The Des Moines Area Rapid Transit facility is held as an example of how design vision, sustainability and functionality do not have to be mutually exclusive. 

The design team desired a glass building, which presented significant challenges to the creation of a high performance envelope.  Through the employment of geothermal heating and cooling, using glazing as cladding for insulated walls, solar PV arrays, and significant lighting efficiency, DART was able to acheive LEED Platinum certification in 2013 and deliver approximately 60% total energy cost savings. 

Architect: Substance Architecture
MEP Engineer: HDR Engineers

Civil Engineer: LT Leon Associates
Contractors: The Weitz Compnay

Commissioning: IMEG

Energy, Daylight Modeling: The Weidt Group

LEED Consultant: C-Wise Design & Consulting

PHOTO: PAUL CROSBY

LEED Platinum | 2013 | 22,750 sq ft | Des Moines, Iowa

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• Ground source heat pump

• Low-pressure duct work

• 70 geothermal wells

• Heat recovery ventilation

• Variable speed ventilation system

• LED lighting

• 90% daylighting access

• Occupancy sensors, lighting clocks

• Direct Digital Control System (DDC)

• 20 kW solar array

• 20,000-gal rainwater collection cistern

• 24% recycled construction materials

• 28% regionally manufactured materials

2014 AIA Iowa Design Award

2013 Environmental Impact Award, Center on Sustainable Communities

2015 IDEAS2 National Certificate of Recognition

2015 American Architecture Award, Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design

The Des Moines Area Rapid Transit Facility (or DART, for short) services 19 cities in and around Polk County, Iowa. The building is 22,750 square-feet and includes areas for vendors, a spacious lobby and waiting area, and office space for operations and maintenance staff. The site also houses a 22,000 square-foot bus canopy. DART was certified LEED Platinum in 2013 and serves as an excellent example of green living and building techniques in the state of Iowa.