Sustainable Revitalization of Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Herb Debban, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

New facilities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are being constructed "green." These new facilities are part of the Laboratory Modernization Master Plan, initially focused on a revitalized East Campus.

Completed facilities in East Campus include a Computational Sciences Building, two Research Office Buildings, an Engineering Technology Laboratory, and a conference center. In addition, a multipurpose research facility is under construction and scheduled for completion in May of 2006. These facilities comprise more than 700,000 square feet of light laboratory and office space, including the nation's largest unclassified super computing facility (40,000 square feet). These buildings are the first LEED™ certified facilities in the State of Tennessee with the more recent facilities tracking to receive LEED™ Silver certification.

In addition to employing state-of-the-art construction strategies and multiple sustainable design features, several novel private and State funding approaches were utilized for revitalizing this federal facility. This paper focuses on the implementation of the overall master plan with sustainable design features, energy savings, and innovative financing to achieve enhanced scientific capability and employee satisfaction.

Labs21 Connection:

Sustainable design was an internal commitment of the ORNL Master Plan including use of brownfield sites for development. In the new facilities a variety of sustainable concepts were applied including reflective roofing, high performance materials, low VOC furnishings, high efficiency chillers, etc. To assist in establishing energy efficiency, the building envelope, electrical systems, and mechanical systems were commissioned. To assist in maintaining energy efficiency, building automation systems were provided for each facility. In addition a Web based/accessed laboratory wide building automation/utility monitoring and control system was developed and networked to these facilities and other newly constructed/renovated facilities on site. This was accomplished while meeting DOE computer security requirements. Facility designs also incorporate features to promote interaction and collaboration among researchers in support of problem solving and defining future programmatic initiatives. This was accomplished partially by large and small gathering spaces and lab/office locations connected with travel patterns which default to chance encounters.

Biography:

Herb Debban is Vice President of UT-Battelle, LLC, and is the Director of the Facilities and Operations Directorate at ORNL in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He has more than 30 years of experience in nuclear and facilities operation, engineering, and project management. At ORNL he is responsible for many of the major support activities including facility development, engineering, facility management, operations and the Laboratory protection functions. During his five years at ORNL, over 700,000 square feet of new "green" facilities have been constructed and 1.8 million square feet of facilities vacated. Overall productivity has increased 38 percent and injuries have been reduced 90 percent. Debban's career includes responsibility for facility operations at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington. Prior to his PNNL career, Herb managed several very large organizations including the fuel fabrication, reactor operation and fuel storage at Hanford, all utilities on the 640 square mile Hanford reservation, and projects of over $200 million. He was chairman of the Westinghouse Operations Council, which encompassed all six Westinghouse Government Owned Contractor Operated Facilities. Herb has a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Washington and an engineering degree from the University of North Dakota. He is a registered professional engineer.

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