Energy Use Reduction

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory opened the $86 million Integrated Engineering Research Center in April of 2023 in Batavia, Ill. Designed by Perkins+Will with Arup as as structural & MEP engineer, the 80,000-sf facility collocates engineers, technicians, and scientists at the heart of Fermi's campus. Providing next-generation infrastructure for advanced particle physics, the flexible and modular building features reconfigurable labs, design studios, and testing suites.

Savannah River National Laboratory began construction in April of 2023 on a $50 million facility located on the campus of the University of South Carolina Aiken. Designed by Page and STOA Architects, the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative (AMC) will enable the Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management to engage in shared discovery with academic institutions, industry partners, and government agencies at the city, state, and federal level.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has created the Global Occupant Behavior Database, a publicly accessible resource that can provide actionable insights about how buildings are used. Compiling data collected by 39 institutions in 15 countries, the database was developed in collaboration with researchers from Syracuse University, the University of Georgia, Texas A&M University, and Technical University of Denmark.

The United States Air Force Academy is constructing the $58 million Madera Cyber Innovation Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Designed by AECOM, the 49,000-sf building will strategically collocate the academy's Department of Computer and Cyber Sciences, the Air Force's CyberWorx center, and the Department of Homeland Security's Center of Innovation.

Emory University opened the $313 million Health Science Research Building II in March of 2023 in Atlanta. Designed by HOK, the 350,000-sf facility provides world-class research environments for a range of specialties including biomedical engineering, cardiovascular medicine, oncology, inflammation, immunology, and emerging infections.

Whether renovating an existing lab space or building a new one, conserving energy is likely to be a top priority—even more important than the return on investment. No longer a pie-in-the-sky goal, achieving net zero carbon in standard wet labs is now within reach with the right combination of measures, starting with ventilation management and moving toward electrification. Even cleanrooms, which are among the highest energy intensive laboratory types, could be next. MIT.nano, which opened in 2018 after seven years of planning and design, achieved best-in-class for energy performance, which the designers call “the first big step toward net zero” for these ultra-high-intensity facilities.

Western Washington University broke ground in March of 2023 on the $73.6 million Kaiser Borsari Hall in Bellingham. Designed by Perkins&Will, the 54,000-sf structure will accommodate the school's growing programs in computer science, electrical engineering, and energy science and technology. The four-story building will provide active learning classrooms, teaching and research labs, offices, breakout areas, a multicultural student lounge, and a collaborative commons. 

The new Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., is designed for groundbreaking performance and efficiency, with expectations of achieving an energy use intensity (EUI) of approximately 18 compared to the average usage of 130 at other campus buildings. Maintaining low energy consumption, optimizing occupant comfort, minimizing the mechanical cooling needs, and expressing energy performance through design were especially important goals for the institute, which is intended to be a living laboratory for educating the next generation of energy experts.

Sterling Bay completed construction in March of 2023 on a 320,000-sf life sciences center in Chicago. Designed by Gensler to promote collaboration and innovation, the eight-story building provides Class A lab and office environments in the heart of the planned Lincoln Yards mixed-use district. With 33' by 40' column-free bays, the 285,000-rsf project offers flexible floorplates of approximately 42,000 sf supported by two dedicated outdoor air systems.

Wesleyan University is constructing a four-story, 190,000-sf science building in Middletown, Conn. Designed by Payette, the inclusive and accessible facility will provide 39 research and support labs, 10 classrooms, nine teaching labs, a vivarium, and a greenhouse. A central commons will act as a welcoming destination for informal interaction and study, accompanied by a café, an enclosed courtyard, and a landscaped plaza.

Longfellow Real Estate Partners broke ground in February of 2023 on Avia Labs in Millbrae, Calif. Designed by Flad Architects, the 479,000-sf life science facility will provide 315,000 rsf of Class A lab and office space arranged in a 50:50 ratio. The six-story building will also house state-of-the-art conference rooms, a fitness center, and a publicly accessible café. JLL has secured a $310 million construction loan for the project, which will integrate an advanced HVAC system supplying 12 air changes per hour.

Wake Technical Community College is constructing the $72.4 million General Education Building in Wendell, N.C. Designed by BSA LifeStructures, the 118,000-sf facility will offer active learning classrooms, science labs, a library, an auditorium, tutoring areas, study spaces, and a food service venue. Supporting associate degree programs in engineering, science, and art, the welcoming and inclusive structure will also provide an array of student services including admissions, advising, and financial aid.

Pennsylvania State University opened the $88.2 million Engineering Design and Innovation Building in February of 2023. Designed by Payette and Lamar Johnson Collaborative, the 105,000-gsf facility provides maker spaces, teaching and research labs, two active learning venues, general-purpose classrooms, and faculty and departmental offices. The four-story structure offers multiuse design studios, machine shops, and prototyping and fabrication suites, as well as housing the Factory for Advanced Manufacturing Education Lab and the Bernhard M.

Genentech broke ground in February of 2023 on a $280 million biologics manufacturing center in Oceanside, Calif. The small-batch facility will utilize single-use bioreactors for the commercial production of innovative therapeutics such as personalized medicines and treatments for rare diseases. Featuring advanced automation platforms and digital technologies, the 84,000-sf plant will leverage in-house process improvements to achieve increased flexibility, speed, and output.

The University of Tennessee is constructing the $95 million Energy and Environmental Science Building in Knoxville. Designed by Barber McMurry Architects and Lord Aeck Sargent, the 157,000-gsf facility will provide the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources with both interdisciplinary and specialized lab environments for teaching, research, and public service.