By Lindsey Coulter

DETROIT — Wayne State University has broken ground on its new $200 million Health Sciences Research Building (HSRB), a 160,000-square-foot facility designed to accelerate biomedical discovery and strengthen the university’s ties to the Detroit community.

The five-story building will house research programs in oncology, neurosciences, systems biology and immunology, and metabolism and infectious diseases. University officials said the design emphasizes collaboration and flexibility, with dedicated laboratories, shared amenities and connections to surrounding health and academic facilities.

“This new building represents Wayne State’s deep and enduring commitment to improving the health and economic strength of Detroit, our region and the state of Michigan,” said Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy, WSU president, in a statement. “Here, our world-class biomedical researchers, clinicians, students and community partners will come together to solve some of the most pressing health challenges of our time, and to ensure discoveries more quickly reach the people who need them most.”

The HSRB will support Wayne State’s long-standing clinical partnerships with Karmanos Cancer Institute/McLaren Health, the Detroit Medical Center and other community organizations. Designed with green infrastructure, landscaped gathering areas and outdoor seating, the project also aims for LEED Silver certification.

Dr. Bernard Costello, senior vice president for health affairs said that the project represents the University’s dedication to improving health through collaboration — not just within the university, but across the entire community. “We are creating a space where research meets real-world impact and where our strong relationships with clinical partners and community organizations can continue to support discoveries that will shape the future of health care,” Costello said.

Funding includes a $100 million commitment from the State of Michigan, with the balance provided through university resources and philanthropy. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the project will attract talent and spur economic growth. “This new building will help Michigan attract and retain some of the brightest minds to make breakthrough medical discoveries that make a real difference in peoples’ lives and help them get better,” she said.

The facility’s design calls for a pedestrian bridge connecting to Scott Hall and a dedicated walkway to the Elliman Research Building, creating a research corridor between basic scientists, clinicians and students. Interiors will be configured for adaptability, supporting both current and emerging technologies.

“The Health Sciences Research Building will be a powerful catalyst for advancing cancer research and care,” said Dr. Boris Pasche, chair of Wayne State’s Department of Oncology and president and CEO of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.

The project team includes Kramer Management as owner’s representative, HKS Architects & Designers, Osborn Engineering, the Christman Company as construction firm, and Wayne State University’s Facilities Planning and Management.

“A project of this magnitude is only possible because of the skill, vision and dedication of the many tradespeople, engineers and architects who are bringing it to life,” said Bethany Gielczyk, Wayne State’s senior vice president for finance and business affairs and chief financial officer.

Design development is complete, with construction underway. Completion is targeted for early 2028.

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By Lindsey Coulter

When leaders of St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minn., first embarked on the development of the Schoenecker Center for STEAM—a new facility to house additional space for the growing School of Engineering and College of Arts and Sciences—they gave the project team some guiding principles: The facility had to reflect inclusivity, innovation, adaptability and connection. It also had to be sustainable.

Balancing these priorities and incorporating the University’s values was a welcome challenge for the design team of Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) of New York and the St. Paul office of BWBR. Together with McGough Construction of Minneapolis-St. Paul, the team celebrated the opening of the Schoenecker Center in February 2024. In its first year, the building has not only helped the University put those values into action, but it has also created a more cohesive and collaborative environment between academic programs and has earned LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Interdisciplinary DesignĚý

The $110 million Schoenecker Center was developed through the University’s strategic planning process, which identified the need for new spaces for arts, media, sciences and engineering—programs that rarely overlap in more traditional academic settings. However, to make better use of funds and create efficiencies, University leaders envisioned bringing these programs into one building.

“Early in design and programming, it became clear that careful space planning would be critical to the project’s success, as the University sought to weave each unique curriculum of study together to maximize learning possibilities and outcomes for every student,” said Greg Fenton, AIA, director with BWBR and principal on the project. “We led University leadership to understand what spaces would be required as a minimum for the diverse program mix to succeed since the total need exceeded the square footage that was afforded.”

Ultimately the design team delivered a five-level, 130,000-square-foot, L-shaped building that features a tall atrium space at its hinge point, vertically uniting all program spaces. The horizontal spine offers double-height spaces for study and gathering. A secondary overlay of horizontal organization in the building’s wings gives each department a home base while still encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration. In total, the building includes biology, chemistry, physics and robotics labs; a two-story engineering high bay; rehearsal and performance spaces for the music program; a newsroom; art studios and an art gallery; a cafe and gathering/study spaces.

