Community + Local Government | Fall 2023

Community + Local Government Design

Project Portfolio

About CMTA

CMTA was founded in 1968 and is recognized as a national leader in high performance, sustainable design within the engineering industry. Our firm has leveraged our expertise in high performance, energy-efficient design into a nationwide practice that includes consulting engineering, performance contracting and zero energy design, technology solutions, and commissioning services.

CMTA prides itself on its data-driven, performance-based design process. Performance-based design uses benchmarking of our projects’ real-world energy usage as a challenge to our engineers to continuously improve energy performance. CMTA’s first signature performance-based design project was Richardsville Elementary School, the nation’s first operational Zero Energy school. Since then, our Zero Energy projects have led our firm into the national spotlight.

Because we walk the talk, we are true partners vested in sharing our knowledge with our clients. Our corporate headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky and our Lexington, Kentucky offices are both zero energy buildings with perfect ENERGY STAR scores. And our CMTA Energy Solutions corporate office in Louisville is the first in the U.S. to operate as Zero Energy and achieve WELL Gold certification. CMTA strives to create strong relationships with building owners and managers while also focusing on the health and comfort of the people who live, work, and play in spaces we design.

Community + Local Government

We enjoy the opportunity to help local governmental entities provide modern, innovative, and inviting facilities for their employees and communities. With an array of daily operations and special events hosted at these facilities, the mechanical heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems must be adaptable to include the various occupancy loads and climates.

We’ve designed hundreds of government and community facilities throughout the nation with a thoughtful and conscious design process. We are acutely aware of the unforeseen intricacies and design of older systems, and how to bring them back to life without significant impact on the building.

Ultimately, it’s crucial that these buildings are designed cost-effectively with efficient mechanical and electrical systems and equipment to maximize taxpayers’ dollars.

Rough Rider Event & Community Center Watford City, North Dakota

Cincinnati District 3 Police Headquarters

Cincinnati, Ohio

CMTA was proud to partner with the Cincinnati Police Department on their brand-new District 3 Police Headquarters. Through Data Driven Design and understanding the building’s true purpose, we were able to deliver the nation’s first Zero Energy mission critical facility. The solar power system is generating system 60% more energy than it is consuming! The actual energy consumption of the facility is 26.7 kBtu/SF/yr, which is 24% less than the charrette energy goal.

In addition to being Zero Energy, the site storm water is Zero Water. The bio-swales and retention basins retain all storm water on site to help minimize the city’s current combined sewer problem.

Accomplishing the sustainability and Zero Energy goals within budget was a tribute to the entire team. Achieving this goal will now save the owner $2,000,000 in avoided utility costs over the next 20 years.

Project at a Glance Completion: 2020

Size: 39,600 SF

Cost: $14,800,000

Project Type: New Facility

Awards/Certifications:

Zero Energy

LEED Platinum

LBC Petal Certification

Lubber Run Community Center

Arlington County | Arlington, Virginia

Through the integration of building and landscape, the Lubber Run Community Center offers a holistic response to an urban challenge -- ultimately creating public space that is greater and greener for residents. Connection to nature and preservation of open space were essential to designing the new building, and as a result, parking and some programs are located underground to allow for increased outdoor amenities at ground level.

This all-electric low EUI building is zero-energy ready. Lithium battery storage was implemented in the design for demand reduction and resiliency in the system during power outages. The on-site roof-mounted solar photovoltaics are being purchased via a solar purchase agreement currently in progress.

A roof-mounted photovoltaic array and battery storage system will help to reduce the building’s impact

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2020

Size: 53,000 SF

Cost: $39,000,000

Project Type: New Facility

Awards/Certifications:

Zero Energy

LEED Silver

Two Rivers Activity Center

Jamestown, North Dakota

CMTA provided MEP engineering services for the new 97,000 SF Two Rivers Activity Center (TRAC) and 37,500 SF turf dome.

TRAC is a community recreation center located in Jamestown, ND – the recreation center’s goal is to “Make the community the best place to live and play by providing resources, programs, and opportunities that promote health and well-being.”

TRAC’s work focuses on health and wellness programming, recreational and leisure activities, and youth development.

The aquatics center includes two water slides, a lap swim area, a lazy river, a zeroentry play area, a climbing wall, a therapy pool, a whirlpool/hot tub, and a sauna.

The facility also includes a gymnasium with a track mezzanine level, group fitness rooms, strength training equipment, multi-use courts for basketball, tennis, volleyball, and pickleball, and an indoor field turf.

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2018

Size: 97,000 SF (building)

37,500 SF (turf dome)

Cost: $29,000,000

Project Type: New Facility

Minneapolis Public Service Building

City of Minneapolis | Minneapolis, Minnesota

The new Minneapolis Public Service Building emulates a re-imagined holistic public service model. Honored with a 2021 AIA Minnesota Honor Award and a 2022 AIA New York Design Award, the building is praised for excellence in design for Integration, Change, Energy, Equitable Communities, and Well-Being. It’s the fourth and final face of downtown Minneapolis’ Government Plaza and is designed to serve as a public space that is inviting and accessible to all.

CMTA completed plumbing and fire protection design for the new, sustainable, 11-story public service building. The building is nestled in Minneapolis’ downtown Government Plaza and unites seven city departments and over 1,000 employees under one roof. Between the access to daylight, design openness, and collaborative gathering spaces, the Pubic Service Building promotes a healthy work environment. The building also features an abundance of local art reflecting the diversity of Minneapolis.

