Community & Government

Spokane Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), Spokane, Washington

Spokane Military Entrance Processing Station

Leed Gold Spokane Military Entrance Processing StationThe Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) is currently under construction near the Spokane International Airport.  MEPS is a Department of Defense joint-service organization staffed with military as well as civilians. Their job is to determine an applicant's physical qualifications and aptitude as set by each branch of military service, the Department of Defense, and Federal law.  All branches of the military will be present in the new MEPS facility:  Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

The MEPS project is being built to GSA standards by a private developer and leased back for a period of years. The team began Schematic Design knowing the GSA goal of LEED Gold Certification.  The area near the Spokane International Airport is not highly developed at this time and municipal bus service has recently been reduced because of budget problems, which means the project was not eligible at this time for SSc2 or SSc4.1. To offset those 11 points the team developed a strategy that included high levels of energy efficiency, indoor air quality, materials efficiency, water efficiency, attaining as many site credits as feasible, innovation in design and regional design credits.

There are a number of notable green features designed into the project including:

  • Fuel-efficient vehicle and carpool/vanpool parking are provided for 5% of the total parking.
  • The project site includes 49% permanent open space within the project boundary.
  • The site and the roof areas are designed to meet the LEED requirements for reducing the heat island effect.
  • Water-efficient plumbing fixtures are installed on the project resulting in a 36.9% reduction of water use.
  • Landscape includes native and adapted plants and efficient irrigation systems yield 57.4% water savings compared to the baseline.
  • The energy model predicts the building will cost 44.7% less to operate and use 16.55% less energy than an ASHRAE 90.1-2007 compliant baseline. Energy-efficiency measures include improved insulation in exterior walls and roof, high performance windows, and efficient interior and exterior lighting.
  • Other contributors to reduced energy cost include heat recovery, geothermal heating and cooling, direct digital controls, and demand ventilation.
  • Indoor air quality is protected by high levels of filtration (MERV 13), dedicated outside air system delivering more than 30% over the requirement, low-emitting interior finishes, exhausting areas with chemical use, and walk off systems at entrances to prevent contaminants from entering the building.
The project is planning to be ready to open to the public in January 2011.  Below are some photographs of the project in construction during November 2010.

Spokane Military Entrance Processing Station
View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://design-balance.com/spokanemilitaryentranceprocessingstation.html#sigProId95ace00459

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