Dedicated to advancing sustainable laboratories globally.
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm CDT
F1: Planning for Better Building Performance
System Optimization
Laboratory Consolidation: Downsizing Your Portfolio Using Master and Project Planning
In 2014, EPA was instructed by the General Accountability Office to better manage their laboratory portfolio; as a result of this direction, EPA undertook a nationwide laboratory study to determine the optimal portfolio side for their science needs and laboratory requirements. The study was completed in 2015, and over the past 10 years, EPA has implemented all 10 recommendations in the study, significantly reduced its portfolio size, saved energy, saved operating costs, saved lease costs while maintaining its position as a preeminent federal science organization.
This presentation will show the results of the nationwide laboratory study--how it was done and the results and it will show the projects and processes resulting from the study, how they impacted EPA's science and finally show where the agency is today and what's next.
Utilizing Space Optimization to Achieve Your Green Goals
Two very different case studies will be presented to demonstrate the range in goals for two very different sized clients. In the first case study, we will explore a client whose original goal was to see how soon they would outgrow their current footprint. As they continued to sign new partnerships, they felt a looming threat of outgrowing their lease. Using data collection and space analyzation, we pushed their need for larger space by an additional two years beyond their original expectation. With a minor shuffling of lab locations and existing casework, their FTE is able to more than double using the same amount of space.
In the second case study, we will explore the consolidation of a 400,000 square-foot campus into 200,000 square feet. This case study emphasizes the importance of having the right people in the room to establish proper work flow and needs.
Re-Thinking Laboratory Environments: Insights From BioPharma Cleanroom Designs
The laboratory landscape faces unprecedented challenges in achieving carbon neutrality by 2040. This presentation delves into innovative strategies for reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint in laboratory environments. Drawing from BioPharma cleanroom design, this presentation explores practical approaches and actionable insights to optimize ventilation, minimize energy usage, and enhance operational efficiency. By challenging traditional norms and leveraging cutting-edge technologies, organizations can navigate the path towards sustainable laboratory practices effectively.
This presentation proposes a paradigm shift in design philosophy, suggesting the segregation of low-risk activities into process suites in conjunction with all electric heat pump chiller technology to optimize ventilation and reduce energy consumption without compromising safety or quality standards.
F2: Energy Conservation Efforts
Green Labs
Embarking on a Journey to Carbon Neutrality
This presentation summarizes the transformative energy conservation journey undertaken by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, shedding light on our approaches and tools towards achieving carbon neutrality. The University of Illinois is seeking to make sustainable strides in our energy consumption and environmental impact.
We will share a retrospective glance at the University of Illinois' energy conservation experience. We will outline the institution's progression from conventional energy practices to pioneering sustainable initiatives, providing insights into the motivations, challenges, and successes that have shaped our journey.
We will discuss the tools employed by the University of Illinois on our path to carbon neutrality. These tools include three teams within Utility & Energy Services–Retro-commissioning, Controls and Recommissioning, and Energy Performance Contracting.
This presentation offers valuable insights and practical guidance for universities, colleges, and similar institutions seeking to embark on their own journey toward carbon neutrality and sustainable energy practices.
Findings From the 2024 International Shut the Sash Challenge Pilot
Fume hoods pose dual challenges of energy consumption and safety risks in laboratory environments, exacerbated by their sash frequently being left open and unattended despite established best practices advising closure. While Shut the Sash competitions have emerged as effective mechanisms for promoting proper fume hood management within organizations, scalability and sustained engagement present persistent challenges, compounded by other technical issues and participant attrition.
In 2024, the I2SL University Alliance Group organized a pilot of the first-ever International Shut the Sash Challenge. The objectives of the challenge were to foster greater engagement among lab users, provide resources to address technical challenges such as data insufficiency, and recognize organizations excelling in ventilation management. This talk unveils the narrative behind the challenge’s conception, execution, and outcomes.
The challenge brought together 20 diverse organizations across the research sector to compete in reducing the average sash height of fume hoods. By sharing data, impact assessments, and lessons learned, this presentation illuminates the feasibility and efficacy of such initiatives at an international scale. Attendees will gain insights into participant engagement strategies and the tangible benefits experienced by organizations involved.
BSCs, Snorkels, and Canopies, Oh My! Potential Savings to Try
Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) can be a big demand on total building airflow beyond just fume hoods, especially when they are installed excessively or without regard to actual needs. Over-specification needs to be avoided by specifying recirculating biosafety cabinets, providing duct stubs instead of snorkels, and installing demand control ventilation for canopies.
Examples of “LEV excess” will be shown along with some retrofit examples. Astute engineers need to spot these cases and work with owners to avoid, retrofit, hibernate, or decommission these devices for significant savings and performance improvements. Along with being a “Snorkel Slayer,” you can be a “Biosafety Cabinet Capper” and a “Canopy Tuner.”
F3: Adaptive Reuse
Sustainable Design
North Wing Laboratory Renovation at University of Colorado Boulder: An Adaptive Reuse Case Study
Numerous guidelines, performance benchmarks, and increasingly, code requirements exist that inform the successful design, construction, and operation of a sustainable laboratory facility. Effective buy-in and implementation of key strategies to meet these criteria by all project stakeholders from users to designers, to owners and maintenance personnel play a critical role in each facility’s success.
