“We take our sustainable design seriously and we can achieve cost-effective solutions both immediately and in the long-term,” notes Russell Chernoff, a partner at Chernoff Thompson Architects (CTA) in British Columbia. “We can construct a building that costs less and requires less maintenance in the future.”

In addition to achieving cost-effective solutions, there are other benefits created by sustainable designs. This particular strategy reduces the impact on the planet and preserves a legacy, while improving energy performance, reducing toxic impact and pollution of the air and water, decreasing resource consumption, and creating a quality environment with clean air and plenty of natural lighting for the people working in the building.

“When we improve the energy performance of a building, it creates an economic impact,” says Chernoff. “We can use heat recovery as a means to better utilize the energy in our buildings. We can also reduce water consumption by not needlessly dumping hundreds and thousands of gallons down the drains each day in labs in Canada and the United States.”

In order to develop the most appropriate design solutions for each facility, it is imperative to ask a series of questions to determine what requirements must be met and what challenges may be encountered.

Relevant Questions to Ask

“The first action is to confirm the amount of space that is required by testing the program and space assumptions. Let’s figure out whether there can be efficiencies gained in terms of the amount of areas allocated for various components,” says Chernoff. “We could perhaps put more into the building or be more efficient in the way we use the building.”

What are the development options? The answer to this question will determine whether a new facility is needed, whether an existing building can be renovated, or whether an addition will suffice to meet the needs of the occupants. A minimal renovation works, for example, in some cases where minor code upgrades can be implemented to accommodate changes for research conducted in a lab and to extend the useful life of the building.

Can the project be smaller and have less impact, or are there strategies for long-term solutions with less impact?

“We don’t need to just assume the project is going to be a certain size. We like to ask questions,” notes Chernoff. “Should we build it? How big should it be? We can challenge the answers and determine how we can reduce the impact of the building and look for lesser-impact solutions.”

In one instance, CTA designed and built a facility that included the potential to complete an addition. Even though funding was not obtained during the primary construction, the infrastructure and necessary operating systems were in place and ready for use when the additional funding was received.

Using so-called found space, or creating space where none previously existed based on the site conditions, is another creative design solution. Digging a foundation on a sloped site or where soil conditions require a deeper foundation can facilitate a basement that can be used in the future as a low-cost way to achieve a significant benefit.

Where to Start?

The first step is to ensure that all project stakeholders commit to sustainable principles. Not having everybody on board can create miscommunication and snags in the project. The right approach on how to proceed with the particular project must be selected based on financial resources, the institutional policy, and the level of support within the organization.

“Different organizations have varying policies on how they view sustainability and they have different financial resources,” adds Chernoff. “Some are very committed and willing to take a lot of steps toward sustainability and others are not, but that does not mean that we can’t do sustainable buildings when working with a variety of budgets.”

LEED certification is a good goal, but it is not the only measure of sustainable design. Many CTA clients are realizing they do not have to put forth the necessary money to obtain certification just to receive confirmation that they will have a sustainable building.

Practical solutions yield results and supporters who understand that every project does not have to be a homerun. It is essential to build what is necessary while making provisions for the future. For example, if a facility will need additional supply air to support more lab activities in the future, an extra shaft can be included and space for future equipment can be provided on the roof. Choices should be made based on current and potential consumption of resources.

Decisions should also be made based on how to best utilize the site by examining the footprint of the building and the site vs. the floor area. Many clients are opting for taller lab buildings. Until recently, most of the lab facilities consisted of three or four stories. However, buildings are getting taller as a result of sustainable design concepts and the effect of land costs on the economics involved with construction projects.

Using an Integrated Design Process

A key part of any sustainable design is using an integrated design process that starts with the project team. Full involvement in the early stages of the project is necessary from all major stakeholders and key players, including the client, users, design team, contractor, engineers, cost consultants, and construction manager. Frequent meetings between the owner and the users are necessary to confirm requirements and keep the project on track.

Another vital aspect of the design process is integrating the team in order to have a complementary synthesis among the architectural, mechanical, electrical, landscaping, and structural stakeholders.

“When we start designing a building, we have no idea of what the building is going to be and then we ask our consultants, the structural, mechanical, and electrical people the same questions,” says Chernoff. “We collectively think about the building and it evolves into an integrated solution.”

