When NASA began developing its Sustainability Base at the Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, the goal was to rethink what an office building could do. Instead of simply reducing energy consumption, NASA designed the building to produce more energy than it used while dramatically cutting its demand for water and electricity.
The approximately 50,000-square-foot, two-story building was scheduled for occupancy in April or May 2011 and was designed to accommodate around 200 people. It also aimed to meet LEED Platinum guidelines, one of the highest levels of recognition under the green-building rating system.