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2021

Size: 370,000 SF

Cost: $195,000,000

Project Type: New Facility

Awards/Certifications:

AIA Minnesota Honor Award, 2021

AIA New York Honor Award, 2022

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Main Library

Charlotte/Mecklenburg County Charlotte, North Carolina

Designed to enhance learning opportunities and improve economic mobility, CharlotteMecklenburg’s new main library will be located on the same site the main library has occupied since 1903, and will preserve a rich history while providing a complete transformation to suit the evolving needs of the region.

The library is designed based on sustainable principles, which will include energyefficient lighting, heating, air conditioning, flooring, green furnishings, and fixtures with a low environmental impact. The project broke ground in 2021 and is scheduled for completion in mid-2024.

With a more vertical design on a smaller footprint, the facility will have five levels above ground and one below, two outdoor terraces, an active lobby with a community forum and immersive theater, a café at the

corner of Tryon and Sixth Streets, flexible meeting spaces, a revamped RobinsonSpangler Carolina Room (housing an extensive genealogy collection), and more.

Before the design process began, a public planning process engaged library patrons and community leaders to envision a building program that balances traditional library offerings with greater capacity for gatherings and social interactions – a public commons. Each floor of the library is designed with a specific thematic focus and equipped with advanced technology capabilities to meet growing demand for digital materials.

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2024 Estimated

Size: 115,000 SF New; 44,000 SF Renovation

Cost: $108,000,000

Project Type: Addition & Renovation

The existing historic courthouse was in very poor condition and was completely renovated down to the structure. The new building includes a restaurant, visitors center, offices, and event space.

All mechanical, electrical, and plumbing items were removed from the facility and replaced with new equipment. The existing mechanical system, which previously included a cooling tower located within the historic rotunda, was replaced with a high efficiency variable-refrigerant flow system equipped with heat recovery, connected to a geothermal wellfield.

The new electrical system consists of energy efficient LED lighting throughout the facility, as well as new electrical power distribution throughout. A new access control system was installed throughout the building and tenant fit-outs on each floor. The third floor event space contains a full audio/ visual system tailored to meet the needs for large events and presentations.

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2018

Size: 50,300 SF

Cost: $31,500,000

Project Type: Historic Renovation Awards/Certifications:

2019 Vision Award for Preservation

018 Honor Award - Kentucky AIA Award for Excellence in Architectural Design

2018 Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation Historic Preservation Award

Fairfax County Community Center

Fairfax County | Alexandria, Virginia

CMTA was selected as consultant engineer for the comprehensive renovations, historic preservation and adaptive reuse of the historic Original Mount Vernon High School (OMVHS) facility and associated site work. The existing structure, built in 1939 with additions in the 1950s and renovations in the 1980s, is a classic example of Colonial Revival Architecture and sits on land that was once part of the estate of President George Washington. The property is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places and in the Virginia Landmarks Register.

The OMVHS facility is mostly vacant and consists of five buildings, which primarily include offices, classrooms, a kitchen and cafeteria, library, gymnasium, lockers, locker rooms, auditorium, storage areas, and other core and support spaces.

The existing historical buildings will undergo

the replacement of roofing, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, fire protection and security systems, HazMAT remediation, ADA compliance, potential demolition of non-historic buildings, and associated site work and infrastructure improvements/replacement, including trails. The county intends to re-purpose the space for uses such as: educational, childcare and childhood education programs, theater, gymnasium, food service, and innovative community and incubation spaces..

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2024 Estimated

Size: 24,000 SF New; 127,000 SF Renovation

Cost: $55,000,000

Project Type: Adaptive Reuse

Awards/Certifications:

Zero Energy-Targeted

LEED Silver-Targeted

Renderings courtesy of VMDO Architects

Major Health Partners Wellness Center & YMCA

Shelbyville, Indiana

Major Health Partners (MHP) provides Shelbyville, Indiana and nearby rural communities with a multitude of health and wellness initiatives. In collaboration with Decatur County Family YMCA, MHP added an 80,500 square-foot Wellness Center and YMCA to their award-winning Intelliplex Campus to further meet the needs of the surrounding community, facilitating change toward healthy lifestyles and activities.

Serving the Central Indiana community since 1924, MHP aims to create and deliver superior healthcare solutions by providing optimal clinical and economic outcomes to their patients. The Wellness Center and YMCA strengthen MHP’s existing mission while also allowing them to function as a community leader in elevating the region’s health and wellness, catering to over 2,500 members.

The new Community Health and Wellness Center includes a YMCA with a pool and gymnasium, doctor’s offices, and a senior services area, which includes meeting spaces, a teaching kitchen, and dining spaces.

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2021

Size: 80,000 SF

Cost: $20,680,000

Project Type: New Construction

300 Sower Office Building

Commonwealth of Kentucky | Frankfort, Kentucky

This design-build project involves the design of a 365,000 SF, five-story new office building. The project is a public/private partnership between the developer and the State of Kentucky with the State leasing the building until such time they may purchase the property.

Floors two through five feature mainly open office space with some private offices, conferences areas, collaboration areas and break rooms located throughout. The first floor is similar to the floors above but also has a food service component and central MEP systems. There is a large outdoor seating area near the food service area to allow for outdoor dining.

The HVAC system contains large, VAV-type systems with hot water reheat and water cooled chillers. Energy recovery is provided for the outdoor air systems.

The electrical system is 480 volt distributed out to the building with generator for life safety systems and building heating. Lighting for both indoor and outdoor will be 100% LED. Occupancy sensors are being provided for automatic control. Daylighting is being designed for the open office spaces to allow for views and to reduce artificial lighting energy. CMTA also designed the access control systems and provided the infrastructure for the IT system.

Project at a Glance

Completion: 2016

Size: 365,000 SF

Cost: $55,000,000

Project Type: New Facility Awards/Certifications: LEED Silver

Building Science Leadership