National Guard Training Facility Meets Sustainability Goals
The Minnesota National Guard’s new 64,000-square-foot, $17 million Arden Hills Army Training Site (AHATS) readiness center earned LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Contributing to its sustainability and security goals, the project features Wausau Window and Wall Systems’ blast hazard-mitigating curtainwall and window systems, plus Tubelite Inc.’s thermal entrance systems.
AHATS previously was known as the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP). More than 16.5 billion rounds of small-arms ammunition were produced here for World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam conflict. The TCAAP was placed on the Federal National Priorities (Superfund) list in 1983. Since that time, extensive environmental investigation and remediation has occurred, including the excavation of approximately 94,000 cubic yards of soil and the removal of 200,000 pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Today, the improved site and new facility act as the public interface for the AHATS complex. It houses two units of the 834th Aviation Support Battalion, which specializes in maintaining Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters. Architects at Burns & McDonnell found inspiration in the helicopter motor and blades for the aesthetic and functional design of AHATS.
Opened in Sept. 2015, construction of AHATS new readiness center was completed on time and within budget. Set on nearly 2,370 acres in the northern third of Arden Hills, Minnesota, AHATS offers expansive views of rolling landscape and native plants. The facility is sited in consideration of anti-terrorism/force protection setbacks and consolidates spaces to optimize energy use. With an east-west orientation, the building takes full advantage of southern daylight exposure allowing unoccupied areas to power down during the workday.
“While blast hazard mitigation was the major requirement, we also contributed to the project’s green building goals with the daylight, views and high thermal performance with Wausau’s window and curtainwall systems, as well as Tubelite’s entrance systems. To help meet LEED certification submission requirements, recycled aluminum content was quantified,” said Eric Breidel, Wausau’s architectural sales representative serving Minnesota.
Working closely with Wausau, Burns & McDonnell and LS Black Constructors, W.L. Hall Company installed 9,000 square feet of Wausau’s 7250 Series SuperWall with 4250i-BHM INvent blast hazard-mitigating windows. To help ensure occupant safety, Wausau's BHM Series products are designed and/or tested for compliance with the General Services Administration and the Department of Defense requirements as applicable.