ABSTRACT
Mariposa Land Port of Entry was reconstructed in stages while in continuous operation as one of the busiest ports of entry to the US. Energy modeling showed that a central forced air system would provide improved energy efficiency, compared to packaged units installed on each building. All new buildings at the Mariposa Land Port of Entry are built with a high performance envelope, including well-insulated roofs and “Thermomass” walls. Specific site conditions and functional requirements related to traffic flow and logistics determined the general layout with buildings oriented with their long sides facing east and west, an arrangement that does not lend itself to passive solar heating. Raw untreated materials such as concrete and rusted steel are used throughout the project. This approach is not only cost-effective, but also a strategy for avoiding possible sources of emissions of volatile organic compounds to the interior.