Many areas needed to be versatile to support varied uses throughout the year, so flexibility was key. Within many of the teaching labs, for example, casework and infrastructure was limited to the perimeter walls, allowing flexibility for the center of the space. The design team also worked hard to understand what was required of each area and to deliver optimized spaces through careful coordination, especially with considerations for acoustic design. The final design executed this vision in unique ways: civil engineering is next to art curation, music rehearsal is adjacent to geology, and television broadcast and sound studios were placed near material labs.

“As a person in a creative industry, it’s always interesting to me when universities, through the organization of their facilities and the adjacencies they create, provide these moments where people in different disciplines can really inspire each other,” said Melissa Del Vecchio, FAIA, partner at RAMSA.

Del Vecchio, who worked alongside RAMSA colleagues Graham Wyatt and Kasey Tilove, added that the position and orientation of the Schoenecker Center were also critical to building a literal and metaphorical bridge between the old and the new. The building’s L shape mirrors the older O’Shaughnessy Building (which also houses science programs), and the two structures were connected via a multi-level transparent bridge to create a greater sense of cohesion between the spaces.

“Often, people ask me if anything surprised me about the project when it was complete, and if anything, it’s the bridge element,” Del Vecchio said. “It helps to make those existing science buildings feel fluidly connected to the new spaces—and helps occupants of the older building feel like the amenities in the Schoenecker Center are also amenities for them.”

Intentional Interiors

To determine the building’s interior aesthetic, RAMSA and BWBR met with student groups to discuss colors, furnishings and finishes and what the students needed in their academic and study spaces. While the building houses more industrial disciplines, students advocated for soft and warm physical spaces and furnishings. As such, the interiors include bright whites balanced with warm wood tones and the school’s signature purple.

Students also asked for ample natural light and views to the outdoors, which complemented the University’s desire for visibility into academic spaces. In response, the design team incorporated transparency inside and out via ample glazing. For example, the choral performance space is completely transparent from the north to the south side of the building.

“It’s a pretty deep building, and the fact that we could get the penetration of natural light completely across the floor plate, so that wherever you are you have a really good sense of natural light and where you are relative to the exterior, was tricky,” said Del Vecchio. “We went through a lot of different options to find the combination of spaces that would allow this, and it turned out to be very effective.”

Incorporating the engineering high bay also offered an opportunity for the design team to get creative and put edu cation on display.

“(The high bay) is not the kind of asset that’s usually available to undergraduates. So, it’s a unique thing that the University is providing,” Del Vecchio said.

For maximum functionality in the highly technical space, which even includes a working bridge crane, the design team incorporated a 4-foot-thick concrete strong wall and a strong floor as well as a large bay door, ensuring the space can be accessed by concrete- and steel-delivery trucks.

However, the programs and spaces were organized in such a manner that the heavy machinery does not impact things like fluid dynamics studies in the science and engineering labs or interrupt recordings in the television studio, musical practice rooms, or other areas that require noise control and specific acoustics.

“(The project) demonstrates that with a strong vision, seemingly diverse programs can indeed be together and work together to equal more than the sum of the parts,” Fenton said.

The design team also ensured that a significant artifact—a remnant of the Interstate 35W bridge—was given a place of honor in building’s atrium. The bridge collapsed over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis in 2007. Thirteen people were killed in the bridge failure, and another 145 people were injured. The engineering artifact now serves as a reminder to engineering students of their education’s critical nature in developing spaces and structures that will safeguard health and safety.

Going for the Gold

This sense of responsibility and care for community also extends to the University’s broad focus on and the definition of sustainability.

“Sustainability has become embedded within our culture across the University, and the Schoenecker Center is a prime example of our teams coming together to develop creative solutions that drive our sustainability goals forward,” said Jim Brummer, vice president for facilities management, in a statement.

To achieve LEED Gold certification, the project incorporated numerous sustainable features, including highly efficient HVAC systems, LED lights with an integrated control system and exterior lighting fixtures designed to reduce light pollution. The project also introduced a 241,000-gallon underground cistern that will collect rainwater to be reused for greywater irrigation. The cistern has already reduced the building’s outdoor water use by 100%, while low-flow fixtures have reduced indoor water use by 38%.

