Energy

Bigger is not always better when it comes to generators and their distribution systems. Oversizing a piece of equipment has a domino effect on the infrastructure needed to support it and the square footage it occupies, as well as capital, operating, and maintenance costs, all of which cut into funding that could go toward research. Determining which generator is best for a research facility requires an understanding of many factors, including the current and projected loads, site parameters, risk assessment, flexibility requirements, and operating concerns.

The State of Idaho will begin construction in mid-2017 on two new research facilities at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in Idaho Falls. The 80,000-sf Cybercore Integration Center will accommodate cybersecurity research, development, and education. The 67,000-sf Collaborative Computing Center will house a supercomputer for advanced simulation and modeling operations. The estimated construction cost of both facilities is $75 million. The new centers will be owned by the state of Idaho and leased by INL, which is managed by Battelle.

Drexel University is initiating $6.6 million in energy efficiency upgrades at its Philadelphia campus. Funded by the state of Pennsylvania’s Campus Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF), the project will reduce energy consumption and emissions, upgrade five key buildings, increase comfort and safety in labs and classrooms, and lower overall operating costs. Upon completion, Drexel’s energy consumption will decrease by more than 25 percent in three science buildings and two mixed-use campus facilities which cumulatively account for more than 430,000 sf.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory broke ground in late January of 2017 on the $91.5 million Integrative Genomics Building in Berkeley, Calif. Designed by SmithGroup, the four-story, 82,604-gsf facility will house approximately 300 researchers and staff from the Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute and the Systems Biology Knowledgebase.

The University of Calgary opened the CAD$174 million Canadian Natural Resources Limited Engineering Complex in November of 2016 in Alberta, Canada. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, the expansion project comprises a 197,000-sf addition and 119,000 sf of renovated space for the Schulich School of Engineering. The collaborative facility features a programmable dynamic view glass façade and provides two new floors of research laboratories for the study of renewable energy resources and the development of clean energy technologies.

The National University of Singapore broke ground on the Net-Zero Energy Building in November of 2016. Designed by Multiply Architects and Serie Architects, the six-story, 91,644-gsf facility will provide research labs, design studios, workshops, a test-bedding façade, and collaborative learning spaces. The building will be constructed as a living laboratory for sustainable design and will feature hybrid cooling technologies, 1,200 photovoltaic panels, and natural lighting and ventilation.

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories opened a $113 million research facility in October of 2016 in Chalk River, Ontario. Designed by Dreessen Cardinal, the facility utilizes 36 different mechanical piping systems and a sophisticated building automation system with 2,800 control points. General contractor PCL completed the design/build project under budget.

Brown University is constructing an $88 million facility for the School of Engineering in Providence, R.I. Designed by Kieran Timberlake, the three-story, 80,000-sf project will support collaborative research in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, and clean energy technologies. The sustainably designed facility will feature open-plan laboratories, cleanrooms for bioscience and nanotechnology, an imaging suite, collaboration spaces, and an advanced multidisciplinary undergraduate teaching lab.

The U.S. Department of Energy opened the Laboratory for Plasma Nanosynthesis in July of 2016 in New Jersey. Located on the Forrestal Campus of Princeton University, the project represents an expansion of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and provides three times as much research space as the original facility.

The University of Notre Dame opened the $36 million Turbomachinery Facility in June of 2016 in South Bend, Ind. Created in collaboration with General Electric, Indiana Michigan Power, and other industry partners, the 25,000-sf research and testing center will support the development of advanced gas turbine engine technologies. The project features full-scale simulated operating environments, including a $7.5 million, 10-megawatt jet propulsion engine rig, and will act as a Center of Excellence for Pratt & Whitney.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority is planning to construct the $136 million Research & Development Center at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. The four-building facility will be constructed using 3D printing and will support the creation of drones and 3D printing technologies for applications including solar power, energy efficiency, smart grids, and photovoltaic desalination.

The U.S. Department of Energy dedicated the $9.9 million Sensitive Instrument Facility at Ames Laboratory in Iowa in May of 2016. Accommodating microscopes used in materials science and clean energy research, the building features two-foot concrete floors with vibration-dampening layers, and the six instrument bays are lined with aluminum shielding a quarter of an inch thick to create an electromagnetic barrier.

Stanford University has completed the implementation of a campus-wide energy system called Stanford Energy System Innovations (SESI). Replacing an aging cogeneration plant that utilized fossil fuel with grid-sourced electricity and an advanced heat recovery system, SESI reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 68 percent, reduces fossil fuel use by 65 percent, and decreases water consumption by 15 percent. At the heart of the system is the 125,600-sf Central Energy Facility designed by ZGF.

Fraunhofer ISE is expanding the Photovoltaic Technology Evaluation Center (PV-TEC) with the construction of an 8,600-sf cleanroom in Freiburg, Germany. The PV-TEC Select laboratory will act as a pilot plant for new front-end processing technologies, which relate to the phase of solar cell production before metallization. Accommodating research, development, and testing operations, the project aims to increase the efficiency of solar cells by up to 25 percent. 

Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL) will begin construction by late 2016 on the 24,000-sf Collaboration Center in Richland, Wash. The $9.8 million facility will enable PNNL to host conferences and workshops as well as promoting interaction between researchers and staff, and will offer formal and informal meeting areas, breakout rooms, a café, and a 450-seat event space. The design-build project team includes TVA Architects and Fowler General Construction.