SOLARBAN R100/SOLARBLUE glass helps Daimler Trucks North American HQ achieve LEED Platinum certification

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) Corporate Headquarters, featuring Solarban® R100 on performance-tinted Solarblue® glass by Vitro Architectural Glass, is a testament to energy efficiency.

This claim was validated by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and ENERGY STAR®, which both recognized the building’s environmental attributes. The USGBC awarded the building LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification at the Platinum level, the agency’s highest rating. ENERGY STAR scored the building at 99 out of 100 possible points, an achievement that only 1 percent of office buildings nationwide can assert.

Solarban R100 on Solarblue glass was integral to the design strategy executed by Ankrom Moisan Architects, Inc. (AMA), which used the demands of the building’s interior workplaces to guide its overall structure. In addition to situating solid walls perpendicular to the glazing—and placing closed rooms in the center of the floor plate to optimize views and sunlight—AMA offset the core of the structure to maximize space for more workstations along the river-facing windows.

The firm specified Solarban R100 on Solarblue glass to carefully balance the building’s ambitious performance and design criteria. Combined in a standard one-inch insulating glass unit (IGU), the glasses deliver visible light transmittance (VLT) of 26 percent and a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.19.

Spandrels are finished in two glass coatings from ICD High Performance Coatings, a Vitro Glass partner: 6-2998 Basic Blue, an ICD Custom Color; and 6-2387 Tropical Vacation, an ICD/Vitro Harmonizing Color.

In addition to the glass’ excellent solar performance, other elements contributing to the LEED designation include the following:

• Ninety-five percent of the demolition and construction waste was recycled from the project site.
• LED lighting, an intelligently controlled radiant HVAC system and on-site renewable energy help dramatically reduce energy consumption.
• A living green wall in the lobby brings the outdoors inside with the natural air-cleaning benefits of CO2-absorbing vegetation.
• A green roof enhances stormwater management.
• An employee transportation program provides subsidized access to public transportation, increased car-charging stations and access to electric “Smart” cars.

The ENERGY STAR score, which is based on actual, measured data, provides a snapshot of a building’s energy performance through a comprehensive assessment of its physical assets, operations and occupant behavior. A score of 75 or higher identifies a building as a top performer eligible for ENERGY STAR certification.

The 268,000-square-foot, nine-story building, located in Portland, Oregon, consolidates DTNA employees previously housed in separate offices. It also can accommodate up to 400 new employees to meet future business growth.

Hartung Glass Industries, a member of the Vitro Certified™ Network, was the glass fabricator; Benson Industries was the glazing contractor.

For more information about Solarban solar control low-e and high-performance tinted glasses by Vitro Architectural Glass, visit www.vitroglazings.com.