UC Berkeley Envelope Systems

Title A Model of Success: The Carnegie Institute for Global Ecology

Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9vx411sb

Authors Weeks, Kirstin Lehrer, David Bean, Jonathan

Publication Date 2007-05-01

License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 4.0

eScholarship.org Powered by the Digital Library 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 , 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

 A Model Success: The Carnegie Institute for Global Ecology

the potential for acoustic success in important single element for energy an open office area. He describes a and comfort, and also often the easiest community culture in the open areas to cut from a project—were designed in which people share responsibility to be very inexpensive to protect them for keeping the office from value engineering. quiet. An unusual budget structure within In addition to the Carnegie Institute also helped satisfaction with air focus attention on the importance quality and acoustic, of low operating costs. While many thermal and visual institutions have separate budgets comfort, the building for facilities and programs, in the director and manager Department of Global Ecology these cite aesthetics as one of budgets are combined. By reducing the most satisfactory the utility costs the Institute will have aspects of the building. more money available to support The high ceilings, wood research. cladding on the facade, One item that was not factored into and general appearance the budget was commissioning, the of the building are process of ensuring that a building among the things that is performing as designed. In lieu of people like most about commissioning, Rumsey Engineers this building. This and the Institute staff have spent a may remind designers, great deal of time tracking down and engineers and owners fixing problems with the building. alike of the importance For example, there were problems of benefits that may be with HVAC and lighting control. difficult to quantify in On the other hand, Paul Sterbentz terms of money, health notes that not everything might or the environment, but rank high in have been caught in a regular pre- terms of human experience. occupancy commissioning session, as some problems developed well after occupancy. This effort has turned out All photos this page: Kirstin Weeks The Money Question How did the team avoid the cuts that to be more expensive than a concerted Shading devices— so often cripple high-potential green commissioning effort would have projects? “The budget was realistic been—showing that even the most important for energy for the program and the design was carefully designed buildings benefit realistic for the budget,” explains Chris from commissioning. Sterbentz and comfort—were Field, director of the Carnegie Institute suggests that to be successful, pre- occupancy commissioning should be designed to be for Global Ecology. The design team was dedicated to the green building followed up with bi-weekly checks for at least one full year. very inexpensive to goals that were set at the beginning of the project. Such strong consensus The decision not to hire an protect them from would not allow important aspects independent commissioning agent of the project to be cut. Scott Shell may have been partly based on a value engineering. of EHDD Architecture adds that the philosophical outlook. Director shading devices—arguably the most Chris Field is troubled by the idea

Center for the Built Environment www.cbe.berkeley.edu  A Model Success: The Carnegie Institute for Global Ecology that one can pay millions of dollars performance and innovative resource for a building, then have to pay extra conservation. As Scott Shell reminds Contact Us to insure that it functions properly. us, “we need to make a fundamental Center for the Built Environment (CBE) However, until project delivery paradigm shift: money to carbon.” The University of California, Berkeley practice improves, he has come to Carnegie Institute for Global Ecology 390 Wurster Hall #1839 Berkeley, CA 94720-1839 believe that commissioning activities is an example of a project that takes 510.642.4950 | fax 510.643.5571 need to be part of the original scope of on the carbon-reduction challenge [email protected] work on all projects. Indeed, EHDD without making any sacrifices in www.cbe.berkeley.edu now includes commissioning as an design quality, innovation, or occupant integral part of proposals, to help comfort. In so doing, it shows how Copyright © 2007 The Regents of the University of California avoid having it cut later on. This diverse benefits can follow from this includes specifying monitoring and strong commitment, not only to the instrumentation in projects. environment, but also to human health and well-being. Net Results The Carnegie Institute’s new building To learn more about CBE’s survey, or is a model of environmental sensitivity, to try a sample survey, visit www.cbe. people-friendliness, cost-effective berkeley.edu/research/survey.htm.

Photo: Paul Sterbentz