New cutting-edge corporate headquarters is an icon for the city
Tahoka, Texas-based Lyntegar Electric Cooperative Inc., had been in its original location since 1938. After 75 years, the company’s continuous growth caused it to grow out of its current location. The new, 28,086-square-foot corporate headquarters is located approximately two blocks from the original facility, and is designed to last another 75 to 100 years.
Designed by SLS Partnership Inc., Lubbock, Texas, the facility has a corporate fitness center, board room, a 3,500-square-foot, community meeting room with full catering kitchen, and electrical situation room for monitoring storms/outages from the control center. Tahoka residents can use the fully equipped community room for church group meetings, civic groups, parties, receptions, and more.
According to W. Scott Schellhase, AIA, NCARB, APA, LEED AP BD+C, Lyntegar’s board of directors requested the building to be contemporary and cutting edge, with a design and materials that would be an icon for the city. “The goal was to create a new iconic image for the company, creating energy and excitement within the community by establishing its long-time commitment to remain in the town of Tahoka,” he explains.
From day one, Schellhase says the design team discussed how the new corporate headquarters would evoke Lyntegar’s move into the future and would compete with designs from around the state. “The bar was set high,” he says. “We worked endlessly to create an expression of our West Texas roots, as well as the best current technology and building materials we could afford.”
The new facility is located on a very prominent and visual site. “The orientation for customer entry and safety was a primary concern,” Schellhase says, “with the visual cue to high traffic next. The building’s curvilinear form softens its impact on the site, allowing for easier customer parking at the front door.”
For the project, Houston-based MBCI supplied 6,750 square feet of its interlocking wall panels and 9,275 square feet of BattenLok HS standing seam roof panels. MBCI also supplied 725 feet of its Permasnap coping for the fascia system. Additionally, Tampa, Fla.-based McNichols Co. supplied 600 square feet of its grating/shop framing for the galvanized open grating awning and sunscreen system.
Stone was chosen to complement the metal panels and recalls some of the older, historical downtown Tahoka buildings, especially the original courthouse. “The materials are indicative of the strong roots within a small and old community,” Schellhase explains. “The contrast between smooth and rough, reflective and absorption of the materials makes your eye take a second look. Even with the use of smooth and rough/broken stone, the light does wonder to the materials.”
All systems were designed to meet or exceed LEED 2009, even though Schellhase says the owners decided not to go after certification. Since solar orientation and landscaping was also important to Lyntegar, solar sensors mounted around the building track the sun’s location and control electric interior sunshade devices at all windows.
Kawneer Co. Inc., Norcross, Ga., supplied the curtainwall framing, while Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, Santa Monica, Calif., supplied its triple-layered glazing with special UV/heat coatings. The goal was to create an energy-efficient building that would last them another 75 to 100 years.
Rainwater harvesting diverts to the landscaping, which is adaptable to the West Texas desert climate. There are water-restrictive controls on all interior water devices, such as faucets, showers, toilets, etc. The building features LED lighting throughout, advanced HVAC digital controls and thermal sensors. According to Schellhase, the project exceeded all wall and roof insulation requirements by IECC 2010 Texas by 30 percent to provide better thermal comfort. All materials used came within a 150-mile radius of the project site, with approximately 70 percent coming from within a 70-mile radius. The existing building on-site was demolished, and the materials were salvaged with approximately 75 percent being resold.
The project broke ground in February 2013, and the new headquarters was completed in October 2015. Schellhase says the team feels the final building is a wonderful testimony to the commitment of the community and the client. “We are honored to have been a part of casting their vision and love for Tahoka and their 80-plus year history and heritage,” he says.
Lyntegar Electric Cooperative Inc., Tahoka, Texas
Award: 2015 AIA Citation Award from AIA Lubbock
Architect: SLS Partnership Inc., Lubbock, Texas
General contractor: Sandia Construction, Lubbock
Structural engineer: Henderson Rogers, Houston
MEP engineers: Brown Consulting, Amarillo, Texas
Steel fabrication: W&W Steel, Lubbock
Glazing supplier/installer: KK Glass, Lubbock
Metal installer:
Hamilton Roofing Co., Lubbock
Awning/sunscreen: McNichols Co., Tampa, Fla., www.mcnichols.com
Curtainwall: Kawneer Co. Inc., Norcross, Ga., www.kawneer.com
Curtainwall glazing: Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, Santa Monica, Calif., www.obe.com
Metal roof/wall panels: MBCI, Houston, www.mbci.com