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Integrated Sustainable Design for Research Laboratoriesby Joseph J. Ferraro, AIA, Bruce Haxton, AIA, and Robert Lord B.E. 3. Architectural Design Considerations Architectural overview: An early sustainable opportunity is the selection of the building site. The architect’s involvement in the site selection process can help the client make early sustainable decisions that save project funding and natural resources. Once the site has been determined, the architect can better assemble a consultant team which can provide the design services specific to the site. Form, envelope, and fenestration: The site parameters influence the building form in many ways. The bearing capacity of the soil generally limits the number of building stories that can be economically constructed. In most cases foundations systems become more expensive when buildings are higher than three stories. From an energy perspective, compact buildings, tend to be more energy efficient in cooling and heating applications. In most cases, single story facilities have lower foundation costs but higher HVAC costs. This is due in part to the high heat gain incurred by the relatively larger roof area. Two and three story facilities tend to be most economical since they have relatively low cost foundation systems, compact HVAC distribution systems and reduced roof heat gain due to the reduced size of the roof. Buildings with their long dimension oriented in the east west direction tend use less energy due to the reduced heat gain from the early morning and late afternoon solar exposure. Additional savings can be obtained by reducing the glass portions of the building on the east and west facades of the building. [2] [3] Significant cooling energy can be saved if the windows are protected from direct solar heat gain. This can be accomplished architecturally by the use of vertical and horizontal shading fins. Day-lighting can be similarly achieved with the use of solar light shelves and other architectural devices that reflect indirect light into the building. Computer programs that analyze solar heat gain on vertical building surfaces can be used to maximize the cost effectiveness of the solar shading devices. Properly oriented skylights, light chimneys, and light tubes can be a good source of day- lighting the interior portions of the building. Achieving good day-lighting in a building is also influenced by increasing floor to finished ceiling heights to 10 feet or more. Good design also dictates the placement of habitable spaces in day-lit zones. Case Study: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Honolulu Laboratory Renewal Proiect: An example of a sustainable laboratory project is the U. S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) Honolulu Renewal Laboratory consisting of approximately 110,000 square feet (11,000 square meters) of offices and laboratories.
Integrated design decisions: Design teams that encourage professional discipline interaction, understanding, and cooperation, foster the best design solutions. As an example, the architect needs to know what kind of heating and cooling systems the engineer is considering during the schematic design process in order to seamlessly integrate it with architectural solutions to maximize total building performance. Conversely, it is also helpful to the engineers to understand the importance of the architectural massing and form for them to apply the necessary civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering solutions that do not inhibit but strengthen the overall design solution. In a similar manner, the architect and interior designer working together, achieve interior laboratory, office, and support area planning solutions that are functional, practical and sustainable. Material Selection: Product research for sustainable buildings takes longer since more parameters need to be considered when making material selections. The materials for the Honolulu Laboratory Renewal Project were selected based on criteria that promoted the design intent and a sustainable design solution. Primary criteria were: (A) client preferences, (B) contextualism with surroundings, (C) low cost, (D) low embodied energy, (E) low VOC (volatile organic compounds) off- gassing (F) high use of local materials, (G) compatibility with the climatic conditions, (H) use of natural materials, and materials with recycled content. Interior design decisions: The interior designer’s job is to balance sustainability, functional considerations, cost, creativity, and design consistency. The interior designer must work closely with the architectural designer, engineers, and energy consultant to achieve the functional and sustainable goals consistent with the ultimate project objectives. The relationship between the material selections and the methods of its application are critical to the building’s performance. Adhesives, sealants and coatings need to be considered at the time the material is selected to assure that the VOC off-gassing standards set for the project are met. One tool used in the selection of products is the BEES computer program that was developed by National Institute of Standards (NIST). This system is helpful in comparing two different generic products related to various sustainable criteria. The BEES software helps compare economic performance by life-cycle stage and environmental performance, rating the generic products related to: (A) global warming contribution, (B) acidification development, (C) eutrophication, (D) natural resource depletion, (E) solid waste contribution, and (F) indoor air quality. Proceed to next section: 4. Engineering Design Considerations Table of Contents Return to Publications
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One of the main sustainable features of the project design was the site placement of the building. Good energy efficient design dictates that the building be oriented on an east/west axis. The NOAA project site geometry however was constrained to a north/south axis. The solution was to distribute the building program into three separate rectangular towers along east/west axes connecting them with a north/south directed circulation spine. This orientation and massing was critical in both reducing solar gain and maximizing natural ambient day-lighting, thereby reducing building cooling loads and lighting energy.