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Post-Occupancy Evaluation of Advanced Materials Research
Laboratory (AMRL)
Nathan Corser and David
Groseclose, IDC Architects
This project involved design and construction of a
40,000 sq. ft. Advanced Materials Research Laboratory (AMRL) for
Clemson University in Anderson, South Carolina. It is significant
that a co-presenter of this poster is the Client/Owner, who will
provide lessons learned from his direct experiences during the last
two years of this facility's operations. This was considered a cornerstone
building vital to Clemson's initiative to secure advanced materials
research grants and attract world-class researchers to meet the
University's goal of becoming one of the top-twenty public engineering
universities.
This facility's many sustainable features include
a manifold exhaust system with heat recovery, energy peak shaving
coordinated with the local utility provider, and lab performance
monitoring protocols to enable continuous real-time energy optimization
of individual lab systems.
A key challenge was the need to integrate a diverse
range of research activities within a single facility. The facility
consolidates nanotechnology, electronic instrument device and laser
labs, chemistry labs, and cleanroom space to be used for educational
activities and industry research. One wing of the 3-story, 111,000
sq. ft. structure is a combination of office space and the University's
Electron Microscopy facility. The other wing houses much of the
University's photonics and nanosciences research. The facility also
contains various levels of cleanrooms, a high bay for an optical
fiber draw tower, and a crystal growth facility.
An important lesson learned was the need for ingenuity
to achieve sustainability and Leadership in Energy and Environment
Design (LEED®) certification in facilities for which these areas
of focus have little precedent. We worked closely with the U.S.
Green Building Council to develop innovative design credits for
this project consistent with the principles of their LEED program.
In this respect this project helped "break the trail"
for the increasing number of research laboratory projects expected
to seek LEED certification in the future.
Labs21 Connection:
This project's incorporation of the Labs21 Approach to laboratory
design is validated by the facility's LEED Silver certification,
and the pioneering role that this project is playing in helping
develop LEED certification criteria applicable to the laboratory
research arena. Noteworthy technical design considerations include
the laboratory's strong focus on flexibility of space usage and
the stringent control of vibration, EMI, noise and airflow needed
to support the facility's highly sophisticated research activities.
The electron microscopic area was particularly sensitive, requiring
vibration analysis, isolated independent slabs, acoustic dampening
and electronic shielding. A second wing houses a combination of
wet labs and instrument rooms including chemical preparative facilities
for organic polymers, nanomaterials and organic devices. Specialized
air distribution systems were required to support more than 80 lab
hoods, cleanroom space, and specialty labs for laser, instrument
and draw-tower (fiberoptics) research.
A major focus of the project was to design flexibility into the
mechanical systems which would enable the building to readily adapt
to the research environment of dynamic change for which AMRL was
created. A unique feature related to the facility's flexibility
is a manifold exhaust system with future ports for connecting additional
hoods, which also reduced the number of stacks required. Transformers
and major electrical equipment were placed on the opposite ends
of the building from the beam-based microscope labs based on extensive
empirical data and models prepared by CH2M HILL IDC. To meet the
vibration criteria goal of 250 micro-inches/second, the design included
12 isolated inertia floor slabs. Each slab is isolated from the
wall, and rooms were isolated from one another as well as the adjacent
corridor. To provide noise isolation, the walls around each of these
labs were packed with fiberglass insulation using two layers of
gypsum board on each side to establish a wall sound rating of STC
56.
Biographies:
Nathan Corser is a senior architect recognized for his excellence
in progressive architectural design. He has led teams in the design,
development, and construction supervision for projects ranging from
corporate headquarter office buildings to high technology manufacturing
facilities. Mr. Corser has over 20 years of extensive design experience
working in the offices of Edward Larrabee Barnes, SOM, and Kohn
Pedersen Fox before joining IDC Architects in 1999. His projects
have included leading edge high-technology research laboratory and
manufacturing facility projects in the U.S., Asia, and the Middle
East. Mr. Corser has special expertise in the implementation of
innovative sustainable design practices and the design of custom
exterior cladding wall systems.
David Groseclose has 27 years
of experience in the architectural design field. He served as the
lead architect and LEED Champion for the design of Clemson University's
Advanced Materials Research Laboratory in Clemson, South Carolina,
which was the first LEED Silver Certified building on the Clemson
University campus. His background has been diverse, working in a
broad range of market sectors including general manufacturing, electronics,
pharmaceutical, governmental, institutional, and commercial markets.
His professional experience has included responsibilities for all
phases of project execution and management. He has been the design
lead on a number of large scale, fast track, design/build, and conventionally
contracted projects. His work on complex project types over the
past eight years has focused on programming, master planning, architectural
project lead roles, and project management.
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