First Registered Floating Building Aims for LEED

SEARCHLIGHT, Nev. — The first floating building project is set for dedication at a public ceremony on Monday, June 6, by the National Park Service and Forever Resorts LLC.

The 2,000-square-foot building, which will serve as the marina’s operations office, is the first floating building to be registered with the U.S. Green Building Council and once certified, will be the first LEED Gold floating building as well.

The facility was completed in May and will be used for marina services such as boat rentals, as well as a portion dedicated to the engineering and maintenance of the boats, according to Andrew Munoz, public information officer for the park.

Munoz said one of the eco-friendly design features includes negative pressure on the maintenance section, which directs any fumes
or odors from boat motors away from the office area.

The dedication will take place at Lake Mead National Recreation Area’s Cottonwood Cove Resort and Marina on Lake Mohave.

“We’re setting the standard for eco-friendly floating buildings,” said Bill Dickinson, superintendent of the Lake Mead Recreation Area. “There is no better place than in a national park to do that.”

The floating eco-friendly structure was built with sustainable modular construction and designed with energy-efficient and environmentally responsible materials and fixtures, according to officials.

Lake Mead National recreation area, located adjacent to Las Vegas, is the fifth most visited national park in the U.S., with 1.5 million acres hosting about 7 million visitors every year, according to officials.

The facility’s decking is made of a composite of rice hulls and recycled plastic, with the exterior stucco made of recycled tires.

To eliminate the “typical ‘new building’ smell” and thereby improve overall indoor air quality, the facility was built with the use of low or no volatile organic compound materials, paints and adhesives.

The resort has a number of environmental-minded programs in place, including a green cleaning, green purchasing and educational energy programs for boaters and community members.

In addition to energy saving materials and systems, such as high-performance insulated glass and high-efficiency HVAC equipment, the facility will include recycled and regionally extracted and manufactured materials, such as concrete, steel, drywall, metal studs and carpets.

The building is designed to allow in extensive natural daylight and outdoor views with its east to west orientation, and to prevent night sky pollution.

In honor of the dedication, the National Park Service and the resort are holding an art contest, asking that submissions by inspired by the environment, wildlife, landscape and history of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The submissions will be accepted through August 15 and winners will receive Black Canyon River Adventure rafting excursions for a family of four and will have their artwork displayed in the new marina building. Additionally, one grand prize winner will receive a houseboat vacation departing from any Forever Resorts marina in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.