IBM is building a significant new facility in the United States for the first time in over 12 years. After an evaluation process, IBM chose to locate in Dubuque Iowa’s historic Roshek Building. At 250,000sf the Roshek Building is the largest building in Dubuque, dominating the city with 9 stories. This former Roskek Brothers Department Store, built in1931, has an unusual single-loaded core, which allows for large, open spaces on each floor.
The IBM Dubuque project is bringing over 1,300 well-paying, high-tech jobs to Dubuque. This single move is taking a large, underutilized, asbestos-laden building and turning it into a thriving symbol for the new, green Dubuque. In this 150,000sf $9M gut-rehabilitation project, IBM is taking the building’s top five floors, with potential expansion. These workers will be located in a walkable, compact downtown, adjacent to adjacent entertainment, housing, commercial and industrial districts. The City of Dubuque was able to attract IBM largely because of its own sustainability platform and progressive management and direction.
The City of Dubuque and IBM are also collaborating on a Smart City initiative, the first time IBM is bringing its smart city thinking across all levels of a city, utilities and its infrastructure. The city’s population of 60,000 lends it to be streamlined with both municipal and utility participation in this program, on one hand, and resident and end-user participation on the other. This initiative will consist largely of the implementation of IBM’s smart metering technology for electricity and water usage for both small user and large user loads. The ability for metering to influence and ultimately reduce energy and water use will be closely studied in this five-year test effort.
evolveEA is managing the LEED effort for the IBM Dubuque project, as well as the LEED effort for the Roshek Building. Through meetings and visioning with IBM and the design team, IBM’s employees will enjoy the green building features of a LEED certified interior. Views and lines of sight will provide relief for these knowledge workers. Healthy finishes and furnishings, high levels of filtration and Greenseal compliant janitorial practices will keep good indoor air quality. Efficient HVAC and 97% Energy Star computers will ease energy usage. Significant building reuse in a prominent downtown building will enable and encourage employees to walk or bicycle.
This project was designed and constructed in phases, beginning in January 2009 and required significant coordination with the landlord’s design and construction team performing the concurrent demolition and renovation of all building systems. Coordination was also essential for the scheduling to allow for the occupancy of these 1,300 employees by December 2009, a cycle of less than one year.