Designing for Energy Conservation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research

Steve Mahler, AIA, LEED AP®, Ellenzweig
Chris Schaffner, P.E., LEED AP, The Green Engineer, LLP

During this presentation, the Speakers will describe how the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) energy conservation goals and integrated design process were used in designing the Koch Institute project, including:

  • Organization of the sustainability charette process.
  • Using a building energy profile to target energy conservation strategies.
  • Fast track delivery scheduling challenges and the sustainability design process timeline.
  • Using energy modeling and rapid cost estimating for cost/payback systems evaluation, selection, and budget management.

The speakers will also describe the energy-conserving systems that were considered for the project, the highlights of the systems selection and integration process, and energy model results, including:

  • System right-sizing.
  • Low-flow fume hood selection and commissioning approach.
  • Energy conservation by clustering non-laboratory program functions with cascading ventilation and chilled beam systems.
  • Heat recovery system selection.
  • Day lighting design using light shelves and perimeter daylight dimming controls.
  • Lighting control and building automation system integration.
  • Low velocity VAV ventilation system.
  • Regenerative elevator drive system.

Biographies:

Steve Mahler is a principal with Ellenzweig, an architectural design firm located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Mr. Mahler has 25 years of experience in the planning and design of laboratory facilities for higher education, including many projects at MIT. Mr. Mahler's recent projects include MIT's Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, a recently completed 365,000-gross-square-foot research building, and the Medical Education Building at Brown University, a 134,000-gross-square-foot medical school; both projects are registered for LEED® Gold certification. Mr. Mahler has also completed research building projects at Harvard University, Iowa State University, the University of Massachusetts, and the University of Chicago.

Mr. Mahler is a LEED AP 2.0 and has lectured on energy conservation strategies; he holds a Masters of Architecture and Bachelor of Science in arts and design from MIT.

Chris Schaffner is founder and principal of The Green Engineer, LLP. He has 22 years of experience in the design of building systems with a focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. He holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from MIT and is a registered professional engineer in Massachusetts, California, and Vermont.

A long time promoter of sustainable design, Mr. Schaffner joined the faculty of the U.S. Green Building Council in 2001 and has trained more than 9,500 building industry professionals in the use of the LEED Rating System. In addition, he has been on faculty at the Boston Architectural College and has lectured at MIT, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and Duke University.