Cannon Design Scores a Gold

Cannon Design, an international architectural, engineering and planning firm, announced that the landmark Power House building - the new home for the firm's St. Louis regional offices-was awarded LEED Gold Status by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

"This award represents the final feather in the cap for the Power House project team," said Thomas Bergmann, project principal. "LEED Gold certification was one of the key goals when we began this project."

Built in 1928, the Power House was an original part of the Municipal Service Building complex that still occupies an entire block of downtown St. Louis. Until the 1980's, the Power House component of the complex provided coal-fired steam heat to a dozen downtown buildings.

After standing vacant for nearly 30 years, Cannon Design purchased the historic Power House in 2007, providing all design, development, and construction management services for the project. The exterior shell and original structural steel were fundamentally sound but use for a large, thriving design practice required significant imagination and rigorous design analysis.

Every component of the building's interior is new and designed both to current life-safety codes and the USGBC's standards for environmental sustainability. The interior was completely rehabilitated with installation of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical infrastructure. Low-VOC paints, carpets, adhesives, and sealants were used to improve indoor air quality, which is maintain, in part, through monitoring of carbon dioxide levels. Having a relatively small "foot print" but a massive volume offered the opportunity for the addition of new mezzanines necessary to accommodate Cannon Design's continuing growth in St. Louis. The concept of "mezzanines" has preserved the signature arched windows on the north and east elevations - helping to provide 75 percent of the office space with access to natural daylight - and provided wonderful gallery and exhibit space for the firm and the community. Energy consumption is 38 percent below the ASHRAE standard, and high-efficiency plumbing fixtures reduce water use by 30 percent.

Designated as a landmark by the National Historic Register, the "Revival style" exterior has been fully restored. Additional external modifications include the creation of a 3,500-square-foot urban garden in a former coal yard. Storm water is collected in an underground cistern for irrigation, while light-colored roofing reduces the heat-island effect.

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