a case study in sustainable design - Opsis Architecture
Transcript of a case study in sustainable design - Opsis Architecture
www.opsisarch.com
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