Green Design Goals, Southwest Style

Riverpoint Center is the new corporate campus of Apollo Group Inc. in Phoenix. The project was nominated for a “Best of NAIOP” award for Outstanding Build-to-Suit project of 2007, and the American Institute of Architects’ Nevada chapter honored the project as one of only seven built projects to earn a 2007 Merit Award.

Taking an active role in shaping the project’s success, Apollo selected a joint venture design team composed of Carpenter Sellers Architects (CSA) of Las Vegas and SmithGroup of Phoenix. Sundt Construction was the general contractor for the $107-million project.

Sundt recommended KT Fabrication of Chandler, Ariz., as the project’s glazing contractor. Together, Sundt and KT drew on past experiences with Wausau Window & Wall Systems to complete the curtainwall and window system team. Following KT’s referral, Mason and other key members of the Riverpoint Center building team traveled to Wausau, Wis., and met with company executives and engineers and toured the fabrication facilities.

Martin Hedlund, Sundt’s senior project director who led the construction team’s efforts through design and construction, notes, “We were going through design and pricing during a period of unprecedented volatility in the labor and material market. One area that was steadfast in conformance to budget was the window system. It was really a testament to team commitment and open communication throughout the three and half year process.”

As on owner-occupant, Apollo found the 37-acre site ideally suited to its needs, although it required constructing three new buildings encompassing 630,000-square-feet to fit the company’s sizable staff and growth. One 10-story building, two six-story buildings and two structured parking garages were added.

Apollo’s design-assist team gave thoughtful consideration to the productivity and comfort of its workforce, as well as for the performance demands and natural aesthetic of its Arizona climate. “The land is actually an old, old riverbed, so the flow of the buildings is like the flow of the former river. We also incorporated the Southwestern flavor using a lot of copper on the building. After all, we are the copper state.”

CSA and SmithGroup designed the buildings along the site’s east-west axis maximizing natural light into the open office spaces. Each building’s façade responds to its own exposure: On the west and east, shading is accomplished with narrow, deep-set vertical windows and small apertures that allow views to the outside, while minimizing the amount of exposure to the low sun. On the south, KT fabricated the horizontal sun shades that shield the openings from harsh summer sunlight, while positioned to invite solar light and warmth in winter months. On the north, glazing areas are maximized to welcome year-round daylighting, significantly reducing reliance on artificial illumination and its associated energy costs.

Wausau manufactured a total of 186,000 square feet of window systems ranging from 4.75- to 8.75-inch depths. The majority was factory-fabricated in Wisconsin as vertical silicone-glazed curtainwall, then shipped to KT as knocked-down framing members for installation on site. Pre-assembled units also were provided for the lower levels, punched openings, vertical strip and glazed wall system.

 Each of Wausau’s systems meets the industry’s most stringent requirements for air infiltration, water resistance and structural integrity. High-performance insulating glass from Viracon was used throughout Riverpoint Center mitigating unwanted solar heat gain and the adjacent freeway noise. The project was required to meet a typical wind load of 23.5 psf. All the aluminum was finished in durable, clear anodize by Linetec.

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