Sustainability Action Plan by Leers Weinzapfel Associates

SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN AIA 2030 Commitment

ABOVE: University of Connecticut, Oak Hall, Storrs, CT / LEED Gold PHOTO CREDIT: Â© Charles Mayer

CONTENTS

01.

INTRODUCTION Our Sustainable Design Philosophy

02.

DESIGN Case Studies

03.

EDUCATION & ADVOCACY Sharing Knowledge

04.

OPERATIONS Practicing Green

INTRODUCTION Our Sustainable Design Philosophy

2018

AIA 2030 COMMITMENT REPORTING NEW CONSTRUCTION /MAJOR RENOVATION LEERS WEINZAPFEL ASSOCIATES

70 % REDUCTION BASELINE 100 % CBECS

BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY

TARGET 30 % CBECS

SITE

GENERATED

PURCHASED

*CARBON-NEUTRAL IF RENEWABLE

DANA HALL RENOVATION DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

166

25 15

baseline EUI

pEUI pEUI

DISTRICT ENERGY FACILITY HARVARD UNIVERSITY

baseline EUI

16.3 pEUI

JOHN W. OLVER DESIGN BUILDING UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, AMHERST

166

baseline EUI

54.3 pEUI

Leers Weinzapfel Associates is committed to designing vibrant, enduring, sustainable buildings which are integrally linked to their site and context, and imbued with qualities of space that encourage users and the public to value them for generations. We have created environmentally responsible architecture since the firm’s inception in 1982. Sustainable design principles, including strategic urban infill, the relationship of the building to the landscape, the use of natural light, energy efficiency, and materials research, inform every aspect of our work. Our integrated approach to sustainability maximizes the impact of passive design, while incorporating strategic, innovative engineering solutions to minimize energy use. We have pioneered new standards of building sustainability for major academic and civic institutions, surpassing performance goals and moving the benchmark for future projects.

91% REDUCTION

75% REDUCTION

67% REDUCTION

AIA 2030 Challenge: All new buildings, developments and major renovations shall be designed to meet a fossil fuel, GHGemitting, energy consumption performance standard of 70% below the regional average for that building type. We are committed. Leers Weinzpafel Associates adopted the AIA 2030 Commitment in 2012, with the goal of achieving carbon neutral design throughout our work by the year 2030. Many of our projects surpass the demanding 2030 standards, demonstrating practical, replicable, and affordable strategies for reducing the carbon emissions of our buildings and addressing global climate change. As part of Leers Weinzapfel Associates’ ongoing commitment to a carbon-free future, we offer a set of design case studies that examine successful strategies for sustainable buildings – an opportunity to reflect on what has worked in past projects, and to incorporate what we have learned into our future work.

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DESIGN Case Studies

Case Study 01: Mass Timber

University of Massachusetts John W. Olver Design Building

The John W. Olver Design Building exemplifies the University of Massachusetts’ commitment to sustainable and innovative design with its LEED Gold certification and demonstration of emerging wood construction technologies. Bringing together the previously dispersed Departments of Architecture, Building Construction Technology, and Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning, the Olver building fosters multidisciplinary collaboration and expressively integrates building, landscape architecture, and building technology. Featuring an innovative use of engineered timber, the Olver building is the largest cross-laminated timber (CLT) academic building in the United States. It demonstrates the sustainability, economy, and beauty of mass timber as a building material and renewable resource. •

•

Harnessing the carbon-sequestration potential of sustainablysourced wood, the timber structure effectively removes 2,681 metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere. Displaying both the strength and expressive potential of wood, a “zipper truss” supports the intensive roof garden above the central commons; CLT roof panels are supported on a three-dimensional array of triangulated glulam and steel rod trusses. Comprehensive life cycle analysis by the Athena Institute evaluated the complete energy used by the building – production, transportation, construction, maintenance, and demolition – and found mass timber construction reduced carbon emissions by 13%, CFCs by 10% and non-renewable energy use by 15%, compared to conventional (steel/concrete) construction.

