The new 46,334 square foot Whole Foods Market natural foods grocer is the anchor tenant for the $60 million revitalization project at historic Trolley Square in Salt Lake City, UT. Green design was a primary focus of the project. The design employs cutting edge energy and refrigeration systems, as well as recycled and natural materials. These features earned the store 715 out of a possible 998 points in the Green Globes rating system making it a Three Globe Project. The project also received a Green Chill award for the refrigeration system.
The project took on an integrated design approach with active participation from the architectural team, building contractor, and owner on a weekly basis from design through construction completion. There was heavy emphasis on environmental design. Some of the environmental features of the project included the incorporation of 'green' products, commissioning, the reuse of roof runoff for irrigation, native vegetation for landscaping, energy monitoring systems, energy efficient glazing, dark sky compliant building design, separate electrical sub-metering, close proximity to public transportation, water efficient fixtures, low NOx boilers, the use of a glycol and carbon dioxide augmented system that reduces the amount of coolants required, the use of tilt-up panels, the use of relative humidity and CO2 sensors, and exceptional ventilation. In addition, Whole Foods purchases 100% of their power from wind energy sources.
Shoppers inside the store will see a new rating system to promote animal-welfare practices. Customers may choose poultry, beef, and pork cuts based on five steps ranging from no crates, cages or crowding, to animals spending their entire lives on one farm. The system, devised by the nonprofit Global Animal Parntership, uses independant, third-party certifiers who audit more than 1,200 farms and raches.