Grant County Regional Airport

The US Forest Service portion of the facility seen in the photo consists of a Regional Training Academy with helibase administration, ready room, locker rooms, and support spaces.

Overview

  • Location: John Day, OR, United States
  • Climate Region: 2B: Hot - Dry
  • Building type(s): Transportation, Industrial, Commercial office, Assembly
  • New construction
  • 17,800 ft2 (1,650 m2)
  • Project scope: 3-story building
  • Rural setting
  • Completed September 2010
  • Rating: USGBC LEED-NC 3

The joint-use facility at the Grant County Regional Airport in John Day, Oregon is used by General Aviation (GA) community and the United States Forest Service (USFS) Fire Airbase.

The airport uses the 2-story facility to house its administrative offices, general aviation lounge, and pilots' lounge. The USFS operates its Fire Airbase helicopter operations, administrative offices, Regional Rappel Training Academy, and ready room.

The County and USFS share training rooms and a third-level observation mezzanine. The site work includes a parking lot, landscaping improvements, covered patio, GA aircraft apron, Biomass furnace/silo, utility connections, and site electrical service improvements.

Environmental Aspects

A biomass (wood pellet) boiler is used as a cost-effective and reliable heat source. Local wood pellets are produced from forestry waste that is clean-burning and supports the local economy.

  • Cooling Tower: Low-cost solution used to reject building heat and maintain heat pump loop temperatures during cooling seasons.

  • High Efficiency HRVs (Heat-Recovery Ventilation units): Used to temper the outside air required for the building occupants, which results in energy savings. Ventilation air is brought into the building through plate heat exchangers that transfer energy from leaving stale air with fresh incoming outside air, resulting in 60%–70% energy savings compared to conventional ventilation air induction.

  • Night Purge System: Activates during non-occupied hours during the summer months to provide free nighttime cooling, thus reducing the energy requirements of the building.

  • Energy Monitoring: Individual electrical panels associated with HVAC, lighting, and plug loads are monitored and data logged through the use of the energy monitoring system in order to provide trending and usage patterns. Information gathered is used to manage and optimize energy consumption.

  • Materials: Some contain recycled content, are made from rapidly renewable resources, and meet applicable environmental standards.

Owner & Occupancy

  • Owned and occupied by Grant County, Oregon, Local government
  • Typically occupied by 14 people, 40 hours per person per week; and 4 visitors per week, 4 hours per visitor per week
  • Expected Building Service Life: 50 years

Building occupancy varies depending on the season. In the summer, there is a significant increase of occupants due to the Forest Service use, and these occupants are considered part-time users.

Building Programs

Indoor Spaces:

Office (35%), Warehouse (16%), Conference (10%), Lobby/reception (10%), Public assembly (10%), Circulation (10%), Restrooms (5%), Manufacturing (2%), Mechanical systems (1%), Retail general (1%)

Outdoor Spaces:

Other (30%), Drives/roadway (25%), Patio/hardscape (20%), Parking (15%), Shade structures/outdoor rooms (5%), Garden—decorative (5%)

Keywords

Integrated team, Design charrette, Green specifications, Commissioning, Performance measurement and verification, Transportation benefits, Open space preservation, Indigenous vegetation, Stormwater management, Efficient fixtures and appliances, Efficient irrigation, Drought-tolerant landscaping, Insulation levels, Glazing, HVAC, Lighting control and daylight harvesting, Efficient lighting, Durability, Benign materials, Recycled materials, Local materials, C&D waste management, Occupant recycling, Connection to outdoors, Daylighting, Natural ventilation, Ventilation effectiveness, Low-emitting materials

Photo credit: Josh MacTaggart, photographer
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Last updated: 5/25/2012

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