Case Study of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability at RIT

Mark Maddalina, AIA, SWBR Architects

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) provides world-class education and conducts research in Sustainability. The Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS) is a multidisciplinary academic research program with its major focus on research of sustainable production, energy, and mobility as well as ecologically neutral information technology systems. The new GIS building, completing construction in April 2013, will house cutting-edge research labs, classrooms and office space to support the programs.

RIT established a LEED-Platinum Goal for this fast-track design-build project. Life Cycle Analysis, iterative energy and cost models helped to drive the design. The building's architecture includes complex, high-performance facades that integrate advanced glazing technologies, custom sun shading, superior insulation and multiple glazing types, including new radiant glazing technology, in order to minimize energy demand. This envelope, coordinated with efficient & appropriate systems design, delivers significant energy savings (greater than 50% over a baseline building). Specific strategies and challenges regarding the optimization of the building's performance for daylight, energy and occupant comfort will be presented. The building's mechanical systems were carefully right-sized to coincide with the robust building envelope. The systems utilized include chilled beams and radiant floor heating which both contributed to a higher energy savings level.

A unique building microgrid will manage a network of advanced energy and mechanical systems, including multiple fuel cells, a geothermal well field, multiple types of photovoltaics and urban-scale wind energy in concert with the steam, chilled water and electrical power campus systems.

Representatives from SWBR Architects will summarize the design, process and results with the support of RIT.

Our project is finalizing its LEED submission. Preliminary analysis indicates excellent performance for the envelope and systems. With the benefit of this building's feedback loops and publicly displayed energy dashboard technology, key performance data will be shared at the conference along with lessons learned.

Biographies:

Mark Maddalina is a Senior Associate, Registered Architect and Manager of Sustainable Design for SWBR Architects in New York State. He has been with the firm for 8 years. Mark specializes in sustainable design projects for Colleges and Universities and served as Project Architect for the Golisano Institute for Sustainability building. He has certified several LEED Buildings including RIT's College of Applied Science and Technology (LEED-Gold) and, as Manager of Sustainable Design for SWBR Architects, he educates project teams, coordinates educational outreach efforts and has written the firm's Sustainable Design Process Guidelines. Mark is currently on the Board of Directors for the New York Upstate Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and has been a guest lecturer for many professional and student organizations as well as educational institutions the topic of sustainable design.

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