1. THE HIGHLANDS CENTER FOR NATURAL HISTORY
JAMES LEARNING CENTER
PRESCOTT’S FIRST LEED CERTIFIED BUILDING
FIRST LEED-GOLD AND NET ZERO BUILDING IN YAVAPAI COUNTY, AZ
Architect of Record – Catalyst Architecture
Renee Thomas, AIA ,LC
RTL Design, LLC
*While employed with another firm

2. DESIGN

3. • A Site-Sensitive Approach
As an environmental
stewardship organization, a site-
sensitive approach for the
building's placement on the land
was imperative.
Leaving the majority of the 80
acre site undisturbed for hiking
trails, as well as to protect
existing plant and animal habitat,
was an essential consideration.
A small clearing near the
existing structures and parking
lots, with favorable solar access,
and an east-west orientation (for
passive solar optimization) was
ultimately chosen for the
Learning Center building pad.
Plan at right shows only the
developed portion of 80 acre
property (approx 6 acres).
NOTE: Site is heavily wooded–
not all trees are shown.
Site Sensitivity
1. James Learning Center
2. Natural detention glade
3. Sidewalks (existing)
4. Parking lot (existing)
5. Amphitheater building
6. Interpretive sculpture
7. Restroom building
(existing)
8. Water storage tank
Legen
d
DESIGN

4. A Natural Context
The 80 acre site was
provided to the Highlands
Center as a long term
lease from the Prescott
National Forest.
Careful integration with
the existing buildings, as
well as with the densely
forested site, was a
paramount consideration
for the building’s
placement and design.
Though the new building
form is a dramatic
departure from the
existing structures, similar
materials, finishes and
colors (wood, stucco, and
metal roofing), help
contextually integrate the
new building with its
surroundings.
Contextual Design
Designing With
Nature
The vertical log support
structure echos the many
pine trees which surround
the building site (image
above & left).
1. East roof edge drainage point (looking SW)
2. South façade (from Amphitheater Bldg., looking NW)
3. West façade (from highway access point, looking East)
4. Existing Restroom Bldg. (from building pad, looking SE)
5. Existing Amphitheater Bldg. (from Bathroom bldg., looking SE)
1 2
3
4
5
DESIGN

5. Space Efficiency
High Efficiency +
Maximum Flexibility
Development of the floor plan
focused on achieving a maximum
efficiency of space usage, with a
minimum of single-use corridor or
hallway space.
Flexibility within the
administrative areas was also a
key concern, as evolving
programs required adaptable
staff and volunteer work areas,
space arrangements and
relationships.
South facing stone interior walls
(denoted in red) constructed with
rock collected on site, provides
efficient thermal storage for the
low-angle solar gain available
during the coldest months.
The curvilinear south exterior
wall helps visually tie the building
to the organic forms found on the
site.
DESIGN

6. Integrated High Performance
High-Performance Design
Diagrammatic section at right shows
the integrated high-performance
design systems of the James
Learning Center.
Operable clerestory windows north
and south, sized for maximum solar
gain and daylight contribution (with
minimal heat loss), also serve to
ventilate the building when needed.
A south facing interior stone wall, built
from rock harvested on site, stores
solar heat during the cold winter
months, warming the building and
stabilizing indoor temperatures.
Deciduous vines trained over the
lower south-facing windows, allows
sunlight into the building during the
winter, while shading out solar gain
during the summer.
Reflective light shelves north and
south help bounce additional daylight
into the interior of the building.
CAD model showing primary
mechanical and structural systems
Section looking west through Welcome Center/Bookstore and Multi-Purpose Classroom
1. Deciduous vines on trellis for summer
shading
2. Light shelf (in front and behind trellis)
3. Operable clerestory windows for
natural daylight and ventilation
4. Inverted roof for rainwater catchment
5. Natural stone wall for thermal storage
6. Radiant heat in 5” stained concrete
floor
7. Locally harvested tree poles
8. South facing 8Kw photovoltaic array
9. Light shelf and mechanical plenum
10. Operable windows for daylight, views
and ventilation
Legend
DESIGN

7. Organic Design
High-Efficiency In An Organic Form
The exterior form of the James Learning Center is intended to address several
needs. First, as a demonstration facility, the primary function of the building is
to teach (via example). Towards that end, both the design team and client
agreed that as a teaching instrument, the building must strive to capture not
only ones attention, but ones imagination as well.
The soaring lines of the butterfly-shaped roof appear as if poised for flight.
This organic design, however, also serves other more practical purposes,
namely that of creating space for the north and south clerestory windows, as
well as providing a very visible rain-water collection device.
An Expression of Values
Computer modeling established the precise
curve of the roof in order to provide effective
shading for the clerestory windows during the
cooling season, while allowing solar gain to
penetrate the upper windows during the winter
heating season.
An organically shaped south wall expresses
the environmentally rooted mission of the
Highlands Center organization.
South façade from southeast corner
DESIGN

