Tours

Ada County regards tours as an opportunity to educate people about high-performance, sustainable buildings. 

Tours show visitors first-hand, the technologies and features of a particular building that make it more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly.  We give tours to many types of people including architects, engineers, designers, charter schools, school district personnel, and people from government agencies or other local businesses. 

COURTHOUSE AND ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

The Courthouse tour includes exterior elements such as the stormwater drainage system and the exterior maintenance program that helped it to earn a LEED silver certification.  Inside, we point out seemingly insignificant items such as the floor mats and explain how they are actually a part of our indoor air quality program by reducing particulates brought into the building.  A highlight of this building is the geothermal heating system because it is an uncommon form of renewable energy that is unique to select downtown Boise businesses and residences.  This tour can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the needs of the group. 

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

The Development Services Department provides tours of their office space which is located on the 2nd floor of the Courthouse.  This space was remodeled in 2005 and LEED certified by the US Green Building Council.  It incorporates some unique features to maximize the use of natural daylight.  Light shelves were installed on the exterior windows and a celestory was incorporated into the hardwalled offices, allowing the daylight to penetrate further into the space.  Much of the traditional artificial lighting system was retrofitted with direct/indirect pendant lights to reduce glare and improve the lighting conditions. 

BARBER PARK

Barber Park's new Administrative Office and Rental Building is a great tour for people interested in sustainable construction.  Many of the materials used in the building's construction are natural products and/or have recycled content such as a stucco exterior, wheatboard cabinetry, and carpet floor tiles.  The facility has an energy-efficient evaporative cooling system and operable windows.  The highlight of this tour is the green roof.  Ada County is participating in a test project to grow sedum in a tray system installed on the roof.  An enclosed stairway was built as part of the project to allow people to view the plantings.  This building is the County's 3rd LEED certified project. 

WEED, PEST, AND MOSQUITO ABATEMENT

The completion of the new Weed, Pest, and Mosquito Abatement Facility in 2007 has provided County Officials the opportunity to demonstrate how a sustainable high performance building can support and even enhance the County’s efforts to protect the land and it’s natural resources.  The County’s “Abatement Program” has unique goals and objectives that require efficient facilities, that are easy to operate, and are environmentally friendly, together they form the Department’s Educational Outreach Program.  The education program is intended to inform employees, visitors, and concerned citizens about the entire facility and the important services it provides.  It includes a look at unique features including a waste water recovery and recycling system.  This facility is pending LEED certification by the US Green Building Council. 

Tours can be arranged by contacting the Operations Department at 208-287-7100.