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PROJECT PROFILE

Johnson Space Center

Building 27, 

Astronaut Quarantine Facility 

Houston, Texas

LEED for New Construction

16% energy savings

57% construction waste diverted

69% of the non-roof areas have a reflectance 

of at least 30%

80% potable water reduction

LEED® Facts

NASA–JSC Building 27 AQF

Houston, Texas 

LEED for New Construction – Ver. 2.0

Certification awarded Feb. 24, 2006

Certified 28*

Sustainable Sites 6/14

Water Efficiency 1/5

Energy & Atmosphere 4/17

Materials & Resources 5/13

Indoor Environmental

Quality 7/15

Innovation & Design 5/5

*Out of a possible 69 points
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PROJECT PROFILE

NASA Johnson Space Center – Building 27 

Astronaut Quarantine Facility 

Minimizing Risks, 

Before & After Spaceflight

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

NASA’s 12,300 SF Astronaut Quarantine Facility (AQF) at Johnson Space Center in Houston 

opened in May 2005 as an isolation facility to accommodate Space Shuttle flight crews before 

and after space missions, and to provide rehabilitation after long-term exposure to zero 

gravity. The building protects the integrity of the Space mission by limiting the exposure of the 

Space Shuttle crew to the general population, thereby reducing their likelihood of contracting 

viruses or other contagious illnesses. The crew of STS-114 was the first to occupy the new 

building, prior to the July 2005 launch of Space Shuttle Discovery.

SUSTAINABLE SITES (6/14)

One bicycle stall is provided within 200 yards of the building for ~17 occupants. Showers will 

be available at all times for non-astronaut occupants of the building for cycling to work. The 

parking area is a permeable gravel paving allowing water to return back to the ground, and 

68.9% of the non-roof areas have a reflectance of at least 30%. Emittance testing of the roof 

itself demonstrates a 0.94 emittance based on ASTM E408-71. 

WATER EFFICIENCY (1/5)

Potable water use is reduced by 80% through use of native plants and reduction in turf areas. 

The calculations demonstrate a 52% water use reduction, without accounting for the 

additional savings provided by the drip irrigation system.

ENERGY & ATMOSPHERE (4/17)

The project has achieved an energy savings of 16% using the ASHRAE 90.1-1999. The 

project’s HVAC&R systems do not contain HCFCs or Halon. 100% of the building’s regulated 

electric usage is supplied by renewable power that meets the definition of Green-e.

MATERIALS & RESOURCES (5/13)

The project has diverted 57% of construction waste from landfill, and the project has achieved 

a combined recycled content value of 11.46% of the total materials by cost. 27% of the total 

project’s materials by cost were manufactured within 500 miles of the project site, and 11% of 

the materials by cost used raw materials harvested within 500 miles of the project site. 

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (7/15)

Low emitting materials, adhesives, sealants, paints and carpets were used throughout the 

project. No smoking is allowed in the building and outdoor smoking areas are located away 

from operable windows and entryways. A permanent temperature and humidity monitoring 

system has been installed.

INNOVATION IN DESIGN (5/5)

The project received exemplary performance for supplying 100% of the building’s regulated 

electric usage with renewable power. Additionally, the building’s envelope received innovative 

credit for including window systems that support occupant comfort and performance.

The AQF consists of 12 bedrooms with 

private baths, a large conference room, 

laundry facilities, a kitchen and dining 

facility, computer workstations, a 

workout room to maintain crew health, a 

medical exam room for pre- and postflight evaluations, and a lounge area 

with deck for meetings with medically 

approved visitors and family. Flight 

crews typically spend seven days in 

isolation before flight, the time split 

between Johnson Space Center and 

Kennedy Space Center. Russian crews 

spend five days in post-flight isolation at 

Johnson Space Center.

This state-of-the-art facility was 

designed and constructed to achieve 

LEEDTM certification by the United 

States Green Building Council. This is 

the first building at Johnson Space 

Center to receive LEEDTM certification, 

and only the second NASA project 

agency-wide to receive certification.

ABOUT LEED

The LEED Green Building Rating System 

is the national benchmark for the design, 

construction, and operations of highperformance green buildings. 

Visit the U.S. Green Building Council’s Web 

site at www.usgbc.org and the TX Gulf 

Coast Chapter of USGBC at 

www.usgbctexasgulfcoast.org to learn 

more about how you can make LEED work 

for you.

Owner: NASA Johnson Space Center

Architect: Morris Architects

MEP Engineer: Shah Smith & Associates

Commissioning Agent: NASA

Contractor: D.E. Harvey Builders

Project Size: 12,300 SF

Total Project Cost: $3,500,000

Cost PSF: $285.00

Completion: May 2005

Photography: 

Aker/Zvonkovic Photography LLP