification.

The 560,000-square-foot Coyote Ridge Corrections Center is the first correctional facility to achieve LEED Gold certification. Even better, building the facility to LEED standards did not add to the overall construction cost; helping to set a new standard in correctional facility construction.

Building to higher standards has many benefits. The state will benefit long-term from reduced utility costs thanks to a decrease in the use of water, sewer, natural gas and electricity. Overall, it is estimated the prison will use 32% less energy when compared to a similar-size facility.

Some of the notable benchmarks in efficiency include:

• 32% Reduction in energy use overall
• 32% Reduction in water use
• Car pool/van program designed to transport employees in from the Tri-City area.
• 96% of construction waste was recycled or reused.
• 46% of materials in the facility are constructed from recycled material.
• 45% of the building materials were fabricated locally.

Site Sustainability

Light reflective roofing covering 100% of the roofing surface has significantly improved the micro-climate around the facility. Light colored materials absorb less heat. On the roof, this means less heat is transmitted through the structure, lowering the heat load on the equipment. In the yard, where visibility is a must, using materials on the ground that absorb less heat reduces the temperature in the yard.

To manage the stormwater potential of this 145-acre site, a stormwater collection and detention system was determined a high priority. The stormwater system uses underground piping and drywells to collect and hold the water to ensure that flow rates of the stormwater leaving the site do not exceed predevelopment conditions.

Water Efficiency

The gravel landscaping on this site was developed to be consistent with the security needs of this facility, and to be a durable, low-cost solution to landscape needs that reduces water consumption as well as herbicide and pesticide use. The area of landscape outside the inmate yard alone would use millions of gallons of water a year if it supported lawn or dense vegetation. The domestic water system inside the buildings has been designed using ultra low-flow fixtures like 1.5-gal/min showers, 0.5-gal/ flush urinals, and 1.1-gal/ flush toilets to save an estimated 5.5 million gal. of water per year.

Energy Efficiency

Attention to detail leads to a savings of over 50,000 MBtus of energy each year. Energy efficient water heaters, boilers, and air handling units coupled with energy efficient building envelopes and sophisticated temperature and control systems are expected to save Coyote Ridge over $370,000 a year in energy costs.

In addition to these savings, a Photovoltaic array has been placed on the roof to generate power thus further reducing the facility’s energy demand on the grid. This renewable energy source can be expanded as needed.

Material and Resources

More than $28 million of raw materials went into construction of this facility; 46% came from recycled sources. Over $10 million worth of materials came from sources within 500 miles of the facility.

Nearly 27,500 tons of material was removed from this site during construction. Of that, only 160 tons were sent to landfills. The rest were sent to recyclers to become the next generation of recycled building materials or went directly to other construction efforts, like the gravel base under the roadwork.

Indoor Air Quality

The inmates spend much of their time indoors and with the high population density of this facility, indoor environmental quality is of high importance. By selecting building materials that produce fewer volatile organic compounds and are formaldehyde free, the design ensured that the materials used in construction do not compromise the indoor environment.

By following strict procedures for cleansing the buildings with fresh air prior to occupancy, the owner was assured the indoor air quality of the facility, as well as the mechanical equipment used to ventilate the facility, was ready to support a healthy environment for the inmates. Smoke-free policies and green housekeeping strategies also help ensure a healthy environment.

The Hunt/Lydig team is proud to see another facility set new standards in sustainability. As more facilities take the initiative to embrace sustainable construction, we will continue to reduce operating cost for the owner, and most importantly, reduce our impact on the environment.