Office Blends High-Performance Systems with Design
The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) was established in 1959 to address the absence of utilities on the 27,000-square-mile Navajo Nation, which extends into Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. After 60 years, the NTUA has grown into the largest multi-utility enterprise owned and operated by an American Indian tribe.
The NTUA's new headquarters brings together administrative departments within its 80,000-square-foot offices located in Fort Defiance, Arizona. Dyron Murphy Architects, a Native-American owned business, said its design was inspired by Navajo cultural elements. Traditional building materials are complemented by modern, high-performance, aluminum-framed curtainwall, storefront and entrance systems manufactured by Tubelite Inc. and installed by Southwest Glass & Glazing.
The project broke ground in 2017 with a ceremonial blessing of the site, emphasizing the importance of the project's connection to the local community and Navajo culture. Construction was led by Flintco and was substantially completed in August 2018. Aligned with energy-efficient practices, sustainable features are incorporated throughout the building.
"The physical environments of indigenous communities tend to be harsher than an established metropolis or city might be," observed Dyron Murphy. "When rural communities are involved, the environment takes over as a very important factor. If a building is not designed with environmental factors in mind, it might not perform well in the future against winds, rain, heat, cold, etc. A great deal of thought has to go into how the facility or the construction of the buildings is going to stand up over time in local climatic conditions."