Salt River training facility is first to achieve LEED Gold Certification

by Ann Withanee — July 4, 2011—The HKS-designed Salt River Fields at Talking Stick achieved LEED Gold Certification for New Construction from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The spring training facility, which opened in February 2011, is the first LEED Gold-certified sports venue of its kind in the United States.

The 140-acre venue is home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. Owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the complex consists of separate training facilities and clubhouses accommodating each team, as well as an 11,000-seat central stadium.

Sustainable project elements include:

• Sited for Maximum Shade: The stadium was sited to provide maximum shade, with terracotta shade screens providing further shading.
  
• Replanting Vegetation: More than 85 mature trees and cacti were uprooted and replanted at the new site. In addition to the salvaged vegetation, 2,400 native trees were planted to provide shade and habitat.
  
• Buying Local/Regional Materials: The majority of the venue’s exterior skin is harvested from Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community soil. Forty percent of building materials are derived from local suppliers/vendors.
  
• Water Savings: Native planting, passive water harvesting and an onsite retention pond are included. The project boasts a 45.5 percent savings in potable water use through low-flow and water-efficient fixtures.
  
• Energy Efficiency: Displacement ventilation saves energy by supplying conditioned air in the occupied space range. Operable windows, maximizing occupant lighting and thermal control achieve a 23.5 percent energy savings.
  
• Indoor Environmental Quality: When selecting the venue’s building supplies, the design team was mindful to minimize Volatile Organic Compounds. The buildings are also designed to maximize fresh air brought in through HVAC systems.
  
• More Green = Less Asphalt: Only 1/3 of the venue’s parking lots use asphalt, while the remaining 2/3 overflow lots are grass-covered, allowing them to double as community playing fields when not in use.