The well-insulated envelope and roof and a new energy-optimizing central utility plant help reduce overall energy consumption. Additionally, 76% of regularly occupied spaces offer quality views of nature. The use of durable, sustainable materials—such as terrazzo, concrete and wood—create a warm, yet industrial atmosphere while reducing the building’s environmental impact. The cumulative effect of these resource-conserving systems is expected to save the University more than $100,000 annually.

The project also received innovation credits by factoring in social equity and inclusion, as the organization of programs helps make a more diverse range of students aware of career opportunities in STEAM.

“Since the building is home to many majors, we wanted students in every program to feel welcomed, included and inspired to collaborate across disciplines,” said Fenton, who worked with BWBR colleague Brian Lapham, AIA, senior project manager on the project. “The collection of spaces demonstrates an incredible and unique University vision, allocation of precious resources, and long-term investment in not only science but also arts education.”

The facility also earned LEED points for integrating EV charging stations, using local building materials and endeavoring to reduce construction waste. The accomplishment builds on the University’s commitment to obtaining a minimum of LEED Silver certification for all new construction that exceeds 25,000 square feet. The campus is already home to the LEED certified Schoenecker Hall North and Frey Hall, and with the completion of the underconstruction Anderson Arena, the University will soon comprise nearly 1 million square feet of high-performing, LEED certified spaces.

“Pursuing sustainable building practices just makes sense for us at St. Thomas,” said John Silva, the university’s director of construction, in a statement. “Whether it’s reducing our carbon footprint, providing a better environment for staff and students, or helping reduce energy consumption and operational costs, it just makes sense—and it’s also the right thing to do.”

Designing new buildings for LEED certification is part of the University’s larger plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. Over the past decade, St. Thomas has reduced carbon emissions by 51% by implementing a variety of energy-conservation measures in new and existing buildings. In 2024, the University was also honored with its second STARS gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

Project Team:

• Design Architect: RAMSA
• Architect of Record, Lab and Science Planner: BWBR Construction Manager: McGough
• Lighting Design: Buro Happold
• Landscape Architect: Damon Farber
• Engineering, Planning and Design Consultant: ESI Engineering
• Acoustic Design: Jaffe Holden
• Civil Engineer: Kimley Horn
• Structural Engineer: Palanisami & Associates
• Building Performance Consulting Engineer: RWDI
• Design Assist: Salas O’Brien
• Technology Consulting: True North Consulting

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Over the past 20 years or so, green and sustainable construction has evolved from what many called a fringe movement to one that has definitely achieved mainstream status. Reducing energy and water usage remains the top environmental issue driving all types of construction—including school projects

Now, we are hearing much more about net-zero energy construction. Exactly, what is this and how does it differ from green and sustainable construction?

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), creators of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, follows a widely accepted definition of green building—the planning, design, construction and operations of buildings and spaces with a focus on the following considerations—water and energy use, indoor environmental quality, material selection, and the building’s effects on its site.

By this definition, designing, constructing and operating buildings for energy efficiency is integral to green building. Similarly,Ěýnet-zero energyĚýor net-positive energy design and construction strategies are often incorporated into green building projects. A net-zero energy building is generally defined as a building that produces at least as much energy as it uses.

“Green building starts with the understanding that buildings have profound impacts on the natural environment, as well as the people who interact with them every day,” said Anisa Heming, director for the Center for Green Schools at USGBC.

“LEED offers projects a sustainable approach to construction because it considers the building’s future impacts on the planet and on people.”

LEED, a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement, provides a framework to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. According to USGBC, there are more than 2,300 LEED-certified schools globally, and another 2,200 that have started the process.

Perkins and Will is a global architecture firm with offices across the U.S. and international locations, including Dubai and London. Formed in 1935, the company has designed many education projects.

“Energy efficient construction can mean a lot of different things, depending on the building or the system being designed,” explained Alison Binford, senior project manager, associate at the Austin studio of Perkins and Will.

“It generally includes reducing energy consumption and minimizing reliance on the electrical grid or fossil fuels. This can be achieved through building orientation to minimize heat gain, use of efficient HVAC equipment, providing or tying into renewable energy sources (wind turbines, solar panels), and technologically advanced building system controls, amongst many other things.”

