Project Commissioned by GBA/ViroCon Achieves LEED® Platinum Certification

Copyright Michael Robinson Photography

The $28 million Johnson County Sherriff’s Office Criminalistics Laboratory, located in Olathe, Kan., was recently awarded LEED® Platinum certification by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The facility, which was commissioned in 2012 by GBA/ViroCon, contains sophisticated buildings systems and controls. Space is provided for laboratories, a bullet testing chamber, and offices of the department. Sustainable design elements include a storm water management system, environmentally friendly landscape and hardscape materials, and an energy-efficient design that boasts over $10,000 per month in energy savings.

GBA was delighted upon selection and honored to assist the design/construction team by providing reviews during the design phase, rigorous testing of major building systems, as well as all testing, training and implementation needed to fulfill the necessary LEED® commissioning requirements, including: EA: PR1 Fundamental Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems, EA: CR3 Enhanced Commissioning, EA: CR5 Measurement and Verification and EQ: CR3.2 Construction IAQ Management Plan: Before Occupancy.

The 62,500 sf crime lab was built to serve all of Johnson County, a suburb of Kansas City with 500,000+ residents including 20 communities. GBA and ViroCon were involved with the project throughout all phases – from schematic design to warranty—and commissioned the following systems:

• Building management systems
• All HVAC equipment and systems, including exhaust systems
• Lighting
• Electrical primary, emergency, uninterruptible power (UPS) distribution and metering systems
• Fire alarm and detection systems including FM 200 systems
• Fire suppression systems
• Under floor leak detection systems
• Fuel systems and fuel leak detection monitoring systems
• Lab systems and their controls including but not limited to, hoods, high purity water system, containment devices, exhaust/intake system and gas lines

Located at the County Government complex at 119th Street and Ridgeview Road, the building holds nine accredited forensic analysis labs all under one roof. The state-of-the-art facility is one of just a few crime labs in the nation to receive the USGBC's highest honor.