On track to be the first fully certified Living Building Challenge (LBC) in Iowa and only the second existing building project in the world, the Stanley Center is a redevelopment project converting a former public library into the new headquarters. In partnership with Neumann Monson Architects, this project transforms a 11,000-sf vacant downtown building into one of the most high-performance and sustainable buildings in the state. Construction is under way with an expected completion in December 2022.

The facility will provide 110 percent of the headquarters’ energy needs through on-site solar energy production.

Additional project innovations include:

• The rainwater collection system will annually divert more than 100,000 gallons of rainwater from the sewer to meet 100 percent of the building’s potable water and irrigation needs. Rainwater will be captured and stored in two above-ground 6,750-gallon cisterns and used for water needs including drinking water, showers, kitchen and bathroom sinks, toilet flushing, and plant irrigation.
• Stormwater that is not captured for use will be treated through a system of permeable pavers, rain gardens, and native vegetation. Stormwater system will retain nearly 400,000 gallons on-site through infiltration and evaporation.
• Sanitary sewer discharge from the building will be minimized using high efficiency fixtures.
• All landscape areas will be planted with 100% native vegetation found regionally in Muscatine County, evocative of the savanna landscape that historically dominated this area and critical to support pollinators, host beneficial insects and biophilia.
• A central courtyard will include outdoor workspaces as well as an 850-sf community garden to provide fresh produce to employees and the neighboring foodbank.

ECT is also a Just 2.0 label holder, a social equity benchmarking platform managed by the International Living Future Institute, the same organization that developed the LBC designation.

Watch Stanley Center’s New Home – Episode 1 – A Living Building and Episode 2 – Seven Petals.