Biomedical research facility has distinctive design and many green features
It has been called a “sustainable jewel box.” It is the LEED Platinum-certified, seven-story Health Sciences Biomedical Research Facility on the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Health Sciences campus in La Jolla, Calif. It includes wet labs, open lab space, lab support, and administrative support space on five stories above ground; with a vivarium; core lab space; support; and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems in the basement. Seven stories of attached administrative office space, interaction spaces and conference rooms are linked by a cast-in-place concrete staircase that climbs seven stories up through the open lobby, and one story down.
The building houses numerous academic research departments, including bioinformatics, genomic medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, childhood diseases, pathology, immunology, inflammation, psychiatry, cardiology, neurosciences, infectious diseases and glycobiology.
An open, light-filled interaction space is accessed vertically by both a sculptural monumental stair and a transparent glass elevator. It is flanked on every level by conference rooms and reconfigurable interaction spaces. Multiple scales of gathering areas include benches at circulation nodes, perimeter break-out lounges with flat screens and whiteboards, and conference rooms. Two outdoor terraces, utilized for dining and social gatherings, offer views overlooking the academic lawn and the campus.
A LIVING BUILDING
Its predominant metal components are an aluminum curtainwall, horizontal and vertical sunshades and louvers, and architectural metal panels, all from Benson Industries, Portland, Ore. It has a dynamic exterior solar shading system from WAREMA Renkhoff, Marktheidenfeld, Germany.
“Perhaps the most unusual and creative feature is the computer-controlled dynamic exterior shading system on the south, east and west façades,” says Joe Collins, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, partner, ZGF Architects LLP, Portland, Ore. “These exterior horizontal blinds raise, lower and tilt automatically to prevent direct rays of the sun from creating glare, while reflecting abundant diffuse natural daylight deep into the laboratory spaces. An extensive amount of condensate water is also recovered from the AC cooling coils of this building and the adjacent Pharmaceutical Sciences Lab Building, and utilized for landscape irrigation and toilet fixture flushing for this building.”
Sustainable features include:
- Water re-use: Non-potable water is collected from numerous sources within the building and from an adjacent lab building, filtered and stored on-site.
- Water-use reduction: All plumbing is low-flow and toilets/urinals are dual-plumbed to utilize recycled water, cutting potable water use by more than 50 percent.
- Landscape irrigation: Non-potable water provides 100 percent of landscape irrigation.
- On-site stormwater treatment: Bioswales capture and filter stormwater run-off.
- External shading: A dynamic computer-controlled exterior solar shading system tracks the sun throughout the year, automatically deploying and adjusting the horizontal blade angles to prevent sun rays from directly striking the exterior glazing within the vision zone.
- Integrated daylight: A curved ceiling in laboratories optimizes daylight distribution; electric lights respond automatically to daylight levels
- Operable windows: All private and shared office spaces incorporate operable windows.
- Continued research: Specialized systems have been included for energy submetering, monitoring and optimizing ongoing operations, and building design research.
- Optimized ventilation: Fume hoods and separated procedure rooms in labs enhance researcher safety while reducing energy. All concentrated occupancy spaces have carbon dioxide sensors, and displacement ventilation in offices supplies higher-quality, cleaner air with less energy.
- Optimized exhaust: To save energy, laboratory exhaust fans have been designed to reduce speed in calm wind conditions.
- Sustainable building materials: Materials have been selected for low-volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, recycled content and local sourcing; most of the project’s wood is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.
COLLABORATIVE SUCCESS
From the very onset the facility’s goal was to attain LEED Platinum certification. This goal was achieved through much creative thought and follow-through by the client, design team and builder, McCarthy Building Cos., St. Louis. “All design options were conceived to support that goal, as well as to achieve a truly integrated building and building systems design concept,” Collins says. “It was a remarkably collaborative process.”
“The most challenging aspect of the UCSD Health Sciences Biomedical Research Facility project was the installation of the architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS) members at the atrium, and meeting the beam build-up tolerances with the plate steel welded together to make up the members,” says Allen Lynn, project manager at Mc- Carthy. “Due to ample preparation and planning for the sustainable design of the building, