Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 Headquarters

The EPA’s vision for its new Region 7 headquarters, housed in a building originally designed by BNIM, was that the facility be innovative in concept and excellent in design. The new headquarters takes advantage of the existing building’s design, responding to climatic conditions, natural daylight, views, and highly-efficient enclosure. Exterior courtyards extend the uses in each atrium to the outside. Runnels and rain gardens direct the flow of stormwater from the roofs through each courtyard. Spaces for meetings — both open and enclosed — are located throughout to promote collaboration and small enclaves give all associates a place of privacy.

The EPA headquarters is built on a restored site that maximizes natural beauty, stormwater infiltration and a quality outdoor environment while meeting the GSA security requirements. Four finger-like office wings extend out from the building creating outdoor plazas and gathering nodes with connections to the adjacent trail and lake system. The courtyards each have a unique character, with each design collecting and filtering building runoff. Runnels and rain gardens direct the flow of storm water from the roofs through each courtyard. BNIM and the design team designed the site, parking lot configuration, integrated stormwater treatment system, courtyards, entry plaza and secured perimeter. The perimeter design includes components of traditional systems such as rock walls and bollards, but also utilizes creative solutions such as rain gardens and berms while maintaining the security requirements and accentuating the opportunities for stormwater filtration.