The Authority Moves to Greener Pastures…

Monday, Aug 17, 2009

Recycling will reach new heights in 2010 as the Arkansas Science & Authority moves with four other state agencies into the original Dillard’s headquarters.

In addition to the Authority, the 132,050-square-foot brick structure, located just a few blocks from the state Capitol, will house the offices of the Arkansas State Library and its archives, the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Arkansas Development Finance Authority, and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. The move will coincide with the full renovation of a new green state office complex.

On Thursday, during a tour that included Cathy Zoi, assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy in the federal Energy Department, Governor Mike Beebe praised the effort as a double benefit for Arkansas.

"It's an environmental project, and it's also a taxpayer-savings project, because you're spending less on utilities.”
Zoi added, “This is a great example of a project combining sustainability and jobs."

The $12.5 million renovation is being carried out with a heavy emphasis both on energy efficiency and recycling. When completed, the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system will be 26 percent more efficient than the current average HVAC system for an office building.

Even the redesign of the building was created for the purpose of maximizing resources. For example, once completed, a concave roof will gather rainwater to be fed to a newly installed storage tank for the purpose of irrigating the structure's landscaping.
Financing of the project includes $1.2 million in stimulus funding from the federal government. A requirement before the state agreed to rent the space was that the renovation effort must result in a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building.