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A Leading Academic Institution Demonstrates Commitment
to Sustainability with New Science Building Utilizing Numerous Emerging
Design Strategies
Paul Shapiro, P.E., LEED®
AP, and Mark Chadwick, Ballinger Architects
and Engineers
Jeff P. Redderson, Furman University
The Plyler Hall Science Building Renovation and Addition
project at Furman University is a renovation of the existing 120,000
sq. ft. Science Building as well as an addition of 70,000 sq. ft.
to create state-of-the-art laboratory and teaching space.
The project utilizes numerous cutting-edge technologies in the
effort to save energy and promote sustainability on the Furman campus,
including:
- Total energy recovery wheels to recover energy from building
and laboratory exhaust.
- Use of active chilled beams throughout the building.
- Radiant floor cooling and heating.
- High performance (low-flow) fume hoods.
- Evacuated solar tubes for heating of domestic and heating hot
water.
- A daylight harvesting system.
- A solar aquatics system that will minimize sanitary drainage
and provide a grey water system supply for toilets and urinals.
With the freedom and encouragement to incorporate so many emerging
technologies, the design team took a fresh look at whole-building
design for sustainability. For example, the use of chilled beam
technology in concert with low-flow fume hoods led the mechanical
team away from the traditional high-performance variable air volume
design and toward a constant volume solution. The lack of familiarity
with the heating distribution available via the chilled beams led
to a perimeter ceiling-mounted radiant heating panel system that
also acts as a light shelf to increase the effectiveness of the
daylight harvesting system. Waterless urinals, considered for the
building, were not the correct solution in the end, when the solar
aquatics system is available to produce sanitized, recycled effluent
for flushing of toilets and urinals.
Labs21 Connection:
The project sustainability committee functioned with a true Labs21
Approach. To implement this amount of cutting-edge technology required
an owner truly committed to sustainability. A sustainability committee
was formed early in the schematic phase of the project to consider
the building as a whole and to determine how the building could
be a showcase for sustainable science building and laboratory design.
The committee included faculty, university administration, university
facilities, members of the design team, as well as an outside sustainability
consultant. The committee resolved to pursue "Sustainability
Initiatives Beyond LEED" (LEED Silver is a University minimum
design standard). These initiatives were documented as "add
alternates" through the schematic and design development phases
of the project until separate, dedicated sustainability funding
was identified.
Although quite common in Europe for the past 15 years, chilled
beam technology is rare within the United States. This project utilizes
active chilled beams to significantly reduce the amount of air that
must be delivered to the laboratories, teaching spaces, and offices.
Extensive due diligence was required to convince the design team,
university facilities, construction manager, and faculty of the
appropriateness and reliability of the system. Visits to two factories
in Europe as well as numerous installation sites in Europe, and
one in Massachusetts, were necessary. It is believed that this project
will be the first major university laboratory project to utilize
this technology.
Biographies:
Paul Shapiro, P.E., LEED AP. As Senior Project Engineer
at Ballinger, Paul has extensive engineering and project management
experience in the design and construction of corporate, academic
and institutional buildings. He is adept at working with technologically
complex facilities, producing progressive, unconventional solutions
by integrating state-of-the-art technology with architectural design.
In addition to Furman University's Plyler Hall, his most recent
projects include the central chilled water plant site analysis for
Ethicon, Inc., the Wood Basic Research Building at Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine, the West Philadelphia Master Plan
for the University of Pennsylvania, and the Science and Student
Center at Muhlenberg College. As a LEED accredited professional,
many of Paul's projects have focused on obtaining LEED certification.
Paul earned his Master of Business Administration from New York
University and a Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering from
Cornell University. He is a member of ASHRAE, ISPE, and U.S. Green
Building Council.
Mark Chadwick, AIA, is a Senior
Associate at Ballinger with responsibilities as a Project Manager,
Facilities Programmer, and Lab Planner. He has 33 years' experience
in the planning, design, and execution of health care, academic
graduate research, undergraduate science, and government, non-profit,
and corporate R&D facilities with laboratories ranging from
biomedical, to agricultural genetics, to advanced materials research.
Mark's clients have included Ford Motor Co., UOP Inc., USDA, Ashland
Chemical Co., Mobil Corporation, Himont Inc., General Electric Government
Communications Systems, New Jersey Department of Economic Development,
Submarine Systems Inc., Merck & Co., Ethicon, Inc., Ortho-McNeil
Pharmaceutical, Schering-Plough Corporation, Cephalon, Inc., Mount
Sinai Medical Center, New York University Medical Center, Wake Forest
University Medical Center, Rowan University, Gettysburg College,
Franklin & Marshall College, Lehigh University, Muhlenberg College,
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania,
Brown University, The Ohio State University, University of Wisconsin,
University of the South, and Furman University.
Mark earned both his Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Master
in Architecture degrees from the University of Michigan.
Jeff P. Redderson, P.E., is Director
of Facility Services for Furman University and brings the client
angle to this presentation. For 15 years Jeff has managed and supervised
the functional areas of Capital Construction, Maintenance, Utilities,
Environmental, Safety & Health, and Facilities Administration,
with emphasis on electrical, mechanical and utility systems. His
broad technical background is the result of engineering experiences
in both industrial and institutional environments, yielding strong
quantitative and analytical skills. He is currently managing the
addition and renovation of Plyler Hall.
Jeff earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from
Auburn University and his Master of Business Administration from
University of South Carolina. He is a member of the American Society
of Mechanical Engineers and is a Certified Energy Manager.
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