Basalt, Colorado
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
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.