Trumpet Builders was the the project's general contractor, and Karasek Architects designed the facility. The new eco-friendly building consists of a 33,000-square-foot showroom and maintenance shop and has superior energy efficiency. Partially powered by a wind turbine, the facility was constructed with insulated concrete forms (ICFS), an energy-efficient structural wall system providing an insulation R-value of 40.
The building's environmentally friendly aspects include rapidly renewable bamboo wood flooring, specialty coatings in the display area, and a combination of lighting means. Natural light emitted through the northwest showroom windows and more than 40 solatubes are supplemented by the computer-controlled light system, which provides an energy savings mode for all of the artificial light fixtures. Another energy saving feature is the maintenance shop's radiant floor system, which is heated from burned waste oil.
The building is sited within naturally landscaped grounds, using native grasses, plants, and drought-tolerant shrubs and trees. The natural look, in lieu of a manicured lawn, limits maintenance and water use on the grounds.
Besides the new Frieze facility, Vertegy has helped 14 other buildings achieve LEED Certification, including the St. Louis region's first two LEED Platinum commercial facilities, the Alberici Headquarters building and the William Kerr Foundation. Vertegy's other LEED Certified projects are located throughout Missouri, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
