New Joint Force Headquarters Emphasizes Commitment to SustainabilityDesigning with sustainability in mind delivers aesthetic, economic and ecological benefits at Hanscom AFB.

BY ROBERT M. BRANDON, AIA, M.SAME, and WILLIAM NAUGHTON, PG, M.SAME

With the construction of the new Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., the Massachusetts National Guard is leading the way in the areas of environmental and energy steward-ship while honoring the Guard’s singular position in the U.S. military.

The Massachusetts National Guard is the oldest unit in the U.S. Army, trac-ing its beginnings to the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colonial Militia in 1636. As a symbol of the Guard’s rich history and unique standing in the community, the new JFHQ is designed to reach LEED Gold standards on a LEED Silver budget. The facility’s distinctive design elements and innovative energy management systems demonstrate that sustainable design is one of the best investments an owner can make, as it delivers economic, aesthetic and ecological benefits.

MULTI-MISSION REQUIREMENTSThe new JFHQ sits on a spectacular

17-acre site at Hanscom AFB. The base is an ideal location for the new headquarters, based on its proximity to major highways, airport with helicopter and airplane access, abundance of open space, and strict site security. In fact, the ability to use an existing site adjacent to existing Guard facilities in the area contributed to the anticipated LEED Gold rating.

Once complete, the facility will consist of a 206,000-ft² JFHQ and emergency opera-tions center, as well as parking for privately owned and military vehicles. Four groups will eventually call the property home: the Massachusetts Army National Guard; the Massachusetts Air National Guard; the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive

Office of Public Safety and Security Military Division; and the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office. These groups have ever-changing missions and their diverse needs lead to frequent fluctuations in how the office space is utilized. In fact, one of the design’s critical requirements was that the building allow for a flexible floor plan. This will minimize the need to do interior demolition and modifications.

DESIGNED FOR FLEXIBILITYThe Massachusetts National Guard and

Kleinfelder, the prime architect, engineer and designer- of-record, worked closely throughout design to incorporate a number of energy-saving design approaches and technologies, as well as ensure efficient operating systems.

These systems demonstrate the Guard’s desire to make improvements in environmental, energy and economic performance, while remaining in compli-ance with executive orders under three presidents: EO 13123, under President Clinton; EO 13423 under President Bush;

and EO 13415—Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance under President Obama.

Among the many design enhancements, the team implemented a construction indoor air quality management plan to minimize problems that resulted from the construction process and to ensure the quality of the facility’s indoor environ-ment. LEED-compliant low volatile organic compound carpet, paints, adhesives and sealants also enhance indoor air quality and worker comfort from day one of occupancy.

The Guard was committed to conserv-ing water resources in the design of the new JFHQ. High-efficiency flush and flow fixtures will help reduce indoor water usage by 30 percent compared to a typical build-ing. And the requirement for landscaping water has been eliminated through the use of hardscaping and native plantings that will not require irrigation.

The facility also features large windows for natural light. Windows are tinted and fitted with motorized shading systems; they will conserve electricity by minimizing air

Built to LEED Gold standards, the Joint Force Headquarters at Hanscom AFB includes extensive energy and water management systems, abundant natural lighting and low-maintenance hardscaping and native vegetation. PHOTOS COURTESY KLEINFELDER

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conditioning requirements in the summer. The south façade is shaded by aluminum exterior sunscreens to minimize heat gain. Additionally, private offices are generally located in the center of the floor plan to allow open office areas to benefit from a maximum amount of natural light and fresh air. Energy management systems and access to point-of-use temperature controls, along with operable windows, further enhances occupant comfort levels. Finally, photo-metric modeling assisted in the selection of energy efficient lighting, including light emitting diode fixtures, which lowers lighting energy requirements by about 15 percent. The facility employs a neutral earth tone color scheme, with brightly accented furniture fabric and key wall locations.

SUSTAINABILITY AWARENESSSeveral exterior design elements will

lessen the facility’s ecological impact as well. Bio-swales—modestly sloped, planted areas placed within the parking lots—are used to create a more sustainable parking lot. Water captured in the bio-swales moves down-grade, is slowly treated (the vegetation helps remove pollutants), then percolates into the groundwater systems and is released to an onsite retention area. No stormwater runoff will go to the watershed, since it is 100 percent contained on site. This creates a net-zero stormwater management system

compared to the existing site. In addition, areas disturbed during construction were restored with native vegetation.

In an effort to help reduce harmful vehicle exhaust, bicycle storage areas and changing lockers are provided. There also is preferred parking for hybrids and other low-emission vehicles.

JFHQ’s metal and membrane roof features a light color finish, which reflects heat, rather than absorb it. The metal-membrane roof reduces urban heat island effect—a phenomenon in which a metro-politan area is significantly warmer than the surrounding rural area. Urban heat islands can affect communities by raising summer-time peak energy demand, and increasing air conditioning costs, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, impacting water quality, and even leading to greater likeli-hood of heat-related illness and mortality.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE The Guard also plans to institute a “green”

housekeeping and maintenance strategy. This plan will emphasize the use of sustain-able cleaning products and housekeeping/maintenance methods. The approach will include removing indoor pollutants (such as soils, microbes and particulates); controlling the kind of cleaning product used (whether for general purpose, rest-room, glass, or disinfectant); minimizing

the amount of cleaning product used; and lessening the amount of waste created.

This “green” housekeeping and mainte-nance plan will help reduce the ecological impact of cleaning products that end up in the wastewater system, ensure a safe and healthy environment for soldiers, employees, staff and building occupants, and demonstrate a responsibility to protect natural resources for future generations.

HONORING THE PASTThe new JFHQ echoes the Massachusetts

National Guard’s commitment to sustain-ability. It incorporates the latest, most inno-vative technologies and design elements. However, it also will pay homage to the past. The facility’s multi-level, skylight lobby serves as a small museum to honor the traditions of the Guard. It displays artifacts from the Massachusetts National Guard Museum and Archives, which is located in Worcester, Mass. These artifacts include an historic decorative precast arch panel incorporated into the masonry lobby wall. The arch panel is from the Commonwealth Armory in Boston that was constructed in 1916.

Phase 1 of the JFHQ project was completed in late 2012 and Phase 2 will be completed in 2013. Once finished, the JFHQ will allow the citizen soldiers of the Guard and the other state and federal agen-cies to continue their mission of supporting Bay State communities and our nation in time of need.

Robert M. Brandon, AIA, M.SAME, is Senior Principal, and William Naughton, PG, M.SAME, is Vice President for Federal Programs, Kleinfelder. They can be reached at 617-498-4702, or rbran-don@kleinfelder.com; and 617-498-4706, or bnaughton@kleinfelder.com, respectively.

The facility’s multi-level, skylight lobby pays homage to the past with artifacts from the Massachusetts National Guard Museum and Archives. Formed in 1636, the Massachusetts National Guard is the Army’s oldest military unit.

High-efficiency flush and flow fixtures will help

reduce indoor water usage by 30 percent compared to

a typical building.

DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND PROJECT DELIVERY

60 The Military Engineer • July-August • 2013