Fusion of Sustainability and Education at University of Notre Dame's Stinson Remick Hall
John Sauer, BSA LifeStructures
Stinson Remick Hall is the new multidisciplinary engineering teaching and research facility for the University of Notre Dame's College of Engineering. Research laboratories for graduate students, an innovative learning center for undergraduates, and a nanotechnology facility with a clean room are all designed sustainably and in a way that allows students to incorporate energy conservation into their studies. Interactive displays, solar panels, and visible monitoring functions exhibit the building's energy performance.
As the first building on Notre Dame's campus to seek LEED® certification, Stinson Remick Hall has incorporated many sustainable principles into its design, ranging from the site's selection and accommodations for alternative transportation methods, to water use reduction and indoor air quality improvement. The 164,000-square-foot building is three stories high, with a lower level and a penthouse. Spaces include: wet laboratories; research laboratories; class 10,000, 1,000, and 100 clean rooms; breakout rooms; a learning center; a chapel; project rooms; office space; and shell space for future research laboratories.
This presentation concentrates on the key architectural and engineering sustainability initiatives that drove the design of Stinson Remick Hall. Primary points of discussion include:
- Appropriate use of land during site selection.
- Development density and community connectivity.
- Stormwater management.
- Water use reduction and efficient landscaping.
- Energy usage reduction related to photovoltaic cells, micro turbine, heat recovery, daylighting control and occupancy sensor controls.
- Indoor air quality improvement related to increased ventilation, pollutant control, thermal comfort and verification, and pollution wind modeling.
- Accommodations for alternative means of transportation.
Biography:
John M. Sauer, P.E., LEED AP, is a mechanical engineer and a senior director of engineering design with BSA LifeStructures. Mr. Sauer has 35 years of experience in various mechanical engineering studies and design projects for higher education and health care facilities involving heating, ventilation, vacuum, air conditioning, steam distribution, energy centers, and piping design. Mr. Sauer also has considerable experience in project management involving the coordination of many disciplines, including architectural, surveying, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering. Mr. Sauer has been involved in a number of significant projects with BSA LifeStructures, including Stinson Remick Hall at the University of Notre Dame, the Martin C. Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue, the Replacement Hospital for St. Elizabeth Regional Health in Lafayette, and the Maintenance and Utility Building's Plant Engineering for Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis. John is a professional engineer in the states of Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana, and he is a member of the Indiana Board of Professional Engineers, ASHRAE, and the American Society for Healthcare Engineering. John was recently published on the topic of “12 Ways to Save Energy,” and he has presented on “The Healthcare Design Process” at the Midwest Healthcare Engineering Conference.