8. Light and Warmth
The interior spaces were designed for maximum comfort and
flexibility. A linear storage bay along the south wall provides
ample table and chair storage for the Learning Center’s diverse
program needs. Louvered storage doors help distribute heat
from the adjacent interior thermal mass stone wall into the
classroom area.
Dimmable fluorescents, along with north-facing clerestory and
eye-level windows provides an even, well-lighted interior.
Natural woods, a 5" thick stained concrete floor, and soft earth
tones create a warm, comfortable environment for learning.
Below: Natural stone wall in
Welcome Center/Bookstore
looking northwest
Right:
Reception
area
clerestory
Above: Multi-purpose Classroom looking southeast
Above: Multi-Purpose
Classroom looking
northeast
DESIGN

9. Green Details
Tree-Huggin' Details By Hand
Hand-made artwork and custom resource-conserving details and can be found
in and around the James Learning Center:
1. Dark-sky compliant custom exterior light fixture (Artist: Royce Carlson)
2. Typical wood bracket detail at post top (along south roof edge)
3. Custom metal rainwater catchment at east end of building (Artist: Royce
Carlson)
4. Interpretive, interactive brass sculpture “Equipoise” (Artist: Heather
1 2 3
4
DESIGN

10. Off-the-shelf Sustainability
OFF-THE-SHELF SUSTAINABILITY & TRANSFERABILITY
While the exterior of the James Learning Center was purposefully unique, it was also our client’s intention that visitors to the
Highlands Center be able to learn about sustainable design strategies that could realistically be integrated into their own
home or business.
In response to this, the James Learning Center employs numerous “off-the-shelf” sustainable design and building
technologies that could easily be incorporated into a private home or business.
These include: Proper building
orientation
 Passive solar design
 Thermal mass
 Natural daylight and
ventilation
 Directionally appropriate
glazing
 2 x wood framing
(smaller structures only)
 Locally harvested
materials
 Rainwater harvesting
 Water-saving plumbing
fixtures
 Native plant selection
 Non-Toxic materials &
finishes
DESIGN

11. Water Efficiency
Water Conservation Strategies (Building and Site)
Water is one of the most critical development issues in the
southwest. In response, the James Learning Center utilizes
several water savings strategies both inside and outside of the
building. Among these are:
 Low water-use plumbing fixtures
 Constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment
 Rock weirs to slow runoff, control sedimentation, and
encourage recharge
 Meandering runoff for self-watering landscape
 Minimized exterior hardscapes
 Use of native, low-water plants to restore disturbed areas
 Drip irrigation used only for establishment of plants (or
during drought conditions)
 Butterfly roof shape provides rainwater catchment for
landscape irrigation
Innovative Water Conserving Design Features
The butterfly roof stands out as the most memorable design
element of the building. As stated previously, the dramatic roof
shape functions not only to collect rainwater, but to educate– by
raising awareness of the preciousness of water as a vital
resource.
At the center of the butterfly roof valley, a large “cricket” helps
channel water out towards both the east and west ends of the
building, where the flow is then captured into large collection
funnels, and then directed into the landscaping. The plant life Water Catchment Device
DESIGN

12. Natural Daylight and Ventilation
Lighting Quality
The lighting system for the building is primarily composed
of natural daylight. Reflective light shelves, exterior
hardscape, interior and exterior soffits, as well as finished
ceiling materials were selected based on their ability to
maximize the amount of natural daylight that could utilized
within the building’s interior. This design effort directly
reduced the amount and size of powered lighting that was
then required. Dimmable fluorescent strip lighting makes
up the majority of the powered lighting within the building,
which is manually controlled, when needed, by the
Highlands Center staff.
Overall electrical and lighting considerations played an
important part in the conceptual orientation and design of
the building. Since 100% of the building’s power comes
from the Learning Center’s 8Kw photovoltaic solar array,
every energy drawing item within the building had to
analyzed for its anticipated electrical draw. All lighting
systems, equipment, appliances, and computers were
considered, and then re-considered in light of their potential
electrical needs.
Thermal Comfort
Thermal comfort was addressed early on in the design process by taking full advantage of proper solar
orientation. An east-west alignment for the building, along with windows precisely sized and placed for optimum
passive solar gain contributed the structure’s highly-efficient energy performance. Operable clerestory windows
stack functions by admitting solar gain and providing ventilation. The upper roof overhang provides shading for
these windows during the summer, while vine covered trellises provide shading for the eye-level windows below.
The building envelope itself is insulated with an R-28 blown-in cellulose in the walls, and an R-34 spray-foam
insulation in the roof. Thermal mass is provided by a 4” thick natural stone (interior) wall veneer, as well as in the
5” thick stained concrete floor slab, helping to keep the Learning Center’s indoor temperatures comfortable and
stable throughout the year.
DESIGN

