The Carnegie Institute for Global Ecology
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A Model Success: The Carnegie Institute for Global Ecology Kirstin Weeks, David Lehrer, and Jonathan Bean Center for the Built Environment (CBE), University of California, Berkeley May 2007 Can a building be friendly to both offi ce building” as one of the Top the environment and its occupants? Ten Green Projects of 2007. What’s According to a detailed survey taken remarkable about the Global Ecology of occupants at the Carnegie Institute building is not only how effi cient it for Global Ecology, the answer is is, but also how highly the building’s an unqualifi ed yes. When this users—a team of 45 researchers—rate airy, daylit building on the Stanford the building. 100% of the survey University campus was completed in respondents were satisfi ed with air 2004, the building was predicted to quality. Occupants enjoy good use 45% less energy than permitted thermal comfort, too, with satisfaction by code and 40% less water than results in the 99th percentile. the average building of similar Acoustics, lighting, and offi ce layout, size. Th e American Institute of likewise, ranked high. Overall, the Architects recognized Carnegie Institute’s building has this “extremely received one of the highest overall low-energy occupant satisfaction ratings of over laboratory 300 buildings CBE has surveyed. and Planning for Success What process led to a building with such stellar occupant satisfaction and performance? Engineers, architects, the client—including the client’s research staff — “We need to make worked together in a collaborative, integrated a fundamental process, beginning with a design charrette. paradigm shift: A committee from the Carnegie Institute met money to carbon.” with the project manager and design architects. Scott Shell, EHDD Architects Together, they went over basic ideas, identifi ed the needs of those who would use the building, A Model Success: The Carnegie Institute for Global Ecology identified the types of office and lab space needed, and discussed options for where the building should be placed on its site. In addition, the participants agreed upon the common goal of a sustainable building meeting the requirements for LEED Gold or Platinum certification. Such a building would add minimal carbon to the atmosphere during both construction and operation. However, Carnegie Institute staffers decided not to pay consultants to seek LEED certification. Integrated Design & Engineering Some charrette participants were Photo: Kirstin Weeks interested in providing an interior courtyard to provide protected outdoor space; others wanted to forego Architect Landscape Architect a true north-south orientation to EHDD (Esherick, Homsey, Lutsko Associates, Landscape Dodge, and Davis) Architecture 2815 18th Street build better visual connections with 500 Treat Avenue San Francisco, CA 94110 neighboring buildings. Ultimately, San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 920-2800 optimal solar orientation won out, (415) 285-9193 www.lutskoassociates.com and a narrow building with long north www.ehdd.com Structural Engineer and south facades was built. The Electrical Engineeer Rutherford & Chekene architects cite this as the single most Engineering Enterprise 427 13th Street 2nd Floor important design decision. “As Joe 1305 Marina Village Parkway Oakland, CA 94612 Escherick frequently said, ‘We’re going Alameda, CA 94501 (510) 740-3200 back to what we knew 200 years ago,’” (510) 769-7600 www.ruthchek.com recalled project designer Chuck Davis. www.engent.com Civil Engineer Responding to those who desired a Mechanical, Electrical, BKF courtyard, the team designed the lobby and Plumbing Engineer 4780 Chabot Drive, Suite 104 with retractable walls that create an Rumsey Engineers Pleasanton, CA 94588 open lounge space whenever weather (925) 396-7700 9 Linden Street permits, which can happen in any Oakland, CA 94607 www.bkf.com (510) 663-2070 month of the year in this climate. www.rumseyengineers.com As the design process progressed, the architects began working closely with Rumsey Engineers, focusing their attention on climate, the north-south siting of the building, and innovative low-energy cooling strategies such as A Model Success: The Carnegie Institute for Global Ecology Researchers with from the occupied spaces, and the cycle repeated. Researchers with the Institute played the Institute played an active role in the design process, working out an active role in calculations that resulted in a more effective design using smaller water optimizing the droplets in the spray system. Paul Sterbentz, facility manager for innovative night sky the Global Ecology building, remarked that the collaboration between cooling system. engineers, researchers, and architects from day one was a key factor leading