Credit Human Federal Credit Union Building

Context

Steve Hennigan, president and chief executive officer of Credit Human, said he adopted a “different perspective and paradigm” in planning the building to challenge engineers and others involved in constructing the project. Hennigan urged those assembling the project to base their work not on current best practices but on what was “theoretically possible.” As such, his stance was this: “Give me a reason why it can’t be done.” Credit Human partnered with Silver Ventures to co-develop the building complex, which also includes the Oxbow and a parking garage.

Credit Human Federal Credit Union’s headquarters at 1703 Broadway in San Antonio sets a new standard for sustainable commercial buildings in Texas. (Credit Human)

Taking a long-term view of the building has also allowed Credit Human to break through conventions and see the long-term payoff for investing in sustainable building technologies, with Hennigan noting that Credit Human occupied its previous headquarters for more than 40 years. “We have a history of buying and holding things,” he said.

Climate Resilience Strategies

Water harvesting and recycling

A combination of rainwater and condensate capture, storage, and reuse systems make the project one
of the most water-conscious developments in Texas. “There is really almost nowhere on this building
where we’re not capturing rainwater,” says Matt Dunn of Joeris General Contracting, the general contractor on the project. The proprietary solar array and gutter system is designed to soak up the sun’s energy while allowing rainwater capture.

Several of the water storage tanks, including a 38,000-gallon tank repurposed from a local brewery, are
visible on the exterior of the building. It was important that the water conservation technologies were integrated with the building design to showcase Credit Human’s commitment to sustainability and conservation. Between the various water storage tanks, the building can store nearly 140,000 gallons of rainwater and condensate from its air-conditioning system to be used for irrigation, flushing toilets, and cooling the building.

A combination of rainwater capture, storage, and reuse systems make the Credit Human headquarters one of the most water-conscious developments in Texas. (Credit Human)

Beyond rainwater capture, the building’s geothermal heating and cooling system reduces water demand by diminishing the building’s dependence on cooling towers. With fewer cooling towers, the building requires about 1 million fewer gallons of chilled water to air-condition the building during the summer months.

In total, the water management systems have allowed the building to cut its demand for potable water from the San Antonio Water System by about 97 percent.

Energy efficiency

In looking at the building through a long-term lens, it was important that the design approach addressed the demand for resources before examining the supply side. Sticking with that policy, Credit Human initially weighed elements affecting the performance of the building envelope—elements, he said, that have been “quantum in their payoff.” The building walls feature four inches of continuous insulation and a thermally broken window system, a type of window construction in which a barrier between the inner and outer window frames limits the heat transfer through the window. The wall system doubles the insulation required by a Texas code baseline, allowing the building to reduce energy and water use, as well as operating costs involved with heating and cooling the building.

The payoff has been significant: the building uses approximately 96 percent less energy from CPS Energy, the municipal utility company, because of a 56 percent reduction in overall energy demand, as well as the building’s ability to generate its own energy through a rooftop solar array.

Business Outcomes

Reduced operating costs and water/energy savings

For Credit Human, the investments made in sustainable building systems have resulted in significant utility savings. Electricity and water at Credit Human’s two prior buildings—155,000 square feet combined—cost about $44,000 a month. At the new building, which is 200,000 square feet, the monthly cost is about $8,600. Credit Human estimates that the systems will result in a positive return on investment in 13 years or sooner.

Awards and recognition

The new headquarters has received significant attention for its sustainable design, including several awards:

• 2021 Associated General Contractors Outstanding Construction Award – Local Level
• 2021 San Antonio Business Journal Building San Antonio Award – Best Green Project
• 2021 San Antonio Business Journal Building San Antonio Award – Best Office Development, Large