Kelso Depot, located in the heart of the Mojave Desert, was built in 1923 by the Union Pacific Railroad  to serve as a train depot, hotel and restaurant.  The building was renovated for use as the visitor center and regional  headquarters for the Mojave National Preserve.  It features ten rooms of exhibits, a reading room and bookstore, a 60-person theater,  and park staff offices. The Beanery, the depot’s restaurant, re-opened with refurbished ceiling fans, long counters, and swivel stools, and serves a simple menu based on meals served in the original restaurant.  The building’s restoration included seismic strengthening and new mechanical and electrical systems. Our energy analysis resulted in a building that is 21 percent below California’s 2001 energy code.  Our mechanical design includes an energy-efficient geothermal heat-pump system for this remote and environmentally sensitive locale.  This system eliminates the need for obtrusive propane tanks, cooling towers, and rooftop equipment.

2005 ASHRAE Technology Awardlearn more