TACONITE RIDGE WIND ENERGY CENTER
The Taconite Ridge Operations and Maintenance Building serves ten wind turbines installed by Minnesota Power. Early in the design, this building was meant to meet the requirements for a LEED Certified building. Krech Ojard’s architects, and civil and structural engineers worked together for this unique facility.
This Taconite Ridge building is located deep within mine site property in Northern Minnesota. As such, employees of the energy control center needed complete facilities on site. The building includes offices, meeting rooms, breakrooms spaces, kitchenette and restrooms. It also includes spaces for battery power storage and control systems, workroom, garage spaces and storage. While up on the roof the carbon footprint has been reduced by a planted green roof.
The unique exterior features of this building include: white, exterior paving, a series of four rain gardens, a roof system planted with climate specific plantings, indigenous grasses and plants, and no external irrigation. Structurally, the building uses R-24 architectural precast panels with open web steel joists. Internally, the building uses linoleum for flooring and casework recycled content ceramic tile, recycled plastic toilet partitions, Shetkastone window sills, low voc adhesives, carpet, paints and sealants.
The mechanical systems at Taconite Ridge uses a high efficient VAV boxes to deliver air to where it is needed and uses water efficient fixtures to reduce the use of potable water in the building. Electrically, indirect T5HO fixtures are used in the occupied spaces along with no-mercury, LED lamps in the exterior soffit as well as at the shower. All of the occupied spaces have motion detectors to automatically shut off lights in unoccupied rooms and light sensors to turn off lights if there is adequate daylight.
SAS+Assoicates Landscape Architects consulted with Krech Ojard professionals on site and site water features and plant species.