Angela Whitaker-Williams, Austin practice leader, principal at Perkins and Will said that a true energy-efficient building goes well beyond efficient air conditioning systems.

“The design approach must consider energy savings in every aspect of the building—from the way the users arrive (access to mass transit), to systems that increase or decrease energy use (lighting, HVAC, insulation), to the resources used in the building (water, lighting, consumables), and to the durability of building materials. Thinking holistically about energy reduction goes down to considering the embodied energy of how building materials are manufactured and transported. Thinking about all levels of energy required to make and use a building gives us as designers opportunities to make decisions to reduce overall energy use.”

Over the past number of years, Perkins and Will has seen a significant growth in the number of school clients focusing on energy consumption of their buildings.

“According to the U.S. Department of Energy, electric lighting in buildings consume, approximately 15% of all energy generated in the United States,” said Whitaker-Williams. “We can reduce that energy usage on artificial lighting by designing with daylighting strategies.”

This study also found that at the student level, daylighting improves student performance by an estimated 20% in math and 26% in reading. Daylight enhances health by enhancing vitamin D, mental performance, and awareness of circadian rhythms.

“In designing for daylighting, there is a careful balance of letting in the light without increasing the solar heat load on the air conditioning system,” continued Whitaker-Williams. “We use a balance of expanses of high-performance glass and shading devices”

Additionally, she said at the school district level, energy efficient building design can make excellent use of taxpayer investment as it stretches limited maintenance and operational funds. Many schools have a lifespan of 50-plus years, so designing to save 10% to 15% of the energy bills can add up to substantial savings.

At the global level, energy-efficient design limits damage to the ecosystem, reduces greenhouse gases, carbon footprint, and global warming.

One project Perkins and Will is especially proud of is the Eastside Early College High School and International High School project in Austin, Texas. With a major focus on energy-efficient design, the school is a STEM early college program focused on health, fitness and environmental science.

“Our early goals on the project was to reduce energy and use the building as a learning tool for students to easily see and understand the strategies such as looking at the variability of shading forms based on solar orientation,” explained Whitaker-Williams.

“We used the Energy Performance Calculator based on ISO Standard 13790, which is a normative tool developed by the High-Performance Buildings Laboratory of the Georgia Institute of Technology. This drove our design decisions from exterior building forms, fenestrations, daylighting, glare and building systems selections.”

For the $80-million Eastside School project, Perkins and Will team conducted computer modelling studies early in the design process to determine the most efficient strategy for building elements.

“The large overhangs at the perimeter glass were designed as a direct result of the envelope parametric analysis, which informed the exact dimensions that would maximize the shading of the glass, reducing the heat-gain, while still optimizing daylight and views for the interior spaces. This computer modeling, in addition to full energy modeling, drove the design and reduced costs for our air conditioning, as well as lighting systems,” said Binford.

Matt Wolkow is vice president of operations and engineering at Schneider Electric, which has locations throughout the United States. Schneider Electric implements capital recovery and reinvestment projects to help K12 school districts and other public entities modernize facilities, drive sustainability efforts and reduce energy consumption to achieve their vision. The company develops connected technologies and solutions to manage energy and process in ways that are safe, reliable, efficient and sustainable.

“Schools are facing shrinking budgets, rising public interest in sustainability, and limited resources for making energy saving investments,” explained Wolkow.

“We’ve worked with schools across the country that have been struggling with deferred maintenance and limited maintenance staffs to modernize their infrastructures for a lower cost through energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs)—a financial model that has been growing rapidly in popularity. It is a contracting vehicle that helps schools fund overall infrastructure improvement plans by capturing energy savings and, therefore, energy efficiency.”

Over the past 25 years, Schneider Electric has implemented more than 750 ESPC projects across the nation, saving clients nearly $2.5 billion.

Editor’s note: This story is an abridged version of a feature that appeared in the July/August issue of Â鶹¸ŁŔűÍř.

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MANITOBA, Canada — Over the past two years, the Government of Manitoba has committed to investing more than $200 million for the construction of seven new schools, along with the modernizations of existing schools across the province.

The new schools include five elementary schools and two high schools, creating a total capacity for 4,425 students and 540 childcare spaces.

One of the projects is a new kindergarten to Grade 5 school in the community of Seven Oaks in Winnipeg.