13. Resource Conservation
Local Materials Used
Local materials used include tree poles which provide
the main vertical structural support of the building,
natural stone used to create thermal mass inside the
building, as well as concrete block used to create stem
walls and the earth sheltered retaining wall, located
along the north side of the building.
Regionally manufactured products include the standing
seam metal roof, as well as the evaporative cooling
units which were each fabricated in the metropolitan
Phoenix area. LEED credits for Storage & Collection
of Recyclables, Construction Waste Management, and
Local & Regional Materials all contributed to the
overall resource conservation qualities of the building.
Innovative Resource Conservation
One of the more innovative resource conservation
strategies employed on the James Learning Center is
the building-integrated use of plant materials for solar
control. The use of these deciduous vines along the
south side of the building (see CAD model image at
right) eliminated the need for a more expensive,
resource intensive solution, that would have required
actual roof overhangs, or other constructed forms to
provide.
Our use of these plants materials for solar control on
Shading perfomance CAD simluation for vine covered trellis
DESIGN

14. Ecological Impact
Minimum Ecological Impact
As an environmental stewardship organization, our client’s value of building
lightly on the land was of paramount importance. The selected site did not
require the clearing of any additional land, nor was a single tree removed for the
construction. The building pad location was selected based on its proximity to
the existing developed areas of the property, as well as within an existing
clearing. LEED credits for Erosion & Sedimentation Control, Reduced
Development Footprint, and Minimized Site Disturbance were all earned for this
project.
On a more global level, minimal ecological impact was achieved through the use
of renewable (solar) energy which supplies 100% of the building’s electrical
needs, as well as through the used of recycled, locally harvested, and regionally
manufactured products. No refrigerant cooling was used in the building, as the
Learning Center also earned LEED credits for CFC Reduction and Ozone
Depletion.
Features Relating to Sustainability
Because the building was to be off-grid, many of the energy-efficient strategies
selected were employed out of sheer necessity. The most striking feature of the
design, its “butterfly” roof, addresses several energy-saving strategies at once;
providing the high clerestory windows for natural daylight and flow-through
ventilation, as well as for passive solar optimization of winter-time solar gain, and
summer-time solar shading. Combined, these energy efficient design strategies
allow almost 70% of the building’s heating and cooling needs to be supplied
passively.
Another architectural feature of the design that provides for energy-efficiency are
the building’s wood and metal trellises (images at right), positioned over the
lower, eye-level windows along the structure’s south elevation. These
DESIGN

15. Heating and Cooling Systems
Real-Time Computer Simulated Solar
Modeling
Evaporative coolers located on north side of
building
Mechanical System Selection
Significant contribution of the passive design elements of the building
(quantified through Energy Modeling of the building) allowed a sizable
decrease in the size and type of mechanical systems required to heat
and cool the building.
Additionally, energy systems constraints, as well as owner/occupant
values and comfort needs, also helped determine the final mechanical
system selection. As an environmental organization attuned to outdoor
experience, neither the executive director nor support staff of the
organization required, (or desired) refrigerant cooling, for example. The
design-to temperature for the winter heating season was a modest 68°,
with a summer design-to cooling temperature of 78°.
This less-demanding comfort zone requirement, combined with the
passive energy contributions of the building itself, pointed towards
variable-speed control evaporative cooling, and in-floor radiant heating
as the appropriate heating and cooling system options for the James
Learning Center.
Life Cycle Considerations
Life cycle cost considerations relative to the mechanical system
choices for the Highands Center are consistent with the values of the
organization for choosing high durability, low-replacement cost systems.
The selected boiler’s lifespan, of between 25-40 years, combined with
the life span of the PEX radiant in-floor tubing (between 50-100 years)
is higher than comparable forced air systems.
On the cooling side, evaporative cooling boasts one of the more
favorable life cycle cost scenarios, as both first cost and annual
DESIGN

