Washington University Earth & Planetary Sciences
– Sustainable High-tech Labs in an Historic Campus Setting
J. Erik Mollo-Christensen,
AIA, Tsoi/Kobus & Associates
Richard R. Janis, PE, William Tao
& Associates
The new Earth & Planetary Sciences (EPSc) building at Washington
University houses technically advanced science teaching and research
in a traditional gothic building. The university's campus is Jacobean
gothic, using local stone materials in a historical style, an east-west
orientation, and careful integration into the topography and landscape.
The EPSc department studies both traditional geological science
as well as interplanetary physical science, and is directly involved
in the current Mars rover missions. Laboratories include clean rooms
for trace metal analysis. In addition to using local exterior materials,
the envelope is designed for optimal heat conservation, and the
HVAC and fume hood systems are designed for low-flow. Technical
systems include low-flow fume hoods, occupancy-based room ventilation,
efficient lighting, and low water use.
Findings:
Designing a sustainable building is fully compatible with a strictly
defined architectural style, as well as very demanding high-tech
lab space. Creating good visual and sustainable architecture does
not have to be compromised for lab safety and unusually demanding
internal conditions.
Labs21 Connection:
Washington University has made a commitment to energy conservation
and sustainable design by defining very strict requirements for
building components and systems, as well as defining a compelling
visual style not usually associated with cutting edge technical
design. The "new science in an old wrapper" approach has
met the University's broad goals for maintaining an historical campus
image, and also made campus buildings unusually low consumers of
energy and resources.
Interior materials for both lab and public spaces include low VOC
coatings (even in clean labs), natural terrazzo and linoleum flooring
in most areas, strategic combination of artificial lighting and
daylighting, and lab casework from local sources.
Mechanical systems have been designed to allow unoccupied and night
setback modes in many small zones, to optimize energy usage, while
still maintaining a variety of special lab conditions for ultra-clean
trace metal research as well as traditional wet science labs.
Biographies:
J. Erik Mollo-Christensen, AIA, is a principal of Tsoi/Kobus
& Associates. Erik has nearly 30 years of professional experience
including architecture and interior design on a wide variety of
project types. His work includes the design of both new and renovated
laboratory, corporate, office, industrial, and institutional facilities
with a particular emphasis on coordination of complex engineering
systems and managing large multi-disciplinary design teams. Erik
has been recognized as a lab and vivarium planning expert through
numerous trade conference presentations.
Erik was recently a member of two NIH committees reviewing national
and regional biocontainment facilities proposals. As an expert on
lab and vivarium design, Erik reviewed applications for BSL3 and
BSL4 facilities to be constructed throughout the U.S. as part of
the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' biodefense
initiative for research activities for Category A, B, and C agents.
Erik holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute.
Richard R. Janis, PE, LEED™ Accredited, is a practicing
professional engineer with more than 20 years of experience. His
work includes research, evaluation and design of building environmental
systems and sustainable energy technology. As manager for most of
his firm's master planning and high-tech projects, he is responsible
for establishing design criteria, systems selection, utility requirements,
design implementation, and planning commissioning efforts. Innovative
concepts in laboratory and data center projects have won national
design awards.
He is author of Mechanical and Electrical Systems in Buildings
(Prentice Hall 1997, 2001) and numerous articles on topical issues
in the field. As an affiliate Associate Professor, Mr. Janis teaches
building technology courses including "Climate and Light"
at Washington University School of Architecture and "Engineering
Systems Parameters" in the School of Engineering.
Rich is active in U.S. Green Building Council St. Louis, having
served on the Executive Committee since the Chapter's inception
in 2002. He is also active in the International Facility Managers
Association, is a past Chapter President, and has presented papers
on sustainable design topics at World Workplace. He was educated
at University of Missouri at Rolla, where he received his B.S. Degree
in Mechanical Engineering. His graduate work includes a Master of
Architecture and an M.S. in Building Environmental Systems from
Washington University.
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