In the years since the Environmental Science Building was completed, design and construction teams have become more aware of operational emissions, re-learning passive strategies around solar orientation, appropriate use of natural ventilation and daylighting. Building envelope assembly design has become a critical piece of the efficiency puzzle, particularly for controlling air leakage. Engineers have put more effort into right-sizing energy efficient systems and including onsite renewable energy sources. Zero net operational emissions have been possible for some time. Offsetting with renewables to achieve zero net emissions, however, is not the same as zero emissions — a critical distinction as some greenhouse gas emissions linger in the atmosphere for up to a thousand years. Despite the absence of an explicit sustainability agenda for the building, the design team incorporated passive strategies to the extent practical for a building of instructional laboratories, associated support for introductory and organic chemistry courses, research laboratories, support for environmental science and engineering, faculty offices, conference rooms and space for computing. Gross square footage of the building is roughly 50,000 divided into four stories. Passive strategies optimised solar orientation – creating a narrow courtyard, in shade much of the day, between the new and an existing science building, Stern Hall (top right). Shading devices extend the roof eave on the south elevation and glazing is set back in the thickness of the wall (right) . A narrow floorplate and tall windows allow daylight deep into the section (below). On the north side of the building the instructional labs on the ground and fourth floors access is directly from outside, reducing the overall cooling load . Chemistry and biology laboratories, because of stringent mechanical ventilation requirements, do not have operable windows, but offices and conference rooms can, and are equipped with ceiling fans.
top: Courtyard between the north side of the Environmental Science Building on the right and the existing Stern Science building on the left. above: The south side of the Environmental Science Building has sun ameliorating shading devices and deeply set windows. left: Instructional Lab: Introductory Chemistry. The fairly narrow floorplate allows daylight deep into the section.
all images Wilson Architects
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on site review 48 :: building materials
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