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Energy and Environmental Design Features of the Northwest
Center for Engineering Science and Technology at Portland State
University
Mark Firestone, PAE Consulting Engineers,
Inc.
The Northwest Center for Engineering Science and Technology at
Portland State University is a 130,000 square foot teaching and
research facility that is currently under construction in Portland,
Oregon. The building will house laboratories, classrooms and offices
for the Mechanical and Civil Engineering Departments. Designed within
the framework provided by the USGBC LEED™ program, the project
will seek a LEED™ Silver Rating. The occupants of the building
sought a design that would integrate into their teaching and research
curriculum.
Unique features of the design include the following:
A rainwater reclamation system that will provide water for the study
of hydraulics and fluid dynamics, in addition to supplying a grey
water system that will be used for flushing of toilets; An automatically
controlled, naturally ventilated, 5-story atrium space; A cascading
dual duct ventilation system that provides both cooling air and
makeup air for laboratory exhaust, with the makeup air being provided
by return air from classroom and office spaces; And an open loop,
geothermal heat pump system that provides heating and cooling for
all areas of the building. The geothermal heat pump system draws
clean water via two source wells that tap a 250-foot deep aquifer.
The water passes through heat exchangers and is then pumped into
one re-injection well that taps a 750-foot deep aquifer.
The project
has many other energy saving and environmentally sensitive features,
and is projected to use 30 to 40 percent less energy than that allowed
by the Oregon energy code, one of the most aggressive energy codes
in the nation. The project illustrates a number of examples of how
to design a facility that will serve the challenging and constantly
changing needs of teaching and research laboratories, while conscientiously
conserving energy and providing a heathy, high quality environment
for faculty and students and researchers.
Labs21 Connection:
As noted above, unique/noteworthy features of the design include
rainwater reclamation, natural ventilation, cascading dual duct
ventilation system, and geothermal heat pump system. The design
features of the project represent application of some newer technologies
that have not been widely applied to the design of laboratory buildings.
These technologies reflect the Labs21 commitment to reduce energy
and water use, and minimize overall environmental impacts. In addition,
the building systems are being equipped with sensors to monitor
air and water flow rates, temperatures, pressures, and electrical
energy use at many points. This information will be gathered by
the engineers at Portland State University. The energy and water
use will be continually tracked. Adjustments and modifications will
be made to optimize the systems as a result of this research. In
a sense, the building will be continually commissioned. This is
also consistent with the Labs 21 approach.
Finally, research papers
will be written about the operation of the building. These papers
can be used to promote application of these and similar technologies
to further reduce the energy and water use at laboratory buildings
across the country.
Biography:
Mark Firestone has extensive experience designing mechanical
systems for hospitals, laboratories, airports, museums, educational
facilities, office buildings and retail establishments. His designs
have included many cost-effective, energy efficient systems. These
systems have featured geothermal heat pumps, natural ventilation,
heat recovery chillers, exhaust air heat recovery, waste water heat
recovery, variable speed hot and chilled water pumping, as well
as many innovative control schemes for reducing energy consumption.
In addition, Mark has performed numerous energy studies utilizing
computer modeling to analyze energy conservation measures and lifecycle
costs of alternative HVAC and lighting systems.
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Columbia University, New York, NY, 1982
Bachelor of Arts, Economics
Miami University, Oxford, OH, 1980
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning
Engineers (ASHRAE), Oregon Chapter President, 1996-97
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