Ann Arbor Justice Center

Ann Arbor Municipal Center LEED Features

What is a LEED-certified building?

The designation for Leadership in Energy Efficient Design, or LEED, was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). “LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO₂ emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.”

“LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.” - USGBC

How has the Ann Arbor Municipal Center incorporated LEED criteria?

The City of Ann Arbor believes in the importance environmental stewardship. To that end, the city followed LEED criteria throughout the design and construction of the Justice Center, 301 E. Huron. The newly-constructed Justice Center and renovated Larcom Building are located in downtown Ann Arbor. The Justice Center is expected to exceed the credits needed to achieve a LEED Gold certification by meeting or surpassing benchmarks in the six categories below.

Sustainable Sites

How does the Justice Center achieve these goals?

Site Selection	Uses previously-developed land and existing infrastructure.
Development Density & Community Connectivity	Located in an area of high density, near community and services/amenities.
Alternative Transportation	Located near public transportation access; bike storage on-site; reserved parking for fuel-efficient vehicles; parking provided has not increased and is not greater than what zoning allows/suggests.
Site Development	Planted with native species. Street trees installed in engineered soils to increase longevity. Over 40% of the site is vegetated or uses porous pavers. An open-grid pedestrian bridge crosses the largest rain garden.
Stormwater Design	Rain water is retained on-site and allowed to infiltrate into the groundwater. Some rain water is captured for on-site irrigation and used for the sculpture fountain.
Heat Island Effect	Over 50% of on-site parking is covered. A green roof is installed on the Larcom City Hall promenade and white (reflective) roofing materials are used on other areas.

Water Efficiency

“Buildings are major users of our potable water supply. The goal of the Water Efficiency credit category is to encourage smarter use of water, inside and out. Water reduction is typically achieved through more efficient appliances, fixtures and fittings inside and water-wise landscaping outside.” - USGBC

How does the Municipal Center achieve these goals?

Water Efficient Landscaping

Planted with native species; using captured rainwater for supplemental on-site irrigation.

Water Use Reduction

Use of low-flow and dual flush fixtures.

Energy & Atmosphere

“According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings use 39% of the energy and 74% of the electricity produced each year in the United States. The Energy & Atmosphere category encourages a wide variety of energy strategies: commissioning; energy use monitoring; efficient design and construction; efficient appliances, systems and lighting; the use of renewable and clean sources of energy, generated on-site or off-site; and other innovative strategies.” – USGBC

How does the Municipal Center achieve these goals?

Commissioning of Building Energy Systems

The commissioning of the building from the design phase all the way through occupancy ensured integration and proper execution of the energy-efficient systems.

Energy Performance

Installed highly efficient heating/cooling system and solar hot-water system. The exterior walls (envelope) used high-performance materials including 3-inch thick building insulation.

Refrigerant Management

Reduced ozone depletion through zero use of chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants in HVAC (Heating-Ventilating and Air Conditioning) systems.

Material & Resources

“During both the construction and operations phases, buildings generate a lot of waste and use a lot of materials and resources. This credit category encourages the selection of sustainably grown, harvested, produced and transported products and materials. It promotes the reduction of waste as well as reuse and recycling, and it takes into account the reduction of waste at a product’s source.” –USGBC

How does the Municipal Center achieve these goals?

Waste Management	Provides recycling collection areas for building users. Over 50% of construction waste was recycled or diverted from landfills and incinerators.
Recycled Content	Used high recycled content in the following materials: steel, concrete, insulation, metal panels, doors, ceiling tiles, gypsum board.
Regional Materials	Regional materials were used for the concrete, brick, metal panel, courtroom benches, glass, gypsum board, and finishes.
Certified Wood	Over 75% of wood used in project is certified in accordance to Forest Stewardship Council's principles and criteria.

Indoor Environmental Quality

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans spend about 90% of their day indoors, where the air quality can be significantly worse than outside. The Indoor Environmental Quality credit category promotes strategies that can improve indoor air as well as providing access to natural daylight and views and improving acoustics.” - USGBC

How does the Municipal Center achieve these goals?

Indoor Air Quality

Uses monitoring systems to ensure the performance of ventilation systems and to increase the amount of outdoor air ventilation to improve indoor air quality. Smoking is prohibited in building and around entries. Implements an Indoor Air Quality Management Plan.

Low-Emitting Materials

Use materials with a low volatile organic compound content and no urea-formaldehyde resins.

Indoor Comfort and Controllability

Designed HVAC system and building envelope to promote a comfortable thermal environment. Provides building occupants views to the outside and daylight. Designed lighting to allow occupants control over work areas (task lighting, occupancy sensors).

Innovation in Design Process

“The Innovation in Design credit category provides bonus points for projects that use new and innovative technologies and strategies to improve a building’s performance well beyond what is required by other LEED credits or in green building considerations that are not specifically addressed elsewhere in LEED. This credit category also rewards projects for including a LEED Accredited Professional on the team to ensure a holistic, integrated approach to the design and construction phase.” –USGBC

How does the Municipal Center achieve these goals?

Education Program	The city educates the public and site users of the green efforts incorporated into the construction and design of the building at a2gov.org/LEED, on-site signage, handouts, and tours.
Access to Transit	Site is close to many bus stops, including the main station, qualifying the site for an exemplary performance point.
Maximize Open Space	Over 40% of site is vegetated or has pedestrian-oriented porous walkways (pavers, rain garden bridge).
LEED Accredited Professional	LEED accredited professional worked on the project.

Link to 4-page PDF of Justice Center LEED features