A Case Study for Effective Laboratory Design in Humid Environments: The Ocean and Coastal Studies Building for Texas A&M University in Galveston

Jill Bard, AIA, WHR Architects
Erik Dietz, Shah Smith & Associates

The occupants of the new Ocean and Coastal Studies Building at Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMU-G) are performing significant research in many areas, including sustainable coasts and marine policy, a phytoplankton dynamics laboratory (including study of the use of algae in biofuel production), a Texas Department of State Health certified facility to monitor oyster health and other areas of research in marine biology, ecology, comparative physiology, and marine sciences. It was only natural that the university would seek LEED® certification (Silver) for its new building, which is on schedule for completion by June 1, 2010. The challenge was the location: Pelican Island adjacent to the city of Galveston, which is an environment known for humidity, mosquitoes, and hurricanes.

This presentation will look at various strategies employed to reduce energy consumption throughout the building in a difficult environment. We will discuss how the design team conceptualized the building and worked together to maximize energy efficiency, including:

  • CM-at-Risk—having the contractor on board early to help us strategize efficiencies in design and evaluating costs
  • Using BIM in team coordination
  • Looking at building orientation and plan layout to reduce footprint and increase spatial efficiencies
  • Separating HVAC intensive laboratory space from less intensive office and dry laboratory spaces
  • Placing windows/shading devices/use of low-emissivity glass
  • Capturing borrowed light in open office areas
  • Maximizing the U-value of walls/materials used
  • Locating mechanical rooms to maximize efficiency of duct layout/ minimize runs and duct crossings
  • Separating laboratory and office air handling units
  • Working closely with the occupants to determine where we could reduce the fume hood count while maintaining functionality, for example, replacing fume hoods with localized snorkels in chemistry teaching laboratory where microchemistry is used

Mechanical Systems

  • Low pressure drop design on supply and exhaust systems
  • Laboratory control products to track supply and exhaust airflows and vary airflows to/from laboratory based upon minimum air changes or required hood airflows
  • Variable volume fume hoods
  • Use of occupancy sensor to determine occupied/unoccupied modes in the laboratory and reduce minimum air change rates when laboratory is unoccupied
  • Use of enthalpy wheels to recover energy from office area exhaust and relief to office area unit outside air
  • Use of enthalpy wheels to recover and transfer energy from sea water laboratory exhaust to sea water outside air unit

All of the above strategies and more were employed in the design and construction of this 110,000-square-foot, $50 million research and teaching facility.

Biographies:

Jill Bard, AIA is a principal and shareholder of WHR Architects. She is one of WHR's foremost laboratory planners who has delivered multiple, complex research and laboratory projects. Through this experience, Ms. Bard has exceptional understanding for maximizing space efficiencies and creating design plans, which give our clients the most research space per square foot possible. Her institutional research programs reflect the importance of promoting ease of access between research space and the classroom environment.

Ms. Bard graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Arts from Rice University and completed a preceptorship with a San Francisco design firm. She is a registered architect in the State of Texas and is certified by NCARB and is a member of both the Texas Society for Architects and the Rice Design Alliance.

Erik Dietz has 16 years of experience in designing HVAC systems for healthcare, universities, research laboratories, and other institutional facilities. He prepares calculations for equipment selection, produces design drawings, conducts site investigations, and prepares specifications. Mr. Dietz is experienced in conducting energy audits. He has worked extensively with WHR on numerous complex research projects.