The new school will be located on Templeton Avenue and is expected to accommodate 450 students with the capacity to expand to 600 in the future.

Spanning 56,423-square-feet, the facility will include 15 classrooms and kindergarten rooms; a music room; a science, technology, electronics and math (STEM) lab; a library and gymnasium; a child care center for 20 infants and 54 preschool children; and a flexible child-care space to accommodate 30 additional spaces.

The energy efficient building is aiming for LEED Silver rating with Manitoba Hydro Power Smart components and enhanced indoor air quality.

Originally, the province had explored the feasibility of building new schools using a public-private partnership model. However, an independent study revealed savings of nearly $18 million using a conventional procurement approach.

The Seven Oaks school project has a target opening date of September 2020.

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URBANA, Ill. — The Illinois College of Liberal Arts & Sciences’ Natural History Building has earned LEED Gold certification for energy efficiency and environmentally friendly construction practices in the wake of a recent $79 million renovation.

Originally built in 1892, the Natural History Building reopened in 2017 after a three-year renovation to modernize and add classrooms, laboratories, and study spaces and enhance teaching, research, and collaboration environments. From the beginning of the project, campus officials directed a significant amount of planning and design efforts toward a goal of attaining gold certification, thereby creating healthier and more sustainable spaces to benefit students, faculty, and staff.

The Illinois College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS) Natural History Building renovation received high merits for being conducted in an environmentally efficient manner, with close attention paid to preventing pollution. More than 76 percent of the construction waste was recycled. A large amount of the material removed from the building was reused.

Rapidly renewable materials, such as bamboo flooring, were used in the renovation project. The Natural History Building also received points for water efficient landscaping, energy efficient heating and air conditioning, high levels of daylight for natural lighting, occupancy sensors, and continual energy monitoring.

“Energy efficiency was one of our primary concerns in renovating the Natural History Building,” said Feng Sheng Hu, the Harry E. Preble Dean of the College of LAS. “We are pleased that the U.S. Green Building Council granted us gold certification. In every step of the process, we modernized and expanded the capabilities of this critical building in a sustainable manner.”

The renovation significantly improved water efficiency at the Natural History Building. The building was able to reduce its water usage by at least 20 percent, which is significant given the large number of laboratories and high student traffic in the building. The project also received high marks for using an existing site, having great access to public transportation, and incorporating bicycle parking.

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University Bloomington recently received three LEED Gold certifications for buildings, bringing the campus total to nine. The School of Public and Environmental Affairs addition, Ray E. Cramer Marching Hundred Hall and Hodge Hall all received gold certification in late 2018 and early 2019, reaffirming the university’s commitment to ensuring all new construction receives a minimum LEED Gold certification or higher, as laid out in the IU Bicentennial Strategic Plan.

“Indiana University has been a leader among Big Ten institutions in environmentally conscious building design and construction,” said Vice President for Capital Planning and Facilities Thomas A. Morrison. “Our three most recent LEED Gold certifications exemplify our commitment to constructing facilities that support and enhance our beautiful campus while seeking efficiencies in function, energy and water consumption, and use of recycled and other eco-friendly building materials.”

The Ray E. Cramer Marching Hundred Hall earned 63 points out of 110 and was certified in October 2018, the School of Public and Environmental Affairs addition 63 points out of 110 and was certified in November 2018, and Hodge Hall earned 60 points out of 110 and was certified in January 2019.

LEED’s point-based rating system evaluates buildings for their performance in seven categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation, and regional priority credits.

The following IU Bloomington construction projects have received LEED certifications:

Gold: 60 to 79 points

• 3rd and Union Apartments
• Cyberinfrastructure Building
• Hodge Hall
• Global and International Studies Building
• Jacobs School of Music East Studio Building
• Ray E. Cramer Marching Hundred Hall
• School of Public and Environmental Affairs Addition
• Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall renovation
• Spruce Hall

Silver: 50 to 59 points

• Innovation Center
• Multidisciplinary Science Building II
• Research and Teaching Preserve
• Tulip Tree Apartments

Certified: 40 to 49 points

• Forest Dining Hall

Contributing solutions like public transportation access, use of open spaces, water use reduction, efficient mechanical systems, installation of LED lighting, diversion of construction waste from landfills and recycling programs earn LEED certification points.

