Sustainable Design: Case Studies in Life Sciences

Don Posson, P.E., CIPE, and Jonathan Weiss, AIA, Kling Lindquist

Abstract:

The sustainable design and construction process places an emphasis on energy efficiency and reducing the overall environmental impact of facilities. However, a typical Life Sciences facility consumes large quantities of energy, generates large quantities of waste and contains many hazardous materials that must be handled properly to protect the health and safety of occupants and the environment. This creates a unique challenge for design teams and owners to balance these competing concerns and achieve a state-of-the-art laboratory facility. Designers are now required to address the health and safety criteria for occupants and experimentation while
addressing a project's environmental goals, typically using the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Green Building Rating system.

This presentation will look at several case studies (including a Labs21 Pilot Project, a federal government R&D campus consolidation, a new university science facility, and a corporate R&D facility) and highlight the planning, design and construction approach utilized to achieve a successful sustainable design, focusing on establishing the project's environmental goals, getting consensus or buy-in from all parties (owner, users, design team and contractors), establishing the project budget impact and tracking the
process using LEEDs through all design, construction and owning/operating phases.

Biography:

Don Posson has a B.S. in architectural engineering from Kansas State University. He has worked as a mechanical engineer for over 16 years, specializing in hvac, plumbing and fire protection systems design for laboratory facilities.

Don is currently employed by Kling Lindquist as an Engineering Design Principal, working on the planning and design of R&D facilities for the federal government, corporate biotechnology laboratories and university teaching/research facilities.

Don is a LEED 2.0 Accredited Professional and has been involved with the design of numerous sustainable design projects, including the first LEED "Platinum" rated building. He has presented case studies and sustainable design methodologies at conferences and meetings hosted by the U.S. Green Building Council, the AIA Committee on the Environment, the Construction Specifications Institute, Labs for the 21st Century, and the Sustainable Washington Alliance. Don is currently guest lecturer and studio critic for a comprehensive architectural design studio at the University of Maryland incorporating advanced technology and sustainable design.