An urban infill project that replaces a surface parking lot, it strengthens the urban form of the campus, improving walkability and connectivity while increasing the ground permeability and planting density of the site. •

• • •

Surrounding landscape and rooftop courtyard form a series of outdoor classrooms demonstrative of the local hydrology and topography representing distinct regional ecosystems, from Connecticut River ravine to Mt. Holyoke summit. Re-greens the site, increasing vegetation by 18%. Native, climateadapted plant species restore 76% of landscaped areas. Reduces the volume and rate of storm water runoff by 50% through bioretention basins, swales and structured inlets. More than 80% of suspended solids removed from storm water leaving the site.

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The Olver building uses 67% less energy than an average university building (46.3 pEUI). An integrated approach to sustainability maximizes the impact of passive design, while incorporating strategic engineering solutions to minimize energy use. •

•

Compact, courtyard-inspired building form reduces envelope heat loss while allowing occupied spaces to have generous natural light and views to campus, significantly reducing artificial lighting energy use (43% below ASHRAE standards). Occupancy sensors and automatic daylight dimming in perimeter offices further reduce lighting loads. Anodized aluminum rainscreen system delivers a high-performance building envelope with R-31 walls and R-47 roof. Insulated low-e glazing helps balance daylight and views against thermal loss. Electrochromic glazing provides dynamic shading in sensitive, glareprone spaces. Four separate air-handling units serve distinct building uses to optimize system responsiveness while minimizing energy use. Two separate hot and cold water loops – one for AHUs/chilled beams and the other for fan coils – leverage the efficiency of district steam/chilled water and further fine-tune the building’s performance. The central “commons” gathering area uses a radiant floor system, maintaining occupant comfort while lowering the set point temperaure and reducing energy consumption.

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Case Study 02: District Energy Harvard University District Energy Facility

District Energy technologies have evolved to become key components of sustainable design initiatives for college campuses, and urban centers. The concept is not new, as district energy distribution has been utilized for nearly a century. Today, however, with new technologies such as cogeneration and advanced storage systems, District Energy helps building owners, local communities, and campuses provide reliable and resilient heating and cooling while meeting sustainable goals and reducing carbon emissions. By utilizing a centralized energy production strategy, with heating, cooling and electrical generation gathered together into one facility near the end users, wasted energy is dramatically reduced. Additionally, new opportunities for symbiosis between the systems can be developed using strategies like heat recovery, chilled water storage and renewable energy sources. The Harvard Allston District Energy Facility (DEF) which will supply electricity and hot and cold water to the Allston expansion of Harvard’s campus, is designed to be efficient, flexible, and resilient while also presenting a transparent face to the community and allowing for future development around it. The plant features the largest to date Thermal Energy Storage (TES) tank in Massachusetts. Analogous to a battery, the tank will be “charged” with chilled water during off-peak hours when the electric chillers can run most efficiently. Chilled water will then be supplied from the tank instead of from the chillers, allowing the whole system to be precisely tuned to demand and reducing carbon emissions and waste energy. Heat recovery and water collection and recycling additionally contribute to the plant’s efficiency, and the design can accommodate future equipment upgrades to help Harvard facilitate its goals of being fossil fuel-neutral by 2026 and fossil fuel-free by 2050. The DEF will be able to withstand predicted flood levels and to continue operation in the case of a total blackout. Large extents of glass and an exterior screen of vertical metal fins reveal the exciting inner workings of the facility, making it a dynamic presence in the community and a teaching tool for Harvard. In the past two decades, LWA has created elegant solutions to complex infrastructure projects built in often highly visible and urban sites. We believe that, as key players in a sustainable future, these facilities can be bold and dynamic, showcasing the advanced technological apparatus that support our daily lives and providing resiliency and efficiency to their communities.

