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General John W. Vessey Readiness Center READY, ADAPTABLE, RESILIENT

The 34th Infantry Division Headquarters

Arden Hills, Minnesota

Designed to be ready, adaptable, and resilient to sustain our future.

The General John W. Vessey Readiness Center serves as the new home for the 34th Infantry Division (ID) “Red Bulls” of the Minnesota Army National Guard (MNARNG).

The design supports the Red Bull mission and provides an ideal functional environment for training, planning, and command of stateside and forward deployed units.

Readiness Centers, historically known as “armories,” have dynamically shifted to reflect the evolving needs and expectations of today’s service members. As a state-based component of the U.S. Army, the National Guard remains uniquely ready to provide critical, near-instant response. They provide support to their local communities in times of need, while maintaining readiness for missions abroad.

Soldiers assigned to a readiness center represent residents of the city or town in which the facility is embedded, most with non-military full-time occupations who train during drill weekends and yearly annual training to maintain readiness. Quality workplaces and training centers have the ability to be influential tools for recruiting and retention, key to maintaining and growing the strength of the force – and this facility sets a new standard to which future readiness centers will be compared.

LEED Gold Certified

“This project exemplifies, in a very tangible way, LEO A DALY’s commitment to innovative design that is rooted in social and ecological responsibility,”

“Our integrated design process helped us to make design decisions that improved the building and site, made sense for the owner, and reduced carbon emissions.”

Design for Integration

Breaking the historic mold of a standard readiness center, or “armory,” the design combines architectural beauty and strategies for high-performance sustainability initiatives, while working with the realities of Minnesota’s northern climate and contours of the site.

  • Waste Reduction 75% of construction waste was recycled or recaptured and diverted from landfills
  • Energy Saving 51% energy cost reduction is achieved through passive east-west orientation, appropriate glazing, LED lighting, on-site renewable resources, high performance geothermal and underfloor air systems among other strategies
  • Open Space 53% of project site area remains as pervious surfaces to reduce site runoff
  • Native Plantings landscaping uses native and drought-tolerant plants throughout - eliminating all permanent irrigation and reinforcing regional ecosystems
  • Wetland Protection site boundary is created to avoid existing wetlands and integrate into existing grade changes
  • Water-Saving low-flow design and WaterSense fixtures contribute to 37% potable water use reduction
  • Responsible Materials 40% of total building materials have been manufactured and extracted within 500 miles of the project site; and 38% have been manufactured using recycled materials
  • Daylight & Views tubular daylight devices and full height glazing provides ample daylight and direct views from administrative areas
  • FEV Priority preferred parking available for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles
  • Stormwater Treatment over 90% of average annual rainfall is captured and treated to remove 80% of post-development total suspended solids (TSS)
  • Renewable Energy 14% of total energy costs are offset through on-site renewable energy in photovoltaic panels and geothermal wells

Site Integration

  • With the aid of a National Guard environmental expert, the facility and site features were organized around the habitat and nesting patterns of protected species.
  • Building and site features perform as a complex integrated system accommodating the local ecosystem, existing drainage patterns and wetlands, and mature forest growth.
  • Expansive building scale disguised by low, linear presence within the vibrant natural landscape.

Experience Integration

  • Interior design focused on connection, flexibility, and wellness.
  • Iconic red of the “Red Bull” patch selectively breaks through the timeless, monochromatic aesthetic.
  • Raw materials showcased for durability and gallery-like environment for historical references.

Building Organization

The main entry lobby aids wayfinding by connecting visually and programmatically to every functional space indoors and out. It also serves as an event space for official functions.

The facility is organized around a central hub and divided into three functional masses that carefully prioritize visual connection for occupants to the surrounding environment.

  • Central Hub – The high volume primary node, provides access to the two adjacent wings and houses the common use spaces, primarily used for training purposes.
  • East Wing – Functioning as a modern workplace, the administrative wing appears as a single story from the front of the building. A lower level is revealed on the north side as the site elevation drops dramatically to the northern marshland.
  • West Wing – The single-story concrete enclosed mass is outfitted with varied storage options and compartments arranged for unit supply and distribution.

Design for Ecosystems & Water

Formerly a munitions storage and weapons training area, the site’s careful and deliberate development represents a continuation of efforts to rehabilitate the ecosystem after decades of contamination.

