Archives for Project Updates

CRPL Receives LEED Platinum Certification CRPL achieved a total of 82 LEED credits making it one of 15 buildings currently certified as Platinum! To work towards the goal of LEED Platinum, some of the energy saving strategies included a central geothermal system with a pump and reinjection ground water source, energy recovery ventilation, demand controlled […]

Cedar Rapids Public Library was featured on the cover of the Spring 2014 edition of IA Architect Magazine!

Maple Willow Larch Residence Hall Dining Renovation & Convenience Store – Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa             Project History This project consists of the complete renovation of the dining facilities at Maple Willow Larch Residence Hall into a food court style facility at Iowa State University, as well as the […]

Cedar Rapids Central Fire Station received a Merit award and LEED Platinum certification!

Kirkwood Healthcare Simulation Center – Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa This 10,700 sqft facility was added to the west end of Linn Hall to serve the expanding Nursing program.  The facility has an OR/ER, ICU, a nurse’s station, four exam rooms, ambulance garage, and office space.  Each of the medical spaces has an adjacent […]

Kirkwood Johnson County Regional Center – Kirkwood Community College, Coralville, Iowa Kirkwood’s newest regional center was designed in partnership with The University of Iowa and area K-12 districts. This 5 story, 102,000 square foot facility is located on the University of Iowa’s Oakdale Campus and is registered LEED gold. Regional centers provide advanced learning opportunities […]

Kirkwood Horticulture – Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa This 40,200 sqft facility was built in 2007 on Kirkwood’s main campus to house their Agricultural Sciences Program.  This facility allows students to study in golf course and athletic turfgrass management, landscape maintenance, nursery and garden center management, parks and natural resources, and floral design.  An […]

Cedar Rapids Public Library was featured on the cover of this month’s Interiors & Sources!

Coralville Parks & Transit Facility has been awarded LEED Gold certification!

Cedar Rapids Public Library, Cedar Rapids, Iowa The magnificent new 94,000 sq. ft main library in the heart of the City of Cedar Rapids replaces the library damaged in the 2008 flood. The project includes a 200-seat auditorium, offices, conference rooms, stack area, green roof, and a coffee shop. Goals of the project included: LEED […]

Borlaug Elementary School Earns Alliant Energy’s “Excellence in Energy Efficiency” Award Borlaug Elementary School Project was selected as one of the best energy-efficient design projects completed in 2012 in Alliant Energy’s “Commercial New Construction” program. This Design Engineers projects was only one of ten award winners from over 100 projects submitted for consideration. This award […]

Marion middle school receives $273,000 rebate from Alliant Energy. The new school shows how adjusting windows to allow more daylight can reduce energy usage. The school also features a white roof to help reduce heat gain in the summer and geo-thermal heating and cooling throughout the building. “The best part of the new building is […]

Iowa City Fire Station #4 This striking and sustainable Iowa City structure has earned a Gold Certification through the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. Fire Station #4 employed various strategies to its site, material selection, air quality, water usage and energy efficiency to meet the rigorous standards for LEED Gold. […]

Mount Mercy University Student Center Recognized by Alliant Energy  Alliant Energy selected OPN Architects, Inc. for a 2012 Excellence in Energy Efficient Design Award for the design of the Mount Mercy University Renovation & Addition . Design Engineers served as the primary Mechanical, Electrical  and Plumbing design consultant to OPN on this dynamic project, uniting several spaces into an all-new […]

West Branch High School Gymnasium Recognized by Alliant Energy Alliant Energy selected OPN Architects, Inc. for a 2012 Excellence in Energy Efficient Design Award for the design of the West Branch High School Gymnasium. Design Engineers served as the primary Mechanical, Electrical  and Plumbing design consultant to OPN on this rewarding project. Award winners were selected from […]

Veterans Administration Research Hospital This project consisted of the construction of a new free standing 30,000 square foot research facility on the campus of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Iowa City.  The facility was constructed to provide additional wet laboratory research space for use by the VA staff.  Utilities for the new […]