SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In celebration of Earth Day today, Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West (SMoW) shared key details of its celebrated LEED® Gold certified museum building. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is the most widely used rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence in “green” building.
SMoW received this prestigious certification in 2016 and the building’s sustainability features are a crucial element in the museum’s unique position as an institution dedicated to telling stories of the West through Native American and Western arts, artifacts and living cultures to “illuminate the past to enlighten the future.”
“We are best known for telling authentic and compelling stories of the West to help our guests ‘See the West from a whole new perspective,’ and we are tremendously proud of our permanent and rotating exhibitions and collections that help us do just that,” said Mike Fox, CEO and Museum Director, SMoW. “We are especially proud of our LEED Gold certified building and we thank the City of Scottsdale for this tremendous gift and the purposeful design spearheaded by the local design team. This building helps us every day in so many ways as we continue our important mission to bridge the old to the new West. It not only houses our collections, but it, too, is a work of work of art and tells a modern Western story.”
The 43,000-square-foot, two-story museum building was built and is owned by the City of Scottsdale and is managed and operated by Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
LEED certification ensures electricity cost savings, lower carbon emissions and healthier environments for the places where people live, work, learn, play and worship. The museum achieved LEED Gold certification (60-79 points earned) for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in energy efficiency, water savings, materials selection, indoor environmental quality and sustainable site development.
The building’s design supports the following:
- Optimal energy efficiency
- The building achieves a 38 percent reduction in energy use over the baseline energy code requirement due to enhanced performance of systems and green design strategies such as desert-appropriate building orientation and self-shading.
- Mimicking the ribs of the saguaro cactus, concrete ribbing on the museum’s facade provides “passive” vertical shade cross the building’s exterior.
- A “woven” metal overhang on the second level provides self-shading for the building.
- Water savings
- The building’s innovative systems reduce water use by a minimum of 40 percent.
- The sculpture courtyard’s “weeping wall” collects rainwater from the roof and 100 percent of the condensation from the HVAC system.
- Collected water travels from a bioswale (recessed planter) in the museum’s courtyard to a separate bioswale on the museum’s south plaza that provides water to the building’s landscaping.
- The museum campus features low-water-use desert plants.
- Materials selection
- More than 75 percent of nonhazardous debris from the building’s construction was recycled or salvaged.
- The theater’s sound attenuation blankets are comprised of locally sourced cotton.
- Materials used throughout the building’s design are regionally and sustainably sourced.
- Indoor environmental quality
- The museum features high-level lighting systems that are individually controlled.
- Low-emitting paints and coatings are used throughout the building to reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants.
- The building’s design and performance provide a comfortable thermal environment.
- Sustainable site development
- The museum site features excellent public transportation access, development density and community connectivity.
The City of Scottsdale’s museum development project was led by architectural firm Studio Ma of Phoenix, Christiana Moss and Christopher Alt, principals; landscape architect Colwell Shelor of Phoenix; and contractors Core Construction Company and LGE Design Build Company, both of Phoenix, all under the daily direction and oversight of City of Scottsdale Project Manager Gary Meyer.
About Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West (SMoW)
Since its opening in Jan. 2015, SMoW has become a Smithsonian Affiliate organization. The museum is also a recipient of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, enjoys a 4.5 out of 5 star rating on TripAdvisor and Yelp and is recognized as the “Nation’s Best Western Museum” (2019 Editors’ Choice, True West magazine). SMoW features regularly changing and permanent exhibits of Western and Native American art and artifacts, entertaining events and informative programs that bring the West’s heritage, culture and community to life. Permanent exhibitions continuously on display include Canvas of Clay: Hopi Pottery Masterworks from The Allan and Judith Cooke Collection, which features 65 of the finest examples of Hopi pottery spanning six centuries, and The Abe Hays Family Spirit of the West Collection, a showcase of more than 1,400 saddles, spurs, cowboy gear and other Old West artifacts.
Featured Collections include: Alper Bronze John Coleman Collection; Cooke Hopi Pottery Collection; Hays Legendary Cowboy Collection; Peterson Early and Contemporary Western Art Collection; and Strickland Golden West Poster Collection.
Buildings and Campus
SMoW is owned by the City of Scottsdale and the museum is managed by Scottsdale Museum of the West, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. It features an award-winning 43,000-square-foot, two-story main building designed by Phoenix-based architectural firm Studio Ma. The museum campus was designed by landscape architect Colwell Shelor of Phoenix and features low water-use desert plantings. Both indoor and outdoor spaces are certified as LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold, conserving precious natural resources, while raising public awareness of their vital importance to the Western region.
SMoW also features the beautiful outdoor Christine and Ted Mollring Sculpture Courtyard with a rotating selection of sculptures. The 135-seat Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Theater/Auditorium hosts performances, special programs and events. The Sue and Robert Karatz Museum Store offers a rare and wide selection of Western-themed art and gifts. “Spirit Is” is an exclusive 10-minute must-see film shown on the hour at the museum that captures the spirit of the West.
Museum Hours
Tues., Wed., Fri., Sat.: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Thursday: 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. (November-April) & 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (May-October)
Sunday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Closed Monday
Admission Prices
Adults: $15
Seniors (65+) and Active Military: $13
Students (Full-time with ID) and Children (6-17 years): $8
Members and Children 5 and under: FREE
Thursdays, November-April, Scottsdale residents with proof of residence (e.g., driver’s license, utility bill) receive FREE museum admission.
Location
3830 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
SMoW is located in Old Town Scottsdale, one block west of Scottsdale Road at First Street. The museum is readily accessible from throughout the metro Phoenix area and is within easy walking distance of numerous art galleries, retail stores and restaurants. Day-long, come-and-go admission allows guests to tour SMoW, have a bite to eat in a local Old Town restaurant and return for more viewing. The free Downtown Scottsdale trolley stops at the museum campus.
General Contact:
480-530-3446
www.scottsdalemuseumwest.org
Media Contact: Mardi Larson, Director of Marketing & Communications
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
Office: 480.530.3446; Cell: 480.677.5005
mlarson@scottsdalemuseumwest.org
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3852aba4-b02b-4389-9ccf-30b3d123bc71