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academic instructional centerwestern washington universitybellingham, washington

LEEDCERTIFIED

a case study in sustainable design Sustainable Sites�Thebuildingisintentionallylowinscaletoallowmaximumsunexposuretothequadandtoretainglimpsesofthetree-linedhilltotheeast.

�TheAICrespondstothescaleofthenewCommunicationsFacilitytothenorth,anditssitingdefinesthesoutheastedgeofthequad.

Water Efficiency�TheAICincorporateslow-flowfixturesanddualflushtoiletstoincreasewaterefficiency.

Energy and Atmosphere�OneofthemostremarkablecharacteristicsoftheAICisitsextensivenaturalventilationsystem.Wheremostbuildingsrelyonmechanicalsystemstowarmandcoolthebuilding,theAICemploysanintegratedsystemofoperablewindows,tricklevents,radiantpanelsandceilingfansandcloudceilingstoincreaseenergyefficiencywhileofferinggreaterusercontrolandairmovementthroughthebuilding’sspaces.

Materials and Resources�Interiorfinishmaterialsandadhesiveswereselectedbasedonahighlevelofrecycledmaterialcontentandsustainablemanufacturingprocesses,resultinginlowembodiedenergy.

�Constructionwastewascarefullymanagedtoincorporaterecyclingofexcavatedasphaltpavingandre-useofharvestedwoodforcampusacademicprograms.

Indoor Environmental Quality�Thenaturalventilationsystemofferssubstantialusercontroloverthetemperatureandairflowinthebuilding.

�LowVOCinteriorfinishmaterialsandadhesiveswereselectedtominimizeoff-gasingtoensureexcellentindoorairquality.

Innovation & Design�ToensurethatthenaturalventilationsystemoftheAICwouldbeusedefficientlyandeffectively,acomprehensivesystemofsignageandusermanualshavebeencreatedandinstalled.

Operablewindowsandceilingfansallowbuildinguserstocontrolthetemperatureoftheirlearningenvironmentthroughnaturalventilation.

Transparentsurfacesallowdaylightingandviewstopenetrateintothebuilding’score.

The recently completed Academic Instructional Center provides much needed classroom space and computer labs for the Communications Sciences and Disorders and Psychology Departments. The building not only carefully responds to its site context, it employs a highly innovative and energy efficient natural ventilation system.

academic instructional center western washington universitybellingham, washington