WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Suffolk Construction Company was recently awarded construction of a sustainable environmental services laboratory for the South Florida Water Management District. The project is valued at approximately $8 million and will be located at the District’s West Palm Beach Field Operations Center Complex in West Palm Beach, Florida. The new two-story, 36,000 square-foot environmental services laboratory will be critical to the South Florida region because it will consolidate five ecological and water quality groups, all of which are associated with the management and protection of South Florida’s water resources. The environmental services laboratory will be designed and constructed to be sustainable—the District is aiming to achieve LEED Silver certification for the facility, but could potentially achieve LEED Gold. The facility will be designed to incorporate photovoltaic and solar hot water technologies; rainwater collection to supplement irrigation and sanitary systems; high efficiency mechanical, electrical and lighting systems; and other sustainable building features. The facility will also be equipped to sustain high velocity winds and will consist of emergency backup systems capable of maintaining full operations for seven days in the event of a major power outage. Completion of the environmental services laboratory project is scheduled for the end of 2011.