Ecosystems Rehabilitation

  • Building, parking lots, and landscaping positioned around existing drainage patterns, wetlands, and arrangement of mature forest growth.
  • Site features encourage redevelopment of natural habitats and nesting patterns of local plant and animal species.
  • Site design contributed to the training area’s overall removal from the Superfund list of the nation’s most contaminated sites in 2019.

Site Water Design

  • Native plantings eliminate permanent irrigation systems and mitigate maintenance with fuel-powered equipment.
  • Within a designated flood management zone, the stormwater management system pushes surface flows to vegetated swales and greenscapes before gathering into downstream filtration and detention basins.
  • Stormwater design ensures existing wetlands receive improved water quality while maintaining their natural hydrology.
80% of total suspended solids removed naturally
81% of total phosphorous from storm water removed

Design for Economy

As a U.S. government project, economy – even the perceived use of funds – becomes very important. The design makes the most effective use of project funding, achieving performance and function first, and justifying every expense against those requirements. Every design choice contributes to efficiency.

The project is unusual in that, 28 days out of the month, this 150k sf building is occupied only by 50-60 full time occupants. On one drill weekend per month, this number surges to 700. HVAC during drill weekends represents one of the highest operational expenses of the facility. For the other 28 days per month, the building uses demand control ventilation, with dampers that operate based on automated occupancy- and CO2 sensors.

Additional efficiency efforts include:

  • Column-free office wing enables modular fit-out to change over time
  • Durable materials offer a 100-year lifespan
  • Energy systems specified for long lifecycles and 51% energy cost savings compared to ASHRAE baseline
  • Energy demand and related utility costs minimized through PVs, geothermal wells, added insulation, diffuse daylighting and light tubes
  • Low-maintenance finishes (polished concrete, porcelain tile, paint)
  • High-efficiency heat pumps
  • Kitchen refrigeration equipment tied into the geothermal well system
  • 94% efficient gas-fired hot water heaters
  • Caged partitions extend to deck at unit supply areas, allowing reduction in overall material use and even flow of fresh air without sacrificing security

Repeating wall and window elements maximized design and construction efficiency while introducing a rhythmic, mirror-like aesthetic to blend the building into the landscape.

Aggressive goals for energy reduction were achieved through passive and active design strategies.

Design for Energy

  • Orientation – Linear east-west building organization benefits from southern exposure while protecting glazing from predominant northwest winds.
  • Daylighting – Light tubes above the office wing result in zero electrical lighting needed on typical day.
  • Geothermal – Well system uses the heat-sink potential of the Earth to reduce the energy required to heat and cool.
  • Solar – Array absorbs solar energy and distributes clean power to utility grid.
  • Energy Star – Rated equipment reduces total building plug load demand.
  • Materials – Thermal mass of insulated precast concrete building stores heat to reduce total heating load in harsh Minnesota winter environment.
  • Zoning – The building flexes between as few as 50 full-time employees to more than 700 on drill weekends. Occupancy and CO2 sensors shut off heat and cooling to unoccupied parts of the building.
15% energy demand met by on-site renewables per LEED
78% energy savings over Zero Tool baseline

Design for Well-Being

Thermal massing, orientation, and passive envelope strategies integrated to minimize energy demands.

The mental and physical well-being of citizen-soldiers was paramount to the design. Notable features include:

  • Connection to Landscape – Views in every direction frame the tree canopies surrounding the site.
  • Daylight – Light tubes and floor-to-ceiling windows fill administrative ad training spaces with natural light.
  • Wayfinding – Central hub maintains visual connection between various functions to direct infrequent occupants.
  • Comfort - Underfloor air distribution with diffusers that can be opened, closed and directed by each occupant at their individual workspace improve ventilation effectiveness.
  • Noise - “Neighborhood” layouts in administrative wing reduce noise bleed.
  • Acoustics – Curved auditorium shape delivers ideal sound to each seat.
  • Fitness – Provided fitness equipment, on-site trail system, and shower facilities promote active lifestyles and enable Soldier training to fitness standards.
  • Ergonomics – Adjustable furniture gives workers options on how to work.
  • Stairs – Prominent, sculptural stair encourages stair use.
  • Healthy Materials – specifications for all primary materials were reviewed and selected using HPDs, EPDs and sustainability specifications, including:
  1. Bio-based, petrolium-free ceiling tiles
  2. Recycled, formaldehyde-free acoustic baffles
  3. Linoleum flooring is PVC- and phthalate-free
  4. Paints are zero-VOC
  5. Adhesives are less than 50 g/L
  6. Carpet tile meets Green Label Plus for low VOCs
  7. Ceramic tile in high-traffic areas uses natural clay and
  8. eliminates cleaning with harmful chemicals

An extensive solar strategy was achieved through modeling of the sun path throughout the year. Vertical fin depths and shading trellises coincide with the solar cycle, maximizing sunlight, framing unique views and minimizing energy use.

