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. 

• LEED Platinum
• Ground source heat pump for heating and cooling
• 70 geothermal wells
• Heat recovery ventilation
• Low-pressure duct work for fresh air delivery
• Variable speed ventilation system
• LED lighting
• Daylight access for 90% of regularly occupied spaces
• Lighting control system for entire facility including occupancy sensors, daylight sensors, time clocks, and photocell
• Direct Digital Control System (DDC)
• 20 kW rooftop and canopy photovoltaic panels
• 20,000-gallon cistern for rainwater collection
• 24% recycled construction materials
• 28% regionally manufactured materials
• Climate-controlled wating areas

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 and Consulting

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

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