Part 2: Framework for Functional Design: Laboratories that work for Their Users.

Courtney Fisk, MBA, University of Kentucky's Center for Applied Energy Research
Kevin Mussler, PE, LEED AP, CxA, CMTA

The University Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER II) is a 45,000 square foot research building to allow for expanded research opportunities and brings each of CAER's three departments into one location at their Research Park Drive campus.

CAER II contains a total of 36 fume hoods including six walk-in hoods and snorkel exhaust arms for localized heat and fume removal from benchtop apparatus. A level six clean room, two level seven clean rooms, a dry lab which maintains 0.5% relative humidity, and four controlled environment rooms offer additional space for researchers to perform their research in a controlled environment. The lab spaces are served by air handling units that deliver 100 percent outside air to the rooms that incorporate energy recovery wheels to capture energy from the lab exhaust. Labs pressurization is maintained by airflow control valves with space temperature control achieved through hot water reheat. The offices and support spaces are served by geothermal water source heat pumps.

The building central plant is comprised of a geothermal wellfied with heat pump chiller and a heat recovery chiller to produce the chilled and hot water for two air handling units that serve the lab spaces. Additional mechanical features include an air quality management system that allows the airflow rates within the labs to be increased or decreased based on the quantity of air contaminants and a solar thermal system which produces the domestic hot water.

The electrical distribution includes metering for each individual panel as well as lighting, equipment, and receptacles. The gathered data is displayed through a display of six video monitors that demonstrate the buildings energy savings as well as highlighting the research being done. The rooms located along the perimeter of the building employ an active daylighting system to reduce the buildings dependence on artificial lighting. In addition to the electrical systems, CAER II has meters on the chilled water, hot water, geothermal, energy recovery and HVAC equipment. The building was designed for LEED Gold certification and based on energy models will utilize 54 percent less electricity than the code required building. Labs 21 has a benchmarking tool that looks at Peer buildings based upon usage and Lab/Office ratios (in which we are very high 54% lab to office). The average energy usage for a lab of this type is 321 kBtu/square foot. The new Laboratory building is projecting at 125 kBtu/sq. ft.

Biographies:

Courtney Fisk is currently the Engineering Program Manager at the University of Kentucky's Center for Applied Energy Research. She received bachelor's and master's degrees in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, and an MBA from the University of Kentucky. In the past five years ago, she has transitioned from an Engineer Associate in the Biofuels Group to managing multi-million dollar construction projects for CAER. Working closely with architects, engineers, funding agencies and other industry professionals, Ms. Fisk has coordinated 4 initiatives at CAER totaling more than $25 million. She also serves as the Program Manager for the KY NSF EPSCoR Program, which is a $20 million research project. Kentucky's NSF EPSCoR assists in strengthening research and education in the fields of science and engineering in order to advance, encourage and develop long-term improvements in scientific discovery, innovation and learning throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Kevin Mussler has been employed with CMTA since 1994. He became a partner in 2003, transferred from the Louisville to the Lexington office of CMTA in 2006 and became the managing partner in of the Lexington office in 2008. Mr. Mussler is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is a licensed professional engineer, a LEED Accredited Professional and a certified commissioning agent. Mr. Mussler is an expert on energy efficient mechanical systems including geothermal HVAC and heat recovery. The Center for Applied Energy Research is one of the signature projects that Kevin has led since his return to Lexington.

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