Major General Emmett J. Bean Federal Center
Focusing on Sustainability and Optimal Performance
6,152 photovoltaic panels were installed on the roof of the 1.6-million-SF building, converting sunlight into electrical energy, feeding into the existing power grid.
A portion of the roof serves as a solar test lab for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories to research which solar technologies work best in Midwestern climates.
Other renewable energy features included four solar water heaters, a R-50 IRMA roof, and new energy-efficient windows—all contributing to reducing the building’s operating costs by approximately $509,000 annually.
A BIM model of the entire site—interiors and exteriors, including the roof—helped reconfigure spaces throughout the course of the project.
- Owner/Client
- GSA
- Location
- Lawrence, IN
- Services
- Engineering, Architecture
- Certification
- Designed LEED® Gold
- Square Footage
- 480,000 SF (roof)
- Completed
- 2011
- Region
- Midwest
The 1.6-million-square-foot Major General Emmett J. Bean Federal Center in Indianapolis is one of the nation’s largest federal facilities. We evaluated and designed the building’s modernization – funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – with a focus on sustainability and optimal performance. The project includes installation of four solar water heaters and a photovoltaic array over much of the 480,000-square-foot roof, generating 2.0 MW of renewable power. The perimeter and physical security of the structure has also been designed to be upgraded to comply with DoD standards. The design of the main entrance and public areas reflects the standards of GSA’s Design Excellence Program.
4
solar water heaters
2.0 MW
of renewable energy generated
6,152
photovoltaic panels cover the roof
$509,000
annual savings due to renewable energy features
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