A sustainability workshop gives stakeholders an opportunity to discuss all phases of the project, including program requirements, applicable criteria or standards, objectives, and overall targeted goals. For example, water consumption is one category where the objective may be to reduce consumption from off-site sources and the project target may be to specify low-flow water fixtures.

An objective regarding solid waste management may be to become a net solid waste absorber and to protect life forms from exposure to toxic materials. The project target may be to allow space for recycling containers next to high-waste producers like copy machines, to specify segregated waste at the site, and to coordinate the site with a waste management system.

Following the workshop, pre-design reports are produced to outline approaches to systems and recommendations for concept options. Again, frequent team meetings with the client are held to track the status of the project and to guide the decision making.

Goals and Methodologies for Sustainable Solutions

Using holistic solutions where all players are involved contributes to working toward a smooth design process and project completion. Efficient planning is fundamental to creating cost-effective sustainable solutions. A modular generic approach to planning should be used. Optimize grids for space layout and structure. The modular approach and the grid optimization can result in highly efficient solutions.

For example, a 21-foot grid in a building works well for any lab layout whether it is an open layout or a traditional lab bench layout. The modular approach works well in cases where the grid must be divided into offices and coincidentally results in the floor slab thickness being optimized, as well.

Flexibility is a vital consideration in the design of any building. In terms of sustainable design, flexibility typically equates to “less is more.” It means building a robust core infrastructure, limiting the distribution of services, avoiding heavily purpose-built space, incorporating plug and play concepts, and facilitating single-module to full-floor, single-user layouts.

“Think in terms of generic solutions that allow the space to progress to the next potential use with minimal change and disruption,” advises Chernoff. “Incorporate plug and play concepts. We can do these buildings in a way that if we don’t distribute the services but we still have them available in the core infrastructure and we need water, gas, or some other service, it’s simply a matter of servicing that module as required. We don’t disturb anything else on the floor and it’s absolutely the most economical method.”

The single-module to full-floor option is important because users have various needs. They may require a module, a partial floor, or an entire floor. The planning should allow the building to respond effectively and in a sustainable manner. Appropriate window-to-interior depth gives access to natural light, while an offset corridor allows for deeper spaces for larger users.

“We feel that multi-tenant, multidisciplinary buildings are the way of the future,” says Chernoff. “That means we can put a large range of different types of scientific activity into these buildings and that allows the owner of a building to respond to change over time. Adaptability is needed to respond to new, varied user requirements with minimal impact.”

Livability and spatial quality must also be taken into consideration to create sustainable solutions. Access to natural light contributes to the quality of the work space.

System Concepts

Less is More:

*  Build what is needed and avoid unused services.
*  Achieve more flexibility, more sustainable solutions, and more adaptability for less initial and long-term costs.
*  A central services spine provides core services with limited distribution and easy access. All services are run down the central spine and can be tapped into on a module-by-module basis with exhausting on the perimeter and removable plugs, if there is a need for exhaust air.
*  Building the right components can avoid the installation of unused services or removal of unused services to accommodate changes in the future.

Distributed Drainage Concepts

*  Distribute risers with cap offs above and below the slab. These are basically pipes that are run vertically and do not actually house plumbing until necessary.
*  Minimize slab penetrations by keeping drainage simple, resulting in economic benefits and reduced risk of flooding.
*  Facilitates plug and play.

Distributed Shafts

*  Maximize access to exhausting. With all of the shafts on the perimeter of the building, it allows for the installation of a fume hood when and where needed.
*  Minimize horizontal duct runs.
*  Reduce floor-to-floor heights.
*  Facilitates plug and play.
*  Supports finger concept of supply/exhaust ducting.
*  Promotes safety because fume hoods are on the building perimeter. If there is a problem with a fume hood, people are not walking near it. There is also less chance of corrupting the containment of the fume hood.

Chemical Disposal

*  Localize neutralization and dilution, which eliminates the need for two drainage systems.
*  Results in standard piping and not a separate system.
*  Encourage SOPs that eliminate chemicals down the drain and incorporate pickup and disposal.

Sharing

*  Elevators should be designed for use by people and service.
*  Plug into existing systems at adjacent buildings where capacity can support sharing.
*  Recycle water, if available. (e.g., aquatic research water that is wasted into the sewer).

By Tracy Carbasho

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