Project Description

Lake Country Power saw an opportunity to build a new service center in an environmentally responsible manner in northern Minnesota. The facility provided improved layout and increased operating efficiencies. The 38,000 sq. ft. service center in Mt. Iron is located on a newly developed city business park and took advantage of TIF (Tax Incremental Financing) to help defray some of the initial construction costs.

The new facility consists of a 10,600 sq. ft. office, 7,000 sq. ft. warehouse, vehicle storage for line trucks, trailers and pick-ups, a wash bay, a repair bay and an outside storage yard. The building construction is a combination of precast wall panels, masonry and a pre-engineered metal building.

Sustainable Features

• Building designed to embrace the existing site for minimal disruption

• Waste was recycled and up to 70 percent was diverted from landfill disposal

• Preferred parking for low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicles

• Utilized wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council

• Adhesives and paints contained low levels of volatile organic compounds

• An indoor air quality management plan was utilized to protect the HVAC system during construction to evacuate airborne contaminants

• Building is designed with a white roof to reduce heat islands

• Orientation of the building is designed to reduce the heating load

• Potable water inside the building will be reduced by 50 percent

• Building is slated to reduce energy usage by 21 percent compared to a conventional energy code compliant system