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Case Study 03: Adaptive Reuse

Dartmouth College Dana Hall Renovation

Dartmouth College Dana Hall uses four highly effective strategies to reduce the building’s energy footprint w within a tight construction budget. The renovation reuses the concrete and steel structure, implements high insulative value wall and roof, makes use of ultra-highperformance glazing and incorporates a photovoltaic shading canopy to reduce predicted energy by 90% compared to baseline. Reuse The design strategically adds an addition at the south of the existing structure to create an arcade at the ground floor with shared spaces above. The reuse of existing structure reduced the amount of new high embodied energy materials like steel and concrete used in construction. Highly Insulated Insulation is a tremendously cost-effective energy efficiency measure. Supporting a light terracotta facade, the light-weight stud wallls combine 6” of continuous exterior insulation with 5 1/2” of cavity insulation to provide an effective R30. The roof system provides a minimum R60 continuous insulation. The insulation is double and triple minimum code requirements respectively.

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DOUBLE SKIN CONCEPT

FUSED SKIN RESOLUTION

3’

double-skin glass, grate, round louver, glass

3’

triple-glazed krypton gas, low-e coating expanded metal mesh

2”

a. tempered glass b. horizontal grate c. round louvers d. tempered glass

d c ab

f g

a. tempered glass b. expanded metal mesh c. tempered glass with coating d. krypton gas filled cavity e. tempered glass f. air cavity g. tempered glass with coating

Advanced Glazing The glazing strategy for Dana Hall combines careful proportions, locations, recesses, canopies and topography with advanced technologies. The triple-glazed punched windows on three sides of the building are tall and set deep in the wall with two low-E coatings to minimize heat gain. Continuous curtainwall glazing at the ground floor is under cover from the floor above and at the penthouse is shaded by the photovoltaic canopy. The new south addition is clad in an advanced all glass facade system designed with passive measures and active controls to produce a thermally efficient envelope responsive to its environment. The glass facade is made of 2â&#x20AC;? triple-glazed insulated glass units and highperformance vacuum insulated glass panels arranged in response to orientation and to maintain visual connection and transparency between inside and out. Both units have integral expanded metal mesh shading and are silicone structurally glazed to a thermally-improved aluminum curtainwall frame. Each component is optimized for thermal performance with a whole system R-value > 8, more than four times more efficient than the latest energy code requirement. The system also pairs automated vent windows in the vacuum insulated glass panels with interior daylight responsive shades at vision panels to allow simultaneous daylight control and natural ventilation. Photovoltaic Canopy The small penthouse at the roof of the existing building allows for a terrace roof garden with a solar canopy above. Covering nearly the full existing roof area, the 68kw photovoltaic panel canopy reduces the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s predicted energy use index (pEUI) from 25 to 15 kBtu/sf/yr.

R-VALUE GLARE SHGC VIEWS VENTILATION STRUCTURE NET AREA COST

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EDUCATION & Advocacy

LWA is devoted to sustainability research, education and advocacy both in-house and outside of the office.

In-House Education LWA’s sustainability group called the “Green Monsters” forms the core of the office’s commitment to in-house education and growth. During monthly meetings, the group is in charge of: • • • • • •

•

Actively updating LWA’s progress towards meeting the 2030 Challenge goals Reviewing innovative uses of green materials, cutting edge precedents and diverse sustainable certifications Organizing sustainability reviews and charettes of office projects in Pre-Design and SD phases Preparing materials for COTE Awards submissions and reviewing past recipients Reforming of LWA’s in-house recycling and energy use policies Organizing in-house guest lectures by sustainability experts in the area from MIT, Harvard Green Building Services, Carbon Free Boston, etc Attending sustainability workshops and lectures and sharing the knowledge

Outreach & Advocacy As signatories of 2030 Challenge, LWA is committed to being sustainability leaders. LWA works closely with national, regional, and local organizations that advocate for sustainability including USGBC, Boston Society of Architects, Carbon Zero Boston, and WoodWorks. LWA regularly publishes articles on sustainability research and projects and leads discussions at conventions, conferences, universities, and industry events. Recent activities include: •

•

Tom Chung’s participation in the Third Biannual Conference “Timber in the City: Opportunities for Architecture in Urbanism” (New York, NY | 2018) Ashley Rao’s seminar “Beyond CLT Building Design: Construction Document to Construction Administration” in 2018 Northeast Wood Design Symposium (Boston, MA | 2018) Tom Chung’s Keynote speech in Maine Wood + Sustainability Conference (Portland, ME | 2018)

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OPERATIONS Practicing Green

As leaders in sustainable design, Leers Weinzapfel Associates is equally committed to keeping in-office operations as sustainable as possible. The Green Monsters, our in-house green committee, periodically evaluates firm operations and looks for opportunities to further our sustainable goals. Updated and new policies generated at these meetings are presented to firm leadership for approval and then conveyed to the full office during biweekly staff meetings. Some of the policies that have been implemented since the group’s founding are listed below.

ENERGY USE We regularly monitor energy use and office operations and evaluate ways to reduce our carbon footprint. Currently, we monitor office electrical use by tracking monthly KWH of electricity consumed. Occupancy sensors have been installed in all common areas, conference rooms, and lobbies. Energy-saving LED bulbs have replaced incandescent and halogen bulbs officewide. We research and purchase equipment and appliances with a high energy star rating. Additionally, all computers are set to enter power-saving modes when not in use.

WASTE & PAPER CONSUMPTION The use of electronic files over printing is encouraged officewide. Bluebeam Revu is installed on all desktops, which allows everyone to annotate PDF documents without the need to print. When printing is needed, employees are encouraged to print double-sided when possible. Unnecessary printing is discouraged when documents can be easily viewed and stored as PDF files. The office exclusively purchases 100% recycled paper for all small-format printing. For in-office lunches, we request food vendors to have food prepared with as little packaging as possible (i.e. platters instead of individual boxes) and maintain a list of ‘preferred’ vendors who are committed to sustainable practices. Our office maintains an adequate supply of reusable silverware, dishes, and drinkware to discourage the use of plastic/paper cups and plates.

RECYCLING LWA’s annual operating budget includes the cost of recycling vendors for paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum products, as well as ensuring the proper recycling of any e-waste. A stock of reusable cloth bags is kept available to encourage employees to utilize rather than single-use paper or plastic bags. We work with product representatives to maintain a minimal but useful sample library only stocked with actively-used products, and work to return unused or discontinued product lines back to the vendor to be recycled. We discourage product vendors from leaving binders in our office, as more up-to-date information is often readily available on the internet. In 2018, the office recycled 6,731 pounds of paper, saving the equivalent of 57 trees.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS LWA’s health insurance reimburses participants for gym memberships, and the office sponsors an in-office yoga class that meets monthly. LWA encourages participation in various outdoors sports; the office is a regular participant in the summer architects’ softball league and organizes an office kayaking trip in the summer.

GREEN PURCHASING We have worked with our supply vendors to purchase environmentally friendly office, cleaning, and kitchen supplies when possible, and to encourage them to stock more sustainable products. We worked with our office supply vendor to source and stock a 100% recycled paper option for our office, which has since been added as a standard product option to their customer base.

TRANSPORTATION LWA provides many incentives to encourage employees to take public transit, walk, or bicycle to work; only 4% of staff drives to work. Our building is easily accessible due to its central downtown location in walking distance to South Station station and 3 subway lines. The office also offers a commuter tax benefit deduction. We successfully worked with the City of Boston to have bike racks installed on the sidewalk adjacent to our office. In the years since their installation, they have become so popular that we are looking into having additional bike racks installed to accommodate the increased demand. When rental cars are needed, hybrid cars are requested.

MEETINGS LWA encourages the use of paperless technology for agendas, handouts, and presentations. We request that those coming to our office for presentations do the same. We encourage virtual meetings when possible. We have retrofitted each of our three conference rooms with a full videoconferencing suite, including computers that can run our entire program suite and videoconferencing software package Zoom. us for ease in conducting virtual meetings whenever appropriate. This has allowed us to cut back significantly on our office’s carbon footprint generated by travel.

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