In 2011, NASA built a 50,000-square-foot California office that used 90% less drinking water and was designed to produce 20% more energy than it needed

When NASA began developing its Sustainability Base at the Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, the goal was to rethink what an office building could do. Instead of simply reducing energy consumption, NASA designed the building to produce more energy than it used while dramatically cutting its demand for water and electricity.

The approximately 50,000-square-foot, two-story building was scheduled for occupancy in April or May 2011 and was designed to accommodate around 200 people. It also aimed to meet LEED Platinum guidelines, one of the highest levels of recognition under the green-building rating system.

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A building designed to use far less electricity

One of the most striking features of NASA Sustainability Base was its projected electricity consumption. The building was designed to require only 12% of the standard electrical power that a conventional, code-compliant building would need.

Its water consumption was even more unusual. The Sustainability Base was designed to use just 10% of the potable water required by a comparable conventional building. Rather than relying on a single system, NASA combined several technologies to achieve those reductions.

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Geothermal energy and radiant cooling

The building incorporated a geothermal system to help regulate indoor temperatures. It also used radiant cooling, which can provide comfortable indoor conditions without relying entirely on traditional air-conditioning systems.

High-performance lighting was another part of the design, while intelligent building systems were intended to adjust operations according to changing conditions. The building also generated electricity through on-site photovoltaic panels, allowing solar energy to become part of its overall energy strategy.

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NASA wanted the building to make energy

Perhaps the most ambitious goal was that the Sustainability Base was designed to generate 20% more energy than it consumed annually. To help achieve this, the project incorporated NASA Ames research into a next-generation fuel cell capable of using landfill biogas.

That meant the building was not conceived simply as an energy-efficient office. It was intended to demonstrate how a building could combine energy conservation with on-site generation. The approach also allowed NASA to test technologies in a real working environment rather than only inside a laboratory.

The design focused on people, too

The Sustainability Base was not only about reducing its environmental footprint. Its design also emphasized air quality, natural lighting and intelligent controls, with the intention of creating a healthier workplace.

The building was designed for approximately 200 people and included features intended to reduce absenteeism and improve workplace efficiency. This made the project an experiment in both environmental performance and workplace design.

Several firms helped create NASA's sustainable building

NASA Ames Research Center served as the owner of the project. AECOM was the record architect and handled a wide range of responsibilities, including interior design, landscape, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, civil and structural engineering, as well as sustainable materials specifications.

William McDonough + Partners served as the design architect, while Loisos + Ubbelohde worked on daylighting, lighting and energy consulting. Siteworks Studio handled landscape design, MBDC worked on materials assessment and Todd Ecological contributed to wastewater treatment.

The project ultimately brought together architecture, engineering and NASA-developed technologies under one roof. The Sustainability Base was named the winner of the 2010 U.S. General Services Administration Real Property Award for Green Innovation.