West Linn Police Department gets LEED Gold certification

The City of West Linn is happy to announce its new police station has received LEED Gold certification.

Finished and opened in the fall of 2014, the new police station provides a safe and seismically secure building for the West Linn Police Department. It is located at 1800 Eighth Ave.

During planning, the city aimed for at least a LEED Silver certification. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, the certification helps builders be more environmentally responsible as well as encouraging the use of local resources.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED-certified buildings cost less to operate, which reduces energy and water bills by as much as 40 percent.

“I would like to thank the Sustainability Advisory Committee for insisting the city to go for LEED certification,” City Manager Chris Jordan said. “Their work has helped create a building that is not only safe, but is financially and environmentally responsible.”

LEED ratings are based on nine rating systems for the design, construction and operation of the building. There are 100 possible points in six credit categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation in design. A building must get between 60 and 79 points for Gold certification.

LEED buildings take into account the site that the building is built on, the materials used, the
water efficiency, energy use, human experience and occupant health and comfort. LEED guides projects in saving money, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving energy, reducing water consumption, driving innovation and contributing to a healthier environment.

Steps taken to gain the LEED Gold certification at the police station include saving the large black maple tree in front of the building, using local artwork, recycling construction waste as well as using local and regional materials and labor.

The police station encourages alternative transportation by offering preferred parking spaces for fuel-efficient vehicles and three spots for carpool or vanpool vehicles. There is also access for bike storage, showers and locker facilities.

Low-emitting materials were used in construction throughout the building. Materials and finishes such as paint, linoleum and other products used in the building are nontoxic and contain little to no volatile organic compounds.

The landscaping outside of the police station is all water efficient. Landscaping that retains rainwater onsite helps to protect rivers and minimizes strain on city infrastructure. Rain garden basins drain storm water to vegetated ponds where water is filtered thought vegetation and soil. Native trees, shrubs, rushes and sedges were selected to tolerate Oregon’s fluctuations of temperature and rainfall.

Special roofing and aluminum storefront systems on the building reduce solar heat gain during the summer months and double-paned windows maximize daylight, which reduces the need for daytime lighting.

Electricity is generated onsite at the police station by a 15kW rooftop solar photovoltaic array designed to offset 7 percent of the building’s energy usage.

Forest Stewardship Council-certified forest products were used for the building’s casework, baseboards, doors and exterior soffits.

Achieving LEED Gold on the construction of the police station falls in line with the city’s Sustainable West Linn Strategic Plan, which guides the city’s efforts to “protect and enhance the integrity, stability and beauty of the natural environment,” reduce the negative impacts of growth and development, and “provide a healthy, productive and meaningful life for all community residents, present and future for the economic, social and environmental systems that make up our community of West Linn.”