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Designing a Sustainable Science Community
Bob Pahl, AIA, LEED AP, Tsoi/Kobus
& Associates, Inc.
Deb Robertson, Clark University
Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, has
just completed a major expansion to their science department—a
new Biosciences Building and renovations to an existing campus building
into a Math/Physics facility. Our poster will explore three scales
of sustainable design ideas incorporated into this project.
We will begin by looking at the large campus scale and the
early decisions that formed this project. Clark University's President
made a bold commitment early on to enhance the sciences at Clark,
setting in motion an overhaul of the science buildings and a vision
for a new science quad. Sustainable design principles were fundamental
drivers from the onset of design, starting with site selection,
which considered solar orientation, tree preservation, transforming
an impervious parking lot into a new science quad, and strategically
positioning the new building to upgrade a neglected public street
edge and simultaneously put the "Sciences on Display."
Historically Clark has been very conscious about energy efficiency
and conservation (a cogeneration plant has been in use on the site
since the 1980s), so the design team was able to capitalize on that
and translate both of these large ideas into, first a strategic
master plan and then a science teaching building that is anticipated
to receive a LEED Gold level certification.
Secondly the poster will show the project at the building scale—the
design of the new biosciences building and renovation of the existing
building into Math/Physics. The new biosciences teaching and laboratory
building incorporates state-of-the-art energy saving devices, such
as exterior sunshades to minimize heat gain and glare, interior
lightshelves to maximize daylight and reduce the need for artificial
lighting, and an HVAC system which is expected to produce a 40 percent
energy savings over conventional designs. In addition, the renovation
of an historic brick warehouse-type campus building for Math/Physics
and Computer Science creates an environment that helps meet changing
departmental needs and allows for the recycling/reuse of this building.
Lastly the poster will show the project from the user perspective,
including both faculty and student input. Issues to be explored
will include how ideas of sustainable design and the resulting use
of the building has created an atmosphere that re-circulates ideas
back into the science community that will lead to new projects and
help spread the concepts into other academic environments.
Labs21 Connection:
This project is unique in that in addition to functioning as a
teaching space, the building serves as a teaching tool. Clark University
is planning an environmental sciences educational program aimed
at undergraduate and graduate students, the Clark community and
general public, and neighborhood youth that incorporates aspects
of the building design and performance into several courses in the
curriculum. An extensive "Did you know?" signage program
will also educate the building's occupants on innovative water and
energy conservation, as well as heightened indoor air quality and
recycled materials use. Also of note, the teaching labs were designed
as flexible spaces that can be used as either lecture space or lab
space as needed. This means that the rooms have higher utilization
rates and longer hours of operation, which translates to building
fewer classrooms.
The poster will reflect the Labs21 Approach to laboratory design
by sharing how what started as a desire to conserve energy and control
operating costs evolved into a comprehensive sustainable design
process. The mechanical system incorporates an enthalpy heat wheel
that transfers heat between the exhaust and supply sides of the
system. Interior lightshelves harvest daylight to offset building
lighting; occupancy sensor lighting controls are utilized throughout
the building. The plumbing system conserves water consumption with
the use of super low-flow water closets and waterless urinals. "Green"
construction materials include cherry wood from a FSC certified
forest and materials with high post-consumer recycled content from
carpet to ceiling tile to structural steel.
Biographies:
Bob Pahl, AIA, LEED AP, is a skilled institutional planner,
programmer, and designer. He is adept at managing master planning,
feasibility and programming projects—including the complexities
of achieving synergy of the site plan, program, building design,
and interior space planning. As the project architect-interior for
Clark University, Bob managed the user process and coordinated the
interior and exterior design to ensure continuity. He was also a
champion of the LEED design efforts. Bob holds a Bachelor of Architecture
from the Boston Architectural Center, and an Associate of Architectural
Studies from the State University of New York.
Deb Robertson is an assistant
professor of biology at Clark University. Deb investigates the physiological
ecology and the evolution of nitrogen metabolism in marine diatoms
and other ecologically important groups of marine algae. She was
intimately involved in the user process for the new Lasry Center
for Bioscience and can give a user's perspective of both the process
and the resultant project.
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