EPA Region 8 Headquarters

The outward expression of the nine-story, LEED Gold-rated building reinforces EPA's message of resource conservation in ways both obvious and subliminal. The double-L plan features markedly distinct window and material designs for sunward - and windward-facing zones. Architect Zimmer Gunsul Frasca employed a contextual red brick at the lower floors, a nod to the historic masonry construction in Denver's Lower Downtown, or LoDo, area. Above, the designers dispensed with expensive light shelves in favor of high-performance glazing coupled with brushed-aluminum vertical and H200 2" manual & motorized horizontal blinds by Hunter Douglas Contract. The vertical units hang along clerestory areas at an angle predetermined by the lighting designer and architect. Below are the H200 2-inch horizontal louvers, which automatically orient to a precisely regulated angle for optimal interior illumination and energy performance. All 300 blinds are motorized with sun-tracking controls set by celestial clock. The tilt of the blinds changes automatically three times a day, controlling glare and reducing heat loads.