Integrated Sciences Building

UMass Amherst recently broke ground on an Integrated Sciences Building (ISB) designed to forge a new model for science teaching and research on campus, focusing on the integration of the life, chemical, and physical sciences. The facility is also expected to play a vital role in advancing the work of the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute (PVLSI), a partnership between UMass Amherst and Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. The ISB will provide 155,000 gross square feet of new space.

The design of this facility incorporates many green design concepts and features, including but not limited to the following:

• An enthalpy heat recovery wheel will be installed in each of the four air handling units serving the lab areas. The enthalpy wheel will remove latent heat in the summer and add moisture and sensible heat during the winter. The wheel recovers 50% more heat and moisture than a glycol loop.

• Rain water from the roof area and from the underground foundation drainage system will be piped to an underground 20,000 gallon storage tank. The collected water will be pumped to the chiller plant cooling towers and will be used to supplement the make-up water that is lost to evaporation. The water collected from the roof will reduce the amount of storm water discharged to the campus storm water sewer system.

• Install an "intensive roof garden" over the chiller plan and an "extensive roof garden" over the loading dock. The intensive roof garden will consist of soil depths greater than 6" and less than 42" with a variety of plants including small trees and shrubs. A roof garden can help keep a building cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

• Install low flow fume hoods in the teaching labs, 60 CFM instead of the standard 100 CFM, which will reduce heating, cooling, and fan energy consumption.

For a complete list of green design elements associated with the ISB, contact Jeff Quakenbush at jquacken@facil.umass.edu.

Studio Arts Building

The Studio Arts Building will bring together a variety of programs and support units currently scattered around the UMass Amherst campus. This new facility will foster a multidisciplinary approach to art, a trend that has been embraced by the Art Department through the development of its curriculum.

The design of this facility incorporates many green design concepts and features including but not limited to the following:

• South facing widows are equipped with louvered sun-shading devices that allow winter sun energy to be brought in to the building, but shade the building from summer heat.

• The contractor will reuse existing pavers located in front of Hills College. Recycling the old pavers will result in reduced costs and minimize the amount of material disposed of at a landfill.

• Landscaping will feature low-maintenance, drought-resistant plant materials.

• The building will employ occupancy sensors and CO2 sensors to regulate the amount of ventilation air sent to specific spaces, and to turn lights off automatically when rooms are unoccupied.

• Toilet room fixtures will feature hands-free faucets and flush valves, and utilize low gallon per flush toilets and urinals.

For a complete list of green design elements associated with the Studio Arts Building contact Burt Ewart at bewart@facil.umass.edu.

North Residential Area Apartments

In September, 2006, the first new housing on campus since 1971 opened. This housing represents apartment style living and has 859 beds.

Architectural:

• Building Envelope designed to provide a very tight envelope, with insulation on the exterior of the wall and a highly reduced thermal transmittance on the exterior walls. Also, the glazing was all low E, with high SHGC for clear glazing.

• A large portion of the steel framing was recycled material.

• Low emitting materials utilized on project to greatly reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) within the building. These included low VOC paints and water-based stains, low emitting carpets with backing that prevents mold and mildew growth.

• Building design includes trash separation and recycling stations throughout the complex.

• Bike racks provided throughout complex to encourage use in lieu of automobile travel.

Mechanical and Electrical:

• Complex energy usage will be 20% to 25% less than a code minimum designed building. This is due to the above very tight envelope, high efficiency lighting and high efficient motors and mechanical equipment and design.

• Air conditioning chiller system uses CFC free refrigerant for less ozone depletion of the earth's atmosphere.

• High energy recovery wheels (30% more efficient than code) used on the 100% outside air ventilation systems for the apartments.

• Variable speed drives for variable flow pumping provides only the amount of heating or cooling water to provide thermal comfort for the complex.

• Ventilation air treated and dehumidified independent of other HVAC systems. This eliminates overcooling and reheat required on the main HVAC systems.

• All HVAC equipment located within mechanical penthouses with ample room of proper maintenance. This greatly increases the equipments average service life.

• Each apartment has two zones of temperature control of its space. One zone in the living room areas and one zone for the bedrooms. This minimizes overheating or overcooling of dissimilar spaces.

• Building Automation System lets occupants know when it is advantageous to ventilate their apartments with natural ventilation via opening windows. This is accomplished via indicator lights at the lobby entrance vestibules of the buildings