Industrial building developed to green-building standards

Tarragon LLC, which has begun tilting the walls on a 411,100-square-foot industrial building at Spanish Springs, will build the structure's core and shell to green-building standards.

"We think that green awareness is growing and will continue to grow," said Dennis Rattie, vice president of development for the Seattle-based company.

He said Tarragon will seek certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for the project at Spanish Springs Corporate Park. The building would be the first LEED-certified speculative warehouse project in northern Nevada.

The designation, Rattie said, isn't expected to add significantly to the development cost. Much of the work, he said, focuses on construction techniques careful recycling of waste materials, for instance rather than the installation of expensive systems.

Contributing to the energy efficiency of the building are the installation of high-efficiency lighting systems, skylights and R-19 ceiling insulation.

"There's a huge misconception about what LEED designation means," Rattie said. "It's not adding significantly to the construction cost."

At the same time, he said the company thinks the operating efficiencies of the building may provide a competitive advantage as it's marketed by CB Richard Ellis in Reno.

Work by general contractor United Construction began in May on the building, and it's scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter.

ArchEcology is the LEED consultant on the building, which was designed by Tectonics Design Group of Reno.

Tarragon has completed grading of its property at Spanish Springs Corporate Park and has 30 acres ready for build-to-suit projects.