The project was featured in the AIA Houston's Committee on the Environment (COTE) 1st Edition Publication The Committee on the Environment (COTE), an AIA Houston initiative to recognize green design practices that integrate built and natural systems that enhance the performance of the built environment, published its first "Houston Highlights" edition, featuring the City of Houston's Traffic and Transportation Operations Facility.

Click here to see the full "Houston Highlights" COTE publication.


GREEN BUILDING FACTS:
  • Energy Efficient & LEDs:
    • This building is 23% more efficient than a typical code-compliant building. Like the City’s traffic lights, all light fixtures in the building are LEDs, which have reduced interior lighting use by 45% and exterior lighting use by 75%.
  • Occupancy Sensors:
    • Occupancy sensors within the building shut off lights when the offices and workrooms are not in use.
  • Natural Daylight:
    • The building is lit by solatubes, which are cylindrical skylights that allow natural light to penetrate the space. Other rooms are lit by traditional skylights. The location of these solatubes and skylights was strategic by design, to ensure that 96% of regularly occupied areas have access to natural daylight.
  • Local Materials / Recycled Content:
    • 21% of the building material value was from products that were extracted and manufactured locally. The steel used in this building contributes to the total 22% recycled content.
  • Waste Diverted from Landfills:
    • 88% of construction waste was recycled and diverted away from landfills. This was owing to a successful Construction Waste Management Plan implemented by the contractor.
  • Healthier Indoor Air Quality:
    • Low-emitting adhesives, sealants, paints, flooring and composite wood help ensure clean and healthy indoor air throughout the building. During construction, the contractor took measures to ensure that the HVAC system and other components would be kept clean and free of airborne contaminants such as dust and off-gassed chemicals.
  • Stormwater Solutions:
    • 100% of the stormwater that runs off the site is treated to improve its quality before it is discharged into the local stormwater infrastructure. 100%!
  • Minimized Water Use for Landscape:
    • Landscaping for this project is largely unirrigated, and the irrigated portions use highly efficient controllers and drip irrigation. Water usage was minimized by 86%.
  • Efficient Plumbing:
    • Low-flow plumbing fixtures reduced indoor water consumption by 39%, when compared to a typical building.