Today, DC Water General Manager George S. Hawkins, staff and executive team members celebrated the opening of DC Water’s new Visitor Center and warehouse—an environmentally friendly building at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The 30,000 square foot building is the first stop for the more than 1,000 visitors who tour the plant each year. It houses an educational classroom, Security, the Office of External Affairs’ Community Outreach team and a new warehouse. The modern design incorporates recycled materials, plant life and a large wall display that explains water and wastewater collection and treatment processes.

“DC Water planned this new building to LEED Silver certification standards,” said General Manager Hawkins. “It serves as a model for stormwater runoff reduction and energy efficiency.”

For runoff reduction, the green roof will drain into vegetative swales along the back of the building, where it will be treated by plant life selected for this purpose. Pervious pavement is also used to reduce runoff where practical. The resurfaced parking lot incorporates new landscaping islands and planting strips to reduce the heat island effect. Any runoff from the parking lot is directed to existing storm drains.

For energy efficiency, multiple skylights take advantage of natural daylight and supplement high efficiency LED lighting fixtures while a solar array roof above the guardhouse aims to save electricity. Low flow plumbing fixtures also conserve water.

Additional green building features:

- Building materials with high recycled and recyclable content are used, including concrete, masonry, gypsum board, ceramic tile, ceiling tiles, carpet, etc.
- All wood products used on the project are made from FSC Certified lumber.
- Construction waste management: 88.3 percent of waste diverted from landfills
- Indoor air quality management
- Recycled content of the composite and metal panels is +26 percent
- Sustainable furniture
- Solatube skylights
- Light pollution-reducing site lighting
- Water use reduction
- Bicycle storage and changing rooms to accommodate bicycle commuters

To schedule a tour of the Blue Plains facility, please visit: dcwater.com/about/tours.cfm