This presentation will explore a project case study involving the adaptive reuse of two existing wings totaling 53,000 SF within the Engineering Complex at the University of Colorado Boulder. As an embodiment of several best practices through the planning and construction phases, key opportunities and challenges will be discussed as a reflection on how such initiatives can be further improved into the future. Creative use of space including incorporating high efficiency, single-coil energy recovery design played an important role in meeting this project’s goals. Other measures employed to increase energy performance while minimizing space impacts include dedicated outside air system (DOAS) design and hydronic process cooling.
Confessions of an Office Building Convert
Creating a high-performance laboratory in an existing building comes with challenges both from the building and from the end user’s wants and needs. What considerations does the design team need to address? How do you work through the “wants vs needs” of a user group to create a space that fits within the existing building while exceeding expectations? How do you mold this space into a sustainable lab?
In this presentation we will cover thoughts, facts, fails, and a whole list of what worked and what didn’t work during the design and construction of an adaptive reuse project, converting two floors of office space into teaching laboratories while maintaining occupancy on three other floors and pursuing LEED certification. Early collaboration and open honesty with end users allowed for a unique opportunity to turn this unassuming space into a sustainable learning space for the next generation. Careful review of achievable sustainability goals, selection of materials, layout and construction coordination allowed us to target LEED Platinum early on in the project and LEED Gold at the time of submission.
From Dust to Discovery: Making New Labs From Old Spaces
This presentation, presented by an owner and designer, provides an in-depth examination of the strategic and sustainable transformation of outdated office spaces into modern laboratories. We focus on the rationale behind the sustainability aspects, emphasizing the efficient reuse of existing structures and infrastructure to extend the life cycle of these spaces. Additionally, we address the imperative of minimizing waste during planned turnovers and discuss the anticipated duration of the average occupancy in these repurposed environments.
Our analysis encompasses the evaluation of existing spaces, with a specific emphasis on systems capacity and life safety considerations. We delve into critical path issues, including the necessary flexibility and capacity for various lab types, the importance of finishes and durability, and the complexities associated with mechanical systems such as raceways, conduit and lab gases. The discussion extends to control areas, customization of the last 5 percent of each space and effective communication to future tenants.
We explore the scope of work, comparing feasibility and impact of suite scales. Finally, we address the environmental implications, examining both embodied carbon impact and the potential for repurposing vacant spaces in the RTP area to create environmentally conscious labs.
F4: Case Studies in Decarbonization Planning
Decarbonization
The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard's Journey to Decarbonization
In 2024, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard embarked on a multi-phase effort to develop and implement a carbon neutral strategy as required by the City of Cambridge Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance. The journey, supported by their partner Mazzetti, began with a discovery phase, marked by widespread engagement and education. Armed with an updated greenhouse gas inventory, an investment-grade audit, and retro-commissioning of their largest building, Broad and Mazzetti set out to consolidate the complex set of info and create a strategic plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2035. Ideas for emissions reduction came from key stakeholders across the organization and were assessed by impact, cost, and ease of implementation. While the journey continues, the project concluded with the development of a dashboard for visualizing emissions reductions scenarios, a public communication strategy, and a roadmap to guide their efforts forward.
This session is designed to help demystify the decarbonization planning process. Attendees will learn from the Broad Institute's case study, as they share their drivers, process, and lessons learned along the way.
Laboratory Decarbonization: From Vision to Reality
Achieving carbon reduction at a corporate level means integrating carbon into key decisions covering holistic corporate sustainability strategy all the way down to the detailed design and construction of all-electric labs. Journey alongside the Gilead sustainable project management team as they share their inspiring stories and lessons learned from their adoption of a whole carbon philosophy for new and existing assets. Joined with technical experts from Buro Happold, they'll share how the entire project team must come together to incorporate carbon reduction strategies from the early planning phases of design, setting up the process for low carbon implementation through construction to completion. The project team will touch on carbon reduction frameworks, updating sustainability guidelines, aligning building scale and corporate ESG targets, decarbonizing construction practices, and how early-stage visioning sessions can keep zero carbon on the table.
By the end of the session, you'll be brainstorming ways to align multiple internal and external stakeholders and consultants with clear carbon objectives, pitching frameworks like ILFI Zero Carbon to establish key performance indicators, and holding the entire team's collective accountability to get carbon goals and responsibilities integrated into the project life cycle from planning, design and through construction and operations.
Demonstration-Scale: Planning a Net-Zero Energy Research Campus
Collaborating closely with a Department of Energy National Laboratory, Flad Architects is working to provide a near- and long-term vision for the conversion of one of its campuses into a demonstration-scale research center for carbon-free energy. The campus will house nuclear, hydrogen, wind, biomass, and solar technologies. This plan will support and deploy clean energy research at the vanguard of scientific discovery while functioning as a proving ground to demonstrate how these technologies can coexist in a clean energy ecosystem. The campus will also be designed to facilitate collaboration with industry partners, utility providers, and other national labs.
This presentation will outline a future vision that fosters new research capabilities at the lab and provides a framework for successful implementation of these technologies through a variety of near- and mid-term enabling projects. Ranging from site-wide infrastructure, demolition and decommissioning, modernization, and new facilities, these projects will be examined through the lens of the DOE’s Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings.
The presentation will also demonstrate how the lab is planning for the campus of tomorrow to attract the sharpest minds, facilitate discovery, and sustain a sense of community for the thousands of employees that will push this essential research forward.
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