Holistic Design of High Performance Buildings

Dan Rew, AIA, LEED AP, HDR Architecture
June Hanley, HDR Architecture

While the first generation of sustainable laboratories may have focused on energy efficiency and recycled finishes, the next generation requires a more holistic approach. In order to truly maximize the sustainable potential of high-performance buildings, the design process must integrate planning, engineering and architecture.

Planning a laboratory based on what users need (and not simply what they ask for) is a fundamental tenant of sustainable design. Applicable codes and scientific protocols obviously need to be understood and considered, but user workflows, workplace cultures and operational inefficiencies must also be addressed. Collocation, shared resources and revision of protocols are just a few of the strategies that can greatly improve efficiency and therefore ultimately reduce a carbon footprint.

Safety and security are always the primary goal of mechanical systems, but they too can be streamlined. For instance, OSHA requires just four air changes per hour, while most lab users request 10-12. Implementing the necessary air changes per hour for the research conditions rather than going with the traditional models can result in huge energy reduction without compromising safety. Evolving technologies like chilled beams can also provide significant energy and lifecycle cost savings, especially when incorporated into a comprehensive heat recovery system.

Architecturally, a passive approach to design can often yield the most significant results. Simple building orientation can minimize heat gain and maximize natural light, therefore diminishing the need for additional cooling and illumination. An added benefit to all of these design decisions is the increased quality of life for building occupants. And every day, new technologies and materials come to market that designers can use to create more sustainable facilities .

In this session, Dan Rew and June Hanley will demonstrate the integrated design approach through case studies at Cornell University, the University of Massachusetts and the Georgia Institute of Technology. They will show the evolution of this holistic approach, culminating in the Carbon-Neutral Energy Solutions Laboratory at Georgia Tech. The facility is certified LEED Platinum and has received numerous design awards, including the High Honors in R&D Magazine's 2013 Lab of the Year competition.

Biographies:

Dan is an award-winning design principal at HDR who excels in the design of high-performance science and technology facilities; balancing function with aesthetics. He is especially interested in the relationships among buildings in a campus setting, and how architecture can help to create a sense of community, and an environment conducive to learning. Dan is LEED accredited and leads HDR's design initiative to quantify project sustainable attributes and energy efficiency metrics. He uses these metrics to constantly improve energy efficiency and drive towards Net Zero.

Ms. Hanley is a principal planner at HDR with more than 25 years of experience. She leads the firm's efforts to design and develop laboratory facilities for clients in the pharmaceutical, biomedical, government and academic fields. She is particularly knowledgeable in the specific research requirements of various sciences, and how to address them through different paradigms of laboratory design. Ms. Hanley's recent work includes specialty laboratories for Georgia State University, Columbia University and Rockefeller University. In addition to a BS in English from Appalachian State University, Ms. Hanley received her MArts degree from the University of North Carolina in 1982.

 

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