  • Adaptable Floor Plate - Double tees span the space providing an column free interior that can adapt to the changing requirements of any mission
  • Interior Daylight - 115 solar light tube devices provide ample light to the center floor plate. Those for enclosed rooms are equipped with light ducts that transfer light with an efficiency of 99%
  • Reconfigurable Floor System - Raised access floors spans the entire Main level Admin Wing providing a chase for cable trays, conduits and HVAC air flow(2,400 SF)
  • Individual Temperature Control - 325 floor diffusers supply air at each workspace for individual control of air flow/temperature
  • Increased Ventilation Efficiency - Air is only supplied from below near the breathing zone and returned at the roof structure. This increases ventilation effectiveness and decreases the amount of outside air required, saving energy
  • Acoustic Isolation - Leveraging the below grade spaces for learning centers provides natural acoustic isolation and no daylight per mission requirements
  • Efficient HVAC Zoning - Perimeter glazing is supplied by dedicated heat pump system allowing the main system to shutdown when not occupied
  • Daylight & Views - 50% of the exterior envelope has full height glazing to provide daylight and direct views for the entire administrative workspace

Sculptural stairs encourage occupants to “take the stairs” and improve well-being.

Design for Resources

A special effort was made to leverage local materials, ask materials to serve multiple functions, and create a building resilient to 100 years. This approach guided every design decision.

  • Structural expression – Structural elements are celebrated by remaining exposed and serving as finished surface wherever possible.
  • Local materials – Precast concrete façade utilizes sand and rock excavated from the surrounding areas.
  • Expressive concrete – A subtle, geometric pattern of digital camouflage cast light and shadow across the façade.
  • Resilient finishes – Insulated concrete panels are left exposed on the interior to avoid disposal and replacement of finish systems. Polished concrete provides a durable and efficient finish for floors.
  • Exposed ceiling – The locally sourced concrete double-tee roof structural system, painted, serves as the finished ceiling surface. The resulting visual effect a striking pattern of smooth white channels, in contrast to the dark, moody exterior.
37% materials with pre- and post- consumer recycled content
40% materials extracted and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site
35% potable water use reduction
78% construction waste diverted from landfills

Perforated steel plate screens form a visual signature throughout the project, including the monumental stair, balcony railing and vertical shading devices.

Design for Change

The administrative wing flexes between 50 full-time, day-to-day occupants to as many as 700 on drill weekends. This need for flexibility drove an innovative structural system and fit out that enables change immediately and over time.

  • Column-Free Interior – The linear wings of the facility are expansive and column-free, employing full-span, precast concrete double-tee construction. This enables a modular layout for both office and storage functions that will change many times over the building’s life span.
  • Raised Access Flooring – Electrical, communications, and HVAC distribution are routed... beneath the floor, allowing immediate changes by users and long-term changes by facilities staff as needs change.
  • Modular Interior – Walls in the office wing are held short of the overhead structure, creating a landscape of “indoor buildings” that can be rearranged and reconfigured (And were, once during construction, with no time added to the project).

Design for Discovery

  • Column-Free Interior – The linear wings of the facility are expansive and column-free, employing full-span, precast concrete double-tee construction. This enables a modular layout for both office and storage functions that will change many times over the building’s life span.
  • Raised Access Flooring – Electrical, communications, and HVAC distribution are routed... beneath the floor, allowing immediate changes by users and long-term changes by facilities staff as needs change.
  • Modular Interior – Walls in the office wing are held short of the overhead structure, creating a landscape of “indoor buildings” that can be rearranged and reconfigured (And were, once during construction, with no time added).

These considerations impact all modes of operation and inform the design for all building typologies that rely on the ability to adapt.

The design team has reviewed actual utility information provided by the National Guard. Discrepancies were identified in the metered data specifically for excessive natural gas usage for certain heating months and the design team is continuing to follow up with the National Guard on the quality of metered data results and understanding of building operations to reduce actual operating energy. During COVID operations the building operated outside of design conditions at 100% outside air resulting in higher energy usage. The outside air percentage has since been reduced to design values.