The Fiscal Shift: Integrating Renewable Energy Strategies into Budget and Design.

Howard Skoke, AIA, EwingCole, Architects, Engineers, Planners
Jason Fierko, PE, CEM, LEED AP, EwingCole, Architects, Engineers, Planners

Institutions are under scrutiny to spend wisely in this age of diminishing natural and financial resources. Increased incentives to reduce energy consumption with new construction and adaptive reuse of existing structures have generated a wide range of solutions and give insight into how projects are shaped based on where energy dollars are spent. Owners, facility managers and even donors are looking for ways to extend budgets to provide excellent workplace and research environments as well as offset higher operational costs. For example, as bioresearch becomes more computational, the impact of increased data and server loads becomes a driver of the energy model, even as it allows greater flexibility in how office and lab spaces are used. Projects that are integrated within larger campus plans can benefit from potential synergies between systems, though these may also require extended phasing and budget planning.

The presentation will focus on three projects that range from 'simple green' goals to 'super green' net zero goals. Each example involves a combination of new construction and adaptive reuse:

1. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD: Mathias Lab adds 125,000 SF of new chemistry and biology labs with office and student support integrated into existing, renovated structures. This project highlights solar and geothermal systems, daylight harvesting, water conservation and long term infrastructure planning. Currently under construction, the project is scheduled for completion in 2014.

2. United Therapeutics Corporation, Silver Spring, MD and Research Triangle Park, NC: Two large scale research and office projects with the goal of achieving net zero design though solar power and site strategies including land mass, thermal heat sinks, geothermal and natural ventilation. Both projects are currently in the design development stage.

3. Jefferson Laboratories, Newport News, VA: The campus includes one of only two large-scale Continuous Electron Beam Accelerators in the United States. The recently completed 70,000sf Technology and Engineering Development Facility for nuclear physics and electronics research is integrated with of 89,000sf of existing testing and applications labs. This 2012 LEED Gold project features including ground source hybrid geothermal well field, dedicated outdoor air energy recovery units, solar heating of domestic hot water and demand control ventilation.

Presenters will discuss energy targets and strategies that shaped the design process, lessons learned and feedback on technologies and system strategies that are incorporated into each project.

Biographies:

Howard Skoke, AIA, is a nationally recognized expert in the planning and design of facilities for research, corporate and institutional clients including NASA, United Therapeutics, Jefferson Labs, Alcon, Smithsonian Institution and Olympus Americas. He has over 25 years of experience working with multi-functional teams to create successful, sustainable projects. He has presented at conferences including I2SL, NeoCon, Healthcare Facility Symposium, Tradeline and has led AIA Professional Development Seminars. His projects have been featured in Interior Design Magazine, Healthcare Design Magazine, American School and University Magazine, Lab Animal Magazine, HQ Magazine and Context, an AIA publication. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Society for College and University Planning. Mr. Skoke, a principal of EwingCole, joined the firm in 1984. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University and a Masters of Architecture from Princeton University.

Jason Fierko, PE, is a senior mechanical engineer and leader of EwingCole's Energy Management Group. A principal of EwingCole, Mr. Fierko speaks regularly on LEED certification, energy modeling, building energy use and reduction strategies. Jason speaks regularly on LEED certification, energy modeling, and building energy use and reduction strategies. He recently presented 'Central Plant Design & Operation for Increased Reliability and Cost Savings' at the ASHE 2013 Annual Conference. He has also presented at Globalcon, Lightfair International and other professional venues. Mr. Fierko joined EwingCole in 2000 and is a principal of the firm. He works with integrated architecture, lighting, and HVAC project teams to create efficient, sustainable energy solutions for buildings and infrastructure projects. Jason received his undergraduate degree in Architectural Engineering and Masters of Engineering Management from Drexel University.

 

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