University of Florida, Research and Academic Center at Lake Nona: Aligning Research Priorities, Academic Programs, Financial Plans, and Sustainability Goals

Chirag Mistry, HOK
Joe Limpert, Affiliated Engineers SE, Inc.

The challenges of aligning facilities, financial, academic program and sustainability goals become magnified when unknown and changing research programs are at play.

This team of presenters will tell you how it was done –successfully - as they profile results and lessons learned from the recently completed LEED Platinum University of Florida Research and Academic Center at Lake Nona; a facility which houses the Orlando campus of the UF College of Pharmacy, as well as research and clinical spaces for the UF Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, including the Institute on Aging and Institute for Therapeutic Innovation.

Presenters will outline the project from a design perspective; discuss the planning strategies used to create a facility that had unknown occupants, and present:

  • The changing focus of the research, and the evolution of the facility design
  • A key challenge of this project was responding to the changing focus of the specific research which would occur at this facility
  • A review of the Sustainability Measurement & Verification Plan and the multiple Energy Conservation Measures were implemented during the design phase of the project
  • Overall sustainability strategies that led to LEED Platinum certification
  • Passive and active design strategies such as: low energy building envelope/passive solar siting strategies; Sun shading devices; chilled beam systems, variable-air-volume (VAV) terminal boxes, on-site air-cooled chillers providing chilled water to air handlers, a heat recovery chiller providing heating hot water, and energy recovery wheels.
  • How BIM was a critical tool to successful completion of both the highly compressed concept design phase (12 week) as well as the accommodation of the multiple changes through design and construction – without delays to the schedule or increase in budget

These strategies led to a facility that simultaneously meets the demands of research and educational needs, and also has energy cost performance that was modeled to be more than 40% better than the ASHRAE 90.1- baseline.

Learning Objectives

  • How to identify speculative programs to justify building features.
  • How to plan and design for appropriately flexible research space which allows for changes in use without compromising the building's energy and operational performance
  • Integrating sustainability: how to incorporate cost effective energy saving / sustainable features for a complex science facility seeking to achieve LEED Platinum Certification

Biographies:

Coming soon

Joseph Limpert, P.E. and Principal at Affiliated Engineers SE, Inc. uses his 26 years of experience in the engineering design of mechanical systems for energy-conserving opportunities for complex research laboratories. He brings extensive knowledge of advanced system controls, flexibility, and economy to high-performance laboratory facility design for clients such as the University of Florida and around the Southeastern U.S.

 

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