Rocky Mountain Institute Innovation Center

Basalt, Colorado

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Structural Engineering

Office

LEED Platinum

International Living Futures Institute Zero Energy Certification

PHIUS+ Source Net Zero Certified

International Living Futures Institute Petal Certified

Center for the Built Environment Livable Buildings Award, 2018

PHIUS Award Winner, Best Overall Project and Best in Office/Institutional Category, 2016

ENR Mountain States Award Winner, Best Green Project and Safety Project of the Year, 2016

AIA Portland 2030 Challenge Award Winner, 2016

Rocky Mountain Institute

ZGF

JE Dunn

PAE Consulting Engineers

Rocky Mountain Institute Innovation Center Rocky Mountain Institute Innovation Center

The Rocky Mountain Institute’s 15,600-square-foot, two-story Innovation Center in Basalt, Colorado, exemplifies the organization’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.

Designed as a net-zero energy building, the facility is among the most energy-efficient in the United States. Its striking biophilic design and exposed mass timber structure demonstrate the aesthetic potential and environmental benefits of sustainable architecture.

KPFF provided structural engineering services to help realize the Institute’s vision of a high-performance, “100-year” building certified under the Living Building Challenge. Locally sourced timber was used for the internal cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure, which is wrapped in a continuous insulation envelope made from foam-core structural panels. This envelope fully insulates the walls, windows, and roof, supporting a design that maximizes both energy performance and occupant comfort.

As one of the 20 most energy-efficient commercial buildings in the country, the Rocky Mountain Institute Innovation Center stands as a leading example of what’s possible in sustainable mass timber design.