16. Energy Modeling
Energy Simulation Analysis
Results of our energy simulation analysis are summarized in the
table and chart at right. In all, the Highland Center for Natural
History will achieve $2,350 (66%) in annual utility savings per year
as compared to a minimally compliant ASHRAE 90.1 building.
Approximately 50% of the energy savings on the building can be
attributed to the 8Kw photovoltaic system, which has been
designed to provide 100% of the building’s electrical needs.
Initial energy modeling demonstrated that, based on the
quantifiable amount of passive heating and cooling contribution of
the building itself, just how little supplemental heating and cooling
would actually be needed. Graph at right illustrates the expected
amounts of radiant heating (red bars) and evaporative cooling (blue
bars) needed on throughout the year on a month to month basis.
Mechanical System Energy Requirements
Total building system energy requirements from graph at right are as
follows:
Space Heating: 11,900
BTU/ sq.ft./ year
Space Cooling: 00
BTU/ sq.ft./ year
Fans: 400 BTU/ sq.ft./ year
Pumps/Aux: 1,500 BTU/ sq.ft./ year
TOTAL 13,800 BTU/ sq.ft./ year
The 13,800 BTU/ sq. ft./ year energy requirement is roughly one-fifth
(1/5th) the typical energy required for a conventional commercial
Energy End-Use Simulation Model
Heating & Cooling Operation Mode
DESIGN

17. LEED-Gold Summary
The James Learning Center was awarded a LEED-Gold certification in February 2008, making it the first LEED certified
building in Prescott Arizona, as well as the first LEED-Gold facility in Yavapai County. Below is a summary of the
credits earned in each of the six LEED categories.
Erosion & Sedimentation Control
Site Selection
Alternative Transportation- Bicycle Support
Alternative Transportation- Carpooling
Open Space Protection & Restoration
Reduced Development Footprint
Heat Island Reduction
Light Pollution Reduction
SUSTAINABLE SITES
Prq_1
Cr_1
Cr_4.2
Cr_4.4
Cr_5.1
Cr_5.2
Cr_7.1
Cr_8
Storage & Collection of Recyclables
Construction Waste Diversion 50%
Construction Waste Diversion 75%
Local & Regional Materials
MATERIALS & RESOURCES
Prq_1
Cr_2.1
Cr_2.2
Cr_5.1
Water Efficient Landscaping
Innovative Wastewater
Technologies
Water Use Reduction
WATER EFFICIENCY
Cr_1.1
Cr_2
Cr_3.1
Minimum IAQ Performance Site Selection
Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control
Ventilation Effectiveness
Low-Emitting Adhesives & Sealants
Low-Emitting Paints & Stains
Low-Emitting Composite Woods
Controllability of Systems
Daylight- 75% of Spaces
Views- 90% of Spaces
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Prq_1
Prq_2
Cr_2
Cr_4.1
Cr_4.2
Cr_4.4
Cr_6.1
Cr_8.1
Cr_8.2
Sustainable Education Program
Geen Maintenance Polices
Exceed Renewable Energy (40% +)
Exceed Energy Performance (65% +)
LEED™ Accredited Professional
INNOVATION IN
DESIGN
Cr_1.1
Cr_1.2
Cr_1.3
Cr_1.4
Cr_2
Fundamental Building Commissioning
Minimum Energy Performance
CFC Reduction in HVAC & R
Equipment
Optimized Energy Performance
Renewable Energy 5%
Renewable Energy 10%
Renewable Energy 20%
Ozone Depletion
ENERGY & ATMOSPHERE
Prq_1
Prq_2
Prq_3
Cr_1
Cr_2.1
Cr_2.2
Cr_2.3
Cr_4
DESIGN

18. Acknowledgements
CLIENT
Nichole Trushell, Executive Director
HIGHLANDS CENTER FOR NATURAL
HISTORY
Prescott, AZ
ARCHITECTURE
Matthew Ackerman, LEED-AP AIA
CATALYST ARCHITECTURE, LLC
Prescott, AZ
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Barnabas Kane, ASLA
T. BARNABUS KANE & ASSOCIATES
Prescott, AZ
LIGHTING DESIGN
Renée Thomas, AIA, IESNA
RTL DESIGN, LLC
Peoria, AZ
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Sandy J. Herd, PE
CARUSO TURLEY SCOTT, INC.
Tempe, AZ
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Pete Kunka, PE
KUNKA ENGINEERING, INC.
Phoenix, AZ
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Robert T. Haines, PE
HES CONSULTING ENGINEERS, INC.
Prescott, AZ
ENERGY MODELING &
COMMISSIONING
Henny Van Lambalgen, PE CEM
QUEST ENERGY GROUP, LLC
Tempe, AZ
PHOTOVOLTAIC DESIGN
Ben Mancini
EV SOLAR
Chino Valley, AZ
LEED CONSULTING
Mark Wilhelm, LEED-AP
GREEN IDEAS, INC.
Phoenix, AZ
LEED DOCUMENTATION
Patricia Olson, PhD LEED-AP
ECOLOGICAL BY DESIGN
Prescott, AZ
CONTRACTOR
Tom Haley, LEED-AP
HALEY CONSTRUCTION, CO.
Prescott, AZ
LEED-GOLD PROJECT
TEAM
DESIGN

19. Create. Meaning. Together.