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BOULDER, Colo. — The Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE), which opened in the heart of the University of Colorado Boulder’s main campus last summer, has been awarded LEED Gold status by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The 114,000-square-foot CASE building serves as a new gateway to the campus that supports the academic and student experience from the time prospective students first visit campus through their time at CU Boulder, to graduation and beyond. The latest recognition brings the total number of CU Boulder buildings with LEED certification to 27, either for new construction or major renovations.

“Earning LEED certification for such a prominent building on our campus is exciting as it helps place our commitment to sustainable and efficient building practices front and center in the CU Boulder landscape,” said David Kang, vice chancellor for infrastructure and sustainability.

Noresco provided sustainability consulting services to CU Boulder to ensure that sustainability goals of the CASE project were achieved. Oz Architecture and Bora Architects led design of the building, while GH Phipps Construction Cos., served as general contractor.

Sustainability was woven into systems throughout the CASE building. One of the most prominent features is the electrochromic glass installed at the top-level terraces. The glazing on these south-facing windows self-dims as sun exposure increases, minimizing heat gain and glare while highlighting the breathtaking views of the Flatirons mountains beyond. Also significant was construction of the building atop an existing parking garage, avoiding consumption of green space and actually introducing new sources of vegetation to the site on the north-facing slope.

Other sustainability highlights that bolstered the CASE building’s LEED score include:

• LED lighting throughout that contributes to 32 percent energy savings versus a baseline office and classroom building

• Low-flow plumbing features to conserve water, contributing to a 40 percent reduction in indoor water use versus a baseline office and classroom building

• 67 percent of construction waste diverted from landfills

• HVAC and envelope designed to provide a comfortable thermal environment to promote occupant productivity and well-being

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PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Carnegie Mellon University’s new home for the Tepper School of Business was recently recognized for limiting its environmental impact in construction and operations.

The university’s first building on the David A. Tepper Quadrangle that houses the Coulter Welcome Center and the new home for the Tepper School of Business has been awarded LEED Gold certification.

The Tepper Quad construction aligns with 73 points on the LEED Gold scale that requires between 60 and 79 points.

“From the start, the Tepper Quad was planned as a green building,” said Tepper School Dean Robert Dammon. “It is gratifying that LEED has recognized the significant efforts of our planning committee with a Gold certification. We maintain our commitment to sustainable operations in our occupation of the Tepper Quad.”

The 315,000-square-foot, five-story Tepper Quad opened Sept. 13, 2018 with a price tag of $201 million. Several elements of the building construction, including a 120,000-gallon cistern to collect rainwater for reuse, were planned with LEED certification in mind.

“From the outset of the project, our goal was to achieve LEED Gold,” said Ralph Horgan, associate vice president of Campus Design and Facility Development at Carnegie Mellon. “Per the Simonds Principles, it is what we strive for on all of our new construction projects.”

Sustainability is one of several priorities outlined in the Simonds Principles, which CMU created in 2013. One innovative feature that reduced the volume of carbon in the building by about 30 percent is called “voided slab methodology.” This system involves replacing some of the concrete in floor slabs with hollow plastic balls, made from recycled plastic. The BubbleDeck technique allows lighter, thinner floor slabs, which reduces the need for structural support such as concrete caissons and steel girders. The building in the Tepper Quad space is currently the largest construction project in North America to use BubbleDeck.

The newest LEED guidelines take transportation into account, encouraging a reduction in vehicle traffic around the building by facilitating easier use of bicycles, foot traffic and public transit. During the planning process for the Tepper Quad building, Bryan Routledge, associate professor of finance at the Tepper School who co-chaired the Tepper Quad building working group, became familiar with the U.S. Department of Transportation Complete Streets initiative, an approach to designing roads that accounts for all users that includes drivers, pedestrians and bicycle riders.

“The interesting thing I found about the LEED guidelines is how much they are in line with healthy buildings,” said Routledge. “All the glass daylights much of the building. That does not just reduce the need for electricity and lights, it makes for a happy place to live.”

Routledge reported that one of the working group’s largest priorities was the atrium, a large open space in the center of the building encased in a four-story glass curtain. Such a large expanse of glass presents a significant challenge in maintaining the building’s temperature, so the Campus Design and Facility Development team found ways to mitigate the heat gain. The glass is “fritted,” which means it has a translucent ceramic coating that counteracts glare and reduces direct sunlight into the space. The floor surfaces in the atrium use radiant slabs, which incorporate pipes that circulate liquid to provide heating and cooling from below — an important strategy for a space with high ceilings.

