Building 48 Modernization

Salas O’Brien provided comprehensive engineering design services for the adaptive reuse of Building 48, transforming a former World War II munitions warehouse into a modern workplace for the Department of the Interior’s Interior Business Center. Our team was challenged to preserve and modernize an aging industrial structure while achieving ambitious sustainability, energy performance, and occupant wellness goals.

For this design-build project, the team designed an integrated, high-efficiency mechanical, electrical, and plumbing system, including a water-source heat pump, all-electric heating, renewable energy generation, and supporting infrastructure, to achieve a net zero energy profile. By leveraging Colorado’s dry climate through direct evaporative cooling, the building significantly reduces energy consumption during shoulder seasons while maintaining occupant comfort. The design also incorporates circadian lighting strategies, using large windows and skylights to enhance wellness and productivity. This helped the facility achieve LEED Gold and SITES Silver certification, demonstrating that buildings can be transformed into a resilient workplace powered by 100% renewable energy.