Case Studies: Xilinx Development Center

Downing Thorpe James

Effective daylighting requires attention to a myriad of issues, with building orientation and massing, site climate, interior spatial organization, appropriate glazing location and selection, and integration with the electric lighting and HVAC systems among the more important considerations. The Xilinx Development Center is an excellent example of how these factors were addressed by the design team, especially the "details," which often do not receive adequate attention.

The Center houses the software development activities of Xilinx Corporation. It is the first building on Xilinx's new Colorado research campus, and established a design benchmark for architectural, landscape, and sustainable design. Sustainable design concepts incorporated into the Center include indigenous landscaping, underfloor air distribution, direct/indirect evaporative cooling, and low-environmental impact materials.