Horgan noted that, while every recent construction project on campus including the Gates Hillman complex, Scott Hall and the Collaborative Innovation Center has earned LEED Gold status, “none of those are as large and complex as the Tepper Quad building.”

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt University’s Engineering and Science Building has been awarded LEED Gold status by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Located at Garland Street and 25th Avenue, the 230,000-square-foot structure is home to both the Engineering and Science Building, which includes laboratories, classrooms and a state-of-the-art clean room, and Vanderbilt’s Innovation Pavilion, which includes the Wond’ry and its makerspace.

“Receiving gold status shows we are on the right path when we carry out building and renovating on campus,” said Mike Perez, associate vice chancellor of administration for facilities. “Making sure we are approaching these projects with long-term sustainability in mind has been a significant shift since the launch of FutureVU.”

The building opened its doors during the 2016-17 academic year, and includes laboratories, classrooms and a state-of-the-art cleanroom that houses both faculty and student learning and innovation. Its lighting saves energy through LED bulbs as well as occupancy sensors allowing lights to be off except where people are working.

“The Engineering and Science Building is a game-changer for our research enterprise. Its systems enable us to conduct more sensitive experiments,” said Philippe M. Fauchet, Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of Engineering. “Adding the LEED Gold distinction just reaffirms our commitment to energy efficiency and sustainable building practices.”

The Engineering and Science Building houses the university’s most energy-efficient lab space. During the initial design phase of the building, 3D modeling was used to evaluate conditions of the site such as orientation, heat gain from windows, natural light, and others to ensure optimized design.

“Our goal was to be very thoughtful in the materials used and how we could make sure this building lasts for generations of scholars,” said University Architect Keith Loiseau. “Balancing the tremendous energy needs of the building’s features with our university’s goals of responsible environmental design was the biggest challenge we faced.”

Other green design elements that helped the building achieve its LEED status include:

• Twenty-foot-tall enthalpy wheels to transfer heat and humidity, conditioning the fresh air intake with exhaust air leaving the building
• Chilled beams supplied by hot and cold water used to condition spaces which is more efficient than conditioning with air systems
• A 10,000-gallon cistern to capture rain water for irrigation
• Sunshading frit on glass to optimize natural solar light and to also help prevent bird strikes
• Flexibility of design to allow different lab-type use over time as well as lab renovations without major mechanical systems rework
• Cleanroom energy reduction through occupancy and particle sensors to decrease system use when not needed

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DALLAS — Merriman Anderson/Architects (MAA) recently announced that the historic Dallas High School has achieved LEED Gold certification.

The 102,000-square-foot, four-story building was built in 1907 and sat empty for nearly two decades before being purchased by Matthews Southwest and redeveloped into 78,000 square feet of historically converted office space, along with 10,000 square feet of restaurant, retail and outdoor patio space.

MAA is the design architect, historic architect and architect of record for the building shell and interior restoration, including the LEED certification process.

In order to receive LEED gold certification, MAA implemented many sustainable site and material strategies, as well as envelope improvements to optimize energy efficiency.

“To increase the energy performance of the building, the envelope was improved per historic preservation standards, which was the biggest challenge,” said Aimee Sanborn, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal and Team Leader at Merriman Anderson/Architects. “However, with the envelope and lighting improvements, combined energy savings improved by more than 21.9 percent.”

A few sustainable site strategies included the abatement of contaminants in the existing building, such as the installation of native vegetation with drip irrigation and priority parking for fuel-efficient vehicles as well as on-site electric charging stations.

Highly reflective thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofing membrane, an efficient HVAC system, and LED lighting were all established within the building to improve energy efficiency. With the installation of low flow fixtures, the potable water use within the building was reduced by more than 49.31 percent.

More than 99.64 percent of the existing core and shell were reused, and products were installed that possessed recycled content reducing the amount of construction waste. To improve the environmental health throughout the building, MAA installed low-emitting materials.

Dallas High School recently won a 2018 Preservation Dallas Achievement Award, which honors Dallas’ outstanding residential and commercial historic preservation projects and the individuals who are committed to making Dallas a better place to live by protecting its architectural heritage.

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