  |
 |
       |
 |
 2007 Savings By Design Energy Efficiency Integration Awards |
 |
|
2007 Savings By Design Energy Efficiency Integration Award Winners
|
|
For their achievement in combining exceptional design, environmental sensitivity, and energy efficiency, seven California nonresidential projects received awards of recognition from the 2007 Savings By Design Energy Efficiency Integration Awards program.
The CalPERS building offers office and retail space, proposed housing, and two levels of below-grade parking. The building has successfully responded to the city's urban fabric as well as the client's sustainable design goals. Its careful planning and construction allowed the building to perform 28% better than Title 24 minimum standards and attain LEED® Gold certification.
Credit: Peter Aaron/Esto Photographics
(Click to enlarge) The high expectations of their client motivated the entire team to participate in green building workshops early in the design process. Through these workshops, the team was able to prioritize the green strategies for the project and reach the client's goals for their large-scale headquarters.
A large focus was put on the building's use of natural light. Shading projections, light shelves, floor-to-ceiling glass and integrated planters allow for a reduction in electric lighting. The building is also broken up by a courtyard and atrium-- two aspects that the jurors agreed made the building a "great place to work." The jurors also noted that CalPERS was the only winning entrant that utilized underfloor air distribution, helping to reduce the cooling energy requirements of the building. The project's high levels of energy efficiency and unique architecture made it a highly appropriate choice as winner of the honor award. Back to Top 
Credit: Tim Griffith
(Click to enlarge)
The 46,000 ft 2 building is also equipped with advanced computerized heating, cooling and lighting systems to reduce power needs and monitor data. Seventy-six percent of the construction waste created was diverted from landfills and approximately 45% of materials used contain recycled content. Sustainable practices earned the library a LEEDoo Gold rating. The library is designed to allow students and faculty to access its high tech features, such as WiFi. This allows students with laptops to study in a wider variety of spaces and enjoy the open feel of the building. Due to the Central Valley's hot climate, sun mitigation strategies, such as orientation, had to be devised and landscaping had to be designed accordingly.
The jurors praised the entry for its effective shading and its high-energy savings of over 30% by California Title 24 standards. They also mentioned the modernity and beauty of the building's lantern reading room and its use of light, appearing to make the room "sparkle."
This 622-acre preserve, located on the outskirts of Palo Alto, is a popular destination for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The restoration of this preserve habitat was made possible primarily with volunteer labor through partnerships with the local land stewards. The emphasis of this restoration was on minimizing ecological impact, which was achieved through its small size, the use of natural materials, and energy independence.
By utilizing methods of passive solar design with seasonally adjustable solar panels, the facility is able to run completely off the grid. Jurors praised the adjustable panels for their originality and cleverness. Due to it being powered with renewable energy, the preserve was not subject to Title 24 standards. However, the facility only uses 25% of the base case.
Fluorescent and low-voltage lighting are minimal and the design of the stand-alone building allows for room expansion through the use of sliding barn doors. Using straw-bale and recycled timber construction, the building contains no mechanical system, making zero energy use inherent. The jurors found the building to be deserving of the merit award based on the effective restoration and the zero energy use of the building. They found the 1,200 ft 2 building to be both elegant and modest. Back to Top
The 95,692 ft 2 Molecular Foundry was created to symbolize the advanced nature of nanoscience research and is a testament to modern technology. Built on a steep site between two existing buildings, the facility's energy consumption was reduced by over 27% relative to Title 24 energy standards. Although the building currently earns a LEED Silver rating, it is now on track to achieve Gold. This high performance was accomplished through water efficiency, energy performance, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.
Located on 2.5 acres, fifty percent of the site was restored with native grasses and wildflowers, requiring no irrigation system. The site also has good access to public transportation, encouraging its occupants to make the commute by alternative means. The laboratories are flexible modules, often with no fixed casework. This allows for reduced waste generation and resource expenditures in future renovations. The energy efficiency measures used for the building include high-efficiency modulating and condensing boilers, lower air handler filter and coil air flow face velocities, and electronic filters for lower pressure drop. Spectrally selective window coatings and clerestory windows allow for the abundance of natural light in nonperimeter spaces.
The jurors mentioned the good usage of daylighting and the proper orientation of the building. They were also impressed by the ability of the designers to examine the loads of the building and reduce the chilled water capacity of the labs dramatically. To ensure that mechanical and electrical systems were the right size, the client measured the loads of three other campus laboratories to obtain a more accurate characterization of end-use loads.
The San Francisco Federal Building is a testament to design excellence and sustainable architecture. The building is meant to serve the tenants and the community and does so with the highest design aspirations and innovative technology. The 18-story project houses a healthy work environment as well as resources for public use, such as a café, a childcare center, and a conference center.
The 605,000 ft 2 project offers a comfortable, health- and productivity-conscious work environment. With features like the skip-stop elevators, which stop at every third floor, and the cafeteria being placed across the plaza, the building encourages its occupants to move around and stay productive. The building also consists of a sky garden and a 90-foot high entry lobby to provide comfortable settings for both informal meetings and social interaction. The building is currently experiencing approximately 11% better than Title 24 requirements. Daylighting is a huge factor in this energy savings with 85% of all workspace illuminated with natural light. The building incorporates building materials and construction strategies that minimize waste and energy consumption. The GSA mandated that 75% of materials used during construction be recycled. However, the project recycled 87% of its waste material.
The jurors praised the design team's ambition in the integration of new systems including a naturally ventilated office tower. The building achieves originality and energy-efficiency by being the first naturally ventilated office tower in the country. The natural light and shading was also a highpoint that jurors found exceptional. Back to Top
Distinguished Jurors
Vice-President, Architectural Energy Corporation
Mr. Eley is an architect and mechanical engineer with about 25 years experience in energy efficient and sustainable design. Mr. Eley has made significant contributions to the California energy standards, ASHRAE Standard 90.1, and energy codes in Hong Kong, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and Australia. Mr. Eley is now working with the California Energy Commission to update the state energy efficiency standards in response to the recent electricity crisis.
Williams + Paddon Architects + Planners, Inc.
In 1981 Jack joined Jim Williams to establish Williams + Paddon Architects + Planners, Inc. Since that time, the firm has won the continued respect of clients and the communities they serve through many successfully completed projects.
Principal for EHDD Architecture San Francisco, Calif.
Mr. Shell is a nationally recognized expert on high-performance buildings and sustainable design and has written and lectured widely on these topics. He has designed a number of EHDD's most successful, sustainable design projects, including the award-winning Global Ecology Research Center for the Carnegie Institution of Washington on the Stanford University campus and the recently completed Chartwell School in Monterey, which is anticipating a LEED Platinum rating.
Back to Top |
