Garland Distribution Center, located in Garland, Texas, is a 9.5-acre sustainable industrial development being built to meet USGBC’s sustainability standards per the LEED Core & Shell Rating System. The warehouse achieves 17% improved energy performance, used 47% regional materials during construction, and eliminates 297,413 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in North Texas. The Garland Distribution Center provides a total of 169,105 square feet for tenants and is conveniently located within minutes of Downtown Dallas.
The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for New Construction rating system for Core & Shell provides an effective tool to measure and define “a green warehouse.” The warehouse/distribution center achieved LEED Basic Certification to provide third party verification that the industrial space is designed to improve performance in energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to environmental impacts. Garland Distribution Center is designed with several sustainable strategies that contribute across various sustainability categories such as Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovation in Design per the LEED for New Construction rating system (Core & Shell). The core & shell warehouse space is designed to attract a prospective tenant(s) with the ground work to encourage the tenant(s) to build a LEED for commercial interiors certified space. The building’s site contributes to sustainable sites because it was selected as an abandoned site and its close proximity to downtown Dallas. The warehouse achieves a 31% reduction in potable water use by implementing binding, legal language in its tenant lease agreement that requires prospective tenant(s) to install water efficient plumbing fixtures in the interior space. The warehouse core & shell building is designed with environmentally friendly and low-emitting paints, coatings, adhesives, and sealants to reduce VOC emissions with the potential to pollute the interiors space. These strategies provide enhanced levels of indoor air quality and contribute to the health, well- being, and productivity of the occupants. The core & shell warehouse also implements regional products to reduce the environmental impacts associated with transportation, and products with high recycle content to reduce the demand for virgin products and raw materials. These two strategies contribute to the Materials and Resources category. The Core & Shell warehouse will comply with ASHRAE 55 for enhanced air quality and meet thermal comfort guidelines. A Community Outreach & Education Program contributes to the Innovation in Design category and provides visitors with highlights on the sustainable strategies at work in the “green” warehouse space.
The project team included Huntington Industrial Partners (Owner), Meinhardt & Associates (Architect), SMR (Landscape), Halff Associates (MEP Engineers), Ratcliff Constructors (Contractor), and Facility Performance Associates (LEED Consultant and Commissioning Agent).