to the success of this building. His only regret is that collaboration was not more extensive with the electrical engineer as well, which could have avoided a few problematic fixture Photo: Paul Sterbentz arrangements and specifications. Features of the building that, at first glance, might appear to be purely aesthetic gestures also function to Photo: Paul Sterbentz keep occupants comfortable. Large using distinct strategies for ventilation horizontal shading devices on the and cooling systems. exterior of the south facade keep To control temperature, the building direct sun and associated heat gain uses radiant cooling rather than forced out of perimeter offices throughout air. To provide fresh air, operable the summer and limit glare in the windows are used in the upstairs winter, while vertical louvers on office levels; ventilation is provided northern windows prevent morning by mechanical means only in the labs and evening solar gains in the summer below. Using distinct methods for from blasting staff in the open offices ventilation and cooling may contribute on the second floor. Light shelves on to greater occupant comfort because view windows throughout the building indoor conditions can be managed combined with clerestory windows without forcing large quantities of air and a slim building profile bounce through the space. daylight deep into the occupied space. Rumsey Engineers also proposed an Daylight sensors reduce artificial light innovative night-sky cooling system levels when daylight is sufficient, in which water is sprayed on the roof saving additional energy. Operable at night. When the spray is exposed windows make a sophisticated natural to the cool night sky, it is cooled by ventilation scheme possible for the radiation. The water is then collected second floor offices, while a sealed and stored in an insulated tank. The facade in the lower level lab spaces next day, this cooled water can be allows for the tightly controlled used in the radiant cooling system environmental conditions required for to cool the building and absorb heat experiments. Center for the Built Environment www.cbe.berkeley.edu A Model Success: The Carnegie Institute for Global Ecology Outstanding Results Occupant Satisfaction CBE’s occupant survey, which Key takes only ten minutes for a user to complete, gives valuable information CBE Survey Average Carnegie Center about which aspects of a building work well—and which do not. highly dissatisfied neutral highly satisfied Our survey of the Carnegie Institute -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 General Building Satisfaction shows that users of the building are particularly satisfied with air quality. This seems to be a result of both Thermal Comfort the natural ventilation strategies on the upper level and the mechanical Air Quality ventilation system with HEPA filters on the lower level. The facility Lighting manager reports that some people come to the building specifically for its good air quality, as they find it to be Acoustics the only place on campus where they can escape their allergies. In addition to air quality, the survey shows that occupants are also satisfied with lighting. The director and Results of the CBE Occupant IEQ Survey show facility manager mention that staff high performance in several categories. are happy with plentiful daylight and views to windows. Some who are less ventilated buildings—where occupants satisfied cite an issue with glare on are connected more closely to the the computer screen due to lack of outdoor conditions, have control over window coverings. This represents a windows, and access to increased air trade-off, because keeping the windows movement—people will stay satisfied uncovered enhances the penetration of in conditions outside of the comfort natural light into interior workspaces. range of 68-72˚F. With respect to thermal comfort, According to the CBE survey, 87% of occupants report satisfaction. Global Ecology Institute occupants This is noteworthy because an 80% are predominantly satisfied with satisfaction rate is the industry goal, acoustics—despite a workplace that but according to CBE research, this consists of 83% open offices. Previous goal is rarely achieved. Perhaps CBE research shows that acoustical more interesting is the fact that satisfaction is typically low in open although temperatures in this building office spaces. EHDD worked with sometimes rise above 76˚F on hot Charles Salter Associates to design days, the facility manager reports that quality acoustic spaces in the Global there have been no complaints about Ecology Institute, installing sound excessive temperature. This situation absorbing materials in the open office supports the theory of adaptive areas. Paul Sterbentz says that he has comfort, which states that in naturally given up his initial skepticism about