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Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
The new riverfront Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota is an inspiring example of a truly green building. From the onset, sustainability was the key focus; it was important that the building effectively model best management practices for supporting water resources and treating storm water.
In the design development package, Michael Huber Architects outlined a series of sustainable project goals and strategies, including:
- To manage storm water runoff
- To plan for a long life
- To plant native plant materials, provide food and enhance the biodiversity of the site
- To connect energy efficiency of building and systems with water used for energy
- To conserve building water consumption
- To use renewable energy sources
- To provide a comfortable human environment
- To use materials with low impact
- To reduce waste
Some of the features of the new community facility include a rooftop garden that captures and filters storm water and a 4000-gallon cistern that collects rain water. The first floor of the headquarters feature interactive exhibits, classrooms and other educational resources for students and the general public, while the second floor is dedicated to offices for MWMO staff.
Innotech windows were selected for the project to help meet some of the project’s ambitious sustainability goals. The windows will help contribute to a long building life, reduce heating expenses, improve ventilation for a better indoor air quality, and keep the occupants comfortable in all seasons.
The MWMO works to protect and improve water and land resources through science-based approaches to planning, policies and implementing capital improvement, education, monitoring and grants programs. The ultra-urban nature, diverse demographic and the associated challenges that face water and natural resource management and pollution prevention distinguish the MWMO in the state of Minnesota. For more information, visit: www.mwmo.org