| General Information |
| Location |
 |
Stanford, CA |
| Owner |
|
Carnegie Institution of Washington |
| Architect |
|
Esherick, Homsey, Dodge, and Davis |
| Engineer |
|
Rumsey Engineers |
| Completed |
|
April 2004 |
| Building Use |
|
Research Laboratories, Offices, Greenhouses |
| Size |
|
11,000 SF |
| Stories |
|
Two |
| Cost |
|
Unknown |
| Occupancy |
|
45 full-time researchers and staff |
| Relevant codes |
|
California Building Code
|
|
Mixed Mode System |
| Mixed Mode Strategy |
|
The Carnegie Institute for Global Ecology uses both
a zoned and concurrent system. The center’s functions were zoned
into separate categories requiring different levels of ventilation and
cooling. The offices can be naturally ventilated, while the laboratory
areas require higher levels of ventilation and cooling. The second floor
is entirely naturally ventilated which combined with radiant slab heating
and cooling allows for the elimination of ducts and fan energy use on the
second floor. |
| Natural Ventilation Details |
|
The building is oriented to take advantage
of the prevailing winds to catch breezes for effective cross-ventilation.
Some stack effect is created through the clerestory windows on the second
floor. The radiant system was chosen as the best match for the naturally
ventilated second floor to allow occupants to open windows and not lose
the effectiveness of the mechanical system.
Approximately half the clerestory windows are operable awning-type ganged
to hand cranks. The operable windows at occupant level are casement-type
with the operable direction oriented to catch the prevailing breezes.
The lobby is an unconditioned outdoor space much of the year, with a passive
cooling tower providing increased comfort on hot days. To improve comfort
on hot days when the lobby is in “outdoor” mode, the cool tower
captures breezes from above the roof line. The wind-catcher at the top
of the tower catches breezes from any direction and directs them down to
the
lobby. Atomizing spray nozzles in the tower evaporatively cool the air,
creating a thermally-driven downdraft in the absence of wind to carry cool
air into the lobby areas. |
| HVAC System Details |
|
Heating is supplied by a high efficiency
condensing gas boiler at 110°F (instead of 180°F). The lower temperature
allows the boiler to operate at 93% efficiency instead of a typical 80%
efficiency. Chilled water for cooling is provided without air-conditioning
compressors by using a “Night Sky” roof spray system. It creates
a thin film of water on the roof at night using small sprinklers. The water
is cooled primarily through radiation to the deep space cold night sky.
The water is collected via the roof drainage system into a 12,000 gallon
storage tank. Chilled water is supplied at 55-60°F using only 0.04
kW/ton, and using half as much water as a conventional water-cooled chiller.
An existing 20 ton air cooled chiller is used to provide additional cooling
on the hottest days.
All air supplied to the labs is 100% outside air at the rate of six room
air changes per hour. Most of the exhaust from this space is room exhaust
(not fume hood exhaust), and is run through a heat pipe heat exchanger
to preheat or precool the incoming outside air. Late at night, when the
lab
is unoccupied, the rate of outside air is reduced. This is also the peak
heating time. Using this night setback and heat recovery allows the boilers
to be much smaller and therefore inexpensive condensing boilers were able
to be used.
The building is zoned into four areas on the first floor and three areas
on the second floor that correspond to the functional uses. As a simple
building, the natural ventilation did not affect the decisions to zone
the building. |
| Configuration & Control |
|
The building has a complete building automation
system which takes information from building thermostats, night sky cooling
system, and the peak electric demand to optimize the running of the building.
There is no active or passive connection between the operable windows and
the mechanical system. Occupants are free to open/close windows at their
own discretion.
Due to the environmental knowledge of the scientists and staff that work
in the building, the owner chose to use education and experimentation to
determine the integration method for the HVAC and natural ventilation system.
Through trial and error the occupant as a group has established a culture
that understands the building, its reaction to weather conditions and acts
accordingly to control their environment. They have learned for example,
that during summer heat spells the windows must be closed by 9:30AM to
trap the cool air in and prevent the hot breeze from quickly heating the
building, and negating the effect of the thermal mass and radiant cooling
system. |
| Building Design Process |
| Time Line |
|
2002-2004 |
| Design Tools |
|
Heliodon sun model and shading testing. |
| Energy Analysis |
|
EnergyPLUS was used for energy analysis. |
| Commissioning |
|
The project was not commissioned. The mechanical
engineer did provide some fine-tuning services upon completion of the project
to correct malfunctioning valves and miswired lighting controls. |
| Code Conflicts |
|
None. The building used a simple shallow
floor plate which did not impede the use of natural ventilation and HVAC
integration. |
| Other Design Issues |
|
The mechanical system was somewhat unusual
(such as the combined forced air and radiant system in the laboratories),
which added cost to the project. But due to the clients experience with
such systems, they were not afraid of the added risks. The clients had
slight concerns regarding the systems ability to provide comfort to the
conference room where not habituated guests would be using. The mechanical
engineer provided some calculations showing the hours/year that the space
may not meet comfort desires and additional cooling was added to counter
that discrepancy. |
| Building Performance |
| Outdoor Air/Noise |
|
The building is sufficiently located away
from local streets and activity to cause no concern. |
| Occupant Satisfaction |
|
The University of California Berkeley Center
for the Built Environment administered a web-based Occupant Indoor Environmental
Quality (IEQ) survey at the Center for Global Ecology. The survey addressed
general building satisfaction, general workspace satisfaction, office layout,
office furnishings, thermal comfort, air quality, lighting, acoustic quality
and cleanliness and maintenance. Survey results are currently being analyzed
and will be posted at a later date. |
| Actual Energy Data |
|
In progress |
| Additional Building Features |
| Sustainable Sites |
|
• Drought-resistand oaks, chapparel,
and grasses will mature into a native habitat supporting wildlife with
minimal demands on precious water resources.
• Existing irrigated grass turf was replaced with native planting to offset
building water consumption. |
| Water Efficiency |
|
• Dual-flush toilets
• Low-flow faucets
• Waterless urinal promise
• Prediction are for a 40% water savings over conventional practices. |
| Energy and Atmosphere |
|
• Two major energy uses for buildings
are electric lighting and cooling.
• Solar gain through windows is a major cooling load.
• Direct solar gain on long north/south windows can be avoided through shading,
while still admitting indirect daylighting.
• The chilled or heated water used to condition the building is pumped through
polyethylene tubing in the radiant floor slabs and ceiling panels, and
the forced air system in the lab. |
| Materials and Resources |
|
• Structure, layout, and furnishings
are designed with flexibility in mind to accept changes over time.
• An open lab with suspended shelving and movable workbenches and a highly-efficient,
free-span structural system on the second floor allow reconfiguration in
the short and long term.
• Future modifications can proceed with minimum of demolition and waste.
• Nearly all concrete used in the building and site contains 50%
fly ash replacement for cement.
• Salvaged materials and elements were used to reduce the waste stream going
to landfills.
• Salvaged lab casework and faucets were located and installed as-is.
• Solid wood doors were transformed into desks and worktables for the lobby
and offices.
• Fallen urban trees were milled and shaped into conference tables and lobby
furniture.
• Old-growth redwood from old Sebastiani wine vats were re-milled to form
exterior siding. |
| Indoor Environmental Quality |
|
• Natural light reaches into the
building double the window head height, daylighting the full 40’ width.
• Super-efficient lighting includes occupancy sensors as well as photo-sensors
that dim lights when there is adequate daylighting. |
| Project Team |
| Architect |
|
EHDD (Esherick, Homsey, Dodge, and Davis) Architecture
500 Treat Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94110
415/285-9193
http://www.ehdd.com
|
| Mechanical, Electrical, & Plumbing Engineer |
|
Rumsey Engineers
9 Linden Street
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 663-2070
http://www.rumseyengineers.com |
| Electrical Engineer |
|
Engineering Enterprise
1305 Marina Village Parkway
Alameda, CA 94501
510/769-7600
http://www.engent.com |
| Civil Engineer |
|
BKF
4780 Chabot Drive, Suite 104
Pleasanton, CA 94588
925/396-7700
http://www.bkf.com |
| Structural Engineer |
|
Rutherford & Chekene
427 13th Street 2nd Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
510.740.3200
http://www.ruthchek.com |
| Landscape Architect |
|
Lutsko Associates, Landscape
2815 18th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-920 2800 |
| Additional Information |
| Awards |
|
• R & D Magazine 2004 Laboratory
of the Year Special Mention. |
| Sources |
|
• Carnegie Institution Department of Global Ecology website
http://globalecology.stanford.edu/DGE/CIWDGE/CIWDGE.HTML
• Esherick, Homsey, Dodge, and Davis Architecture website
http://www.ehdd.com |
| Contact |
|
Primary Contact
Scott Shell, Project Manager
EHDD (Esherick, Homsey, Dodge, and Davis) Architecture
500 Treat Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94110
415/285-9193
http://www.ehdd.com |
