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          CASE STUDIES: Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology

Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology at Coconut Island
New Dry Labs Complex
A Case Study of Sustainable Laboratory Design
William D. Brooks, AIA, LEED AP, Mark E. Ayers, AIA, LEED AP
Copyright Ferraro Choi And Associates, July 2009
Published in "Sustainable Design of Research Laboratories: Planning, Design, and Operation,"
by KlingStubbins, Copyright 2010 KlingStubbins,
Reprinted with permission of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

ABSTRACT

HIMB Background:
The Hawai`i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) conducts research on Coastal and Pelagic Ecosystem Processes involving Coral Reefs, Marine Animal Sensory Processes & Ecology, Marine Evolutionary Genetics, and Physiology & Diseases of Fish and Corals. HIMB is a research institute of the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa, and a member of the National Association of Marine Laboratories (NAML). The HIMB facilities are primarily for research by UH faculty and students, but collaborative projects with visiting national and international researchers is accommodated and encouraged.

Located on Coconut Island (Moku O Lo`e in Hawai`ian) in Kane`ohe Bay, Oahu, the institute is surrounded by 64 acres of coral reef designated by the State of Hawai`I as the Hawai`i Marine Laboratory Refuge. The HIMB mission pays literal tribute to its unique setting by “…promoting stewardship of the living oceans; restoring, preserving, and sustaining marine ecosystems in Hawai’i and the Pacific Rim through integrated scientific research, community involvement, education and example…”

The resources surrounding HIMB afford it opportunities to advance the understanding of the coral reef ecosystem, in developing and managing coastal resources, and in conserving these resources so that they are available for Hawaii and beyond. These resources include:

• Proximity to living reefs and the open ocean;
• Location with an estuary bounded by a coastal watershed;
• Access to a dependable supply of high quality seawater;
• Logistical and legal means to collect and safely maintain marine organisms;
• Animal and plant holding facilities for short and long term projects.

Existing facilities at HIMB include the 1965 Hawaii Marine Lab constructed at sea level on the east lagoon, the Pauley Marine Laboratory constructed in the late 1990’s on the south knoll, numerous fish holding facilities, six controlled tidal ponds, three piers, a boat house, Boston Whaler fleet, and one 14 meter passenger/cargo vessel.

Client Goals and Objectives:
To maintain existing programs and expand into new areas of needed research, HIMB determined the need for additional laboratories. The envisioned design would serve as a model for sustainable research laboratories in tropical environments with all the attendant problems of humidity, cooling, laboratory safety, storage, and air conditioning. In addition, the design strategies were seen as being applicable to other countries that need sustainable marine laboratories such as Palau, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, and Saipan.

In 2001, the Hawaii legislature passed an Appropriations Bill that included a provision for a new Dry Labs Complex at HIMB. The intent of the new laboratory is to communicate the Institute’s mission while providing needed additional space within the context of sustainability so that life‐cycle costs, energy consumption, and facility impact on the environment are minimized.

The client’s stated sustainable design goals for the new dry labs included:

• Exceed Labs for the 21st Century (Labs21) standards;
• Achieve LEED NC v2 Gold Certification or higher;
• Achieve international recognition as a sustainable laboratory leader;
• Establish and maintain a world class marine research facility;
• Strive for energy and potable water independence from the main island of O`ahu;
• Establish a “Center for Sustainability” that attracts and accommodates international research partnerships, education, and demonstration of sustainable laboratory.

Master planning considerations:
The laboratory project sets a new direction for the facilities at Coconut Island. It embodies new levels of laboratory efficiencies and is an example of high‐performing, low‐impact facilities that demonstrate energy and resource conservation and incorporate renewable energy technologies. Because of its unique location, the importance of developing a facility within the reasonable opportunities and constraints of Coconut Island was seen as a fundamental design driver.

As a first step therefore, the design team reviewed and updated the existing master plan for the expanded research facility, which included upgrading and interconnecting existing laboratories and support buildings with the new dry laboratories. An integrated energy efficient and environmentally responsive infrastructure was also envisioned to protect the local ecosystem with the goal of developing the island into a self‐sustaining site.

Primary master planning considerations included:

• Refining and building upon the sustainable goals and objectives outlined in the existing Long Range Development Plan;
• Assessing reasonable access and shoreline parking;
• Potential locations for on‐site renewable energy production including solar water heating, photovoltaic (PV) arrays, wind turbines, and ocean thermal energy conversion;
• Assessing existing infrastructure limitations and parameters (power, water, sewer);
• Alternative building sites analysis.

The process above resulted in a location for the new laboratory that would enhance interrelationships with, and circulation between the new dry labs complex and the existing Hawaii Marine Lab and Pauley Marine Lab, be well suited with the primary point of entry to HIMB, and avoid conflicts with future land use for ancillary facilities and renewable energy farms.

Sustainable Laboratories:
Laboratories have traditionally been designed without significantly recognizing or addressing environmental consequences. As a result, they are extreme consumers of energy and water, and producers of waste streams that are often hazardous. This conventional approach to laboratory development is increasingly becoming unacceptable, and is particularly inappropriate for laboratory facilities in pristine locations such as the HIMB.

To effectuate positive change in the way laboratories are planned and constructed, organizations such as Labs21 and the U.S. Green Building Council have developed standards that encourage laboratory owners, operators, and designers to adopt a more sustainable approach to laboratory design. Key to this new approach is an initial evaluation of a laboratory's energy use from a comprehensive perspective when considering efficiency improvements. This requires focusing on all of a laboratory's energy systems and wastes, including its HVAC and electrical power supply, rather than focusing on specific energy‐using components as individual , unrelated systems.

HIMB Architectural Design Concept and Program:
The new 14,878 SF laboratory complex is designed as a scientific “village” of self‐contained laboratory modules. Each laboratory is designed with individual control of air conditioning, lighting, and ventilation to respond to differing occupant requirements and research platforms. The space program includes the following functions:

	Space Program:	Square Feet (Gross)
	Entry Hall/Exhibit	995
	Laboratories – Private	10,066 (7 labs at 1,438 each)
	Laboratories – Common	422
	Laboratories – Special	310
	Sterile Lab	311
	Lanai Dining/Gathering	1,007
	Equipment Room	243
	Recycling Room	54
	Mechanical	90
	Electrical	145
	General/Gas Storage	432
	Restrooms	343
	Miscellaneous	460
	TOTAL Facility Size:	14,878

The facility is designed to be of light frame construction on stepped building pads. The design team conducted studies on numerous traditional and non‐traditional construction methods and determined that for Coconut Island, light frame construction would minimize the construction impacts on the island and provide an opportunity for off‐site pre‐fabrication and small‐scale material transportation. Single‐sloped curving roofs on the labs provide high‐bay ceilings with clerestory windows facing North for effective daylight without glare. External pedestrian circulation walkways will connect the labs in the complex effectively decreasing the need for conditioned space.

Energy Conservation:
The design of the new HIMB Dry Labs Complex approaches energy conservation in accordance with best practice, but it also differentiates itself from many “energy efficient” laboratories in one very important aspect. Most laboratory guidelines place the primary emphasis on minimizing internal process loads. While this is appropriate given the proportionally dominate amounts of energy consumed by laboratory hoods and air conditioning, the new HIMB labs go a further step to achieve maximum energy conservation by application of passive architectural building envelope design strategies coupled with the concept of individual laboratory “suites”.

Passive energy conservation strategies were implemented to minimize the energy that would need to be provided from the grid or renewable sources. As a matter of best practice, passive architectural design strategies are prerequisite to maximizing energy conservation.

Passive Energy Conservation Strategies:

• Building orientation for best daylighting (reduce electric lighting load, interior heat gain load);
  High ceilings and curved roof‐form for best daylighting (reduce electric lighting load, interior heat gain load);
• Building insulation and shading (reduce exterior heat gain load);
• Laboratory “suites” to allow HVAC for single or multiple lab configurations (maximize system efficiency, and minimize load at a given time);
• Laboratory “suites” to allow for individual control (allows labs to shut off when not in use, except for minimum code required ventilation at hoods);
• Externalized circulation to minimize the conditioned building footprint (Hawai`i has a nice climate)

Active energy conservation strategies were implemented to compliment and increase the energy conservation initiated by passive strategies.

Active energy conservation strategies:

• Whole-systems building design (idealize system functionality);
• Life Cycle Cost Analysis (allows selection of system based upon lifetime performance and savings);
• Computer Modeling to verify building performance (ensures design functionality meets objectives);
• Variable flow chilled water system with high efficiency magnetic bearing chillers;
• Variable condenser water system with seawater heat rejection and back‐up cooling tower with variable speed fans;
• Hood ventilation rates of 6 ACH (occupied) and 3 ACH (unoccupied);
• Displacement air conditioning in high-bay portion of laboratories, delivered low between benches and exhausted high on opposite wall;
• Run-around coil to capture waste heat from the exhaust air stream for supply air reheat;
• High efficiency lighting fixtures for both ambient and task lighting;
• Renewable energy production via solar hot water panels and a 30 kW thin‐film photovoltaic (PV) array (assists to stabilize the cost of energy, and reduce dependence upon fossil fuel‐based grid energy);
• Measurement and Verification (maintain lifetime performance);
• Full systems Commissioning (maintain lifetime performance).

The most energy‐intensive equipment requiring the highest cooling loads are concentrated in one central room so the loads can be treated independent of the individual laboratory loads.

Another somewhat unique aspect of the HIMB labs is that the researchers and staff are typically at sea for 3‐4 months out of the year. This absence enhances the benefits of individually controlled labs while also offering the opportunity for monitoring and accountability within a researcher’s own funding capacities. The new labs are anticipated to reduce energy consumption by 40% in comparison to a code‐compliant base case.

Water Conservation:
Water conservation was prioritized as a sustainable strategy at the new dry labs complex as a matter of environmental stewardship that recognizes the need to conserve limited precious resources. In addition, water conservation was considered of high importance relative to the facility’s role as a model sustainable laboratory located in a remote or pristine location, where potable water is typically very limited. In the case of Coconut Island, the existing potable supply is minimal. To avoid the significant cost of increasing the service to the island, the tact taken was to design within the constraints of the existing capacity.

Applied water conservation strategies include:

• Rainwater harvesting;
• Greywater irrigation coupled with drought‐tolerant native coastal landscaping;
  
• Use of seawater storage for the fire water supply;
  
• Low-flow fixtures;
  
• Waterless urinals.

Occupant Controls:
Giving occupants reasonable control over their working environment is a basic principle of good practice. In a laboratory setting, occupant control is elevated in importance as environmental conditions are basic to many types of research, as well as an occupant’s health and safety.

The underlying design concept of the new dry labs complex is to provide individually controllable and environmentally independent laboratories. This approach provides maximum flexibility for accommodating various types of research and meeting the individual comfort preferences of the researchers themselves. Both factors combine to contribute towards increased productivity and comfort.

The types of occupant control provided at the new dry labs complex include the following:

• Thermal comfort is achieved by stand-alone air conditioning units and humidity control for each lab. The researcher controls temperature to his or her needs;
• In the event of a noxious spill, a highly visible “panic button” is provided adjacent to the lab exit which increases the hood ventilation rate to its maximum setting;
• Hood ventilation rates are typically set to 6 air changes per hour when the room is occupied but can be set to 3 air changes per hour when the room is unoccupied;
• Ambient and task lighting is manually driven in accordance with the perceived need by the researcher. If daylight is adequate, the lights are left off. If lights are accidentally left on when the room is unoccupied, occupancy sensors turn them off following a pre‐set default period;
• Views to the outdoors are available in each lab, but may be closed off at the researcher’s discretion. Affording outdoor views to occupants has been shown to be beneficial to the human psyche, and a positive influence on productivity.

Waste Stream Management:
On-site waste water treatment was prioritized as a sustainable strategy at the new dry labs complex to deal with an aged existing system near capacity and because of the role of the new facility as a model sustainable laboratory located in a remote location where municipal waste treatment is not available and environmental concerns are high.

To avoid straining the capacity of the existing sanitary sewer, the new dry labs waste stream gravity flows to non‐leaching aerobic treatment unit that functions on the principle of pressurized irrigation and evaporation‐transpiration.

Bio-solids and chemicals are separated and containerized at the source for retrograde and proper disposal off‐island. Solid waste will be separated and recycled according to current HIMB practice.

Project Information:

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Latest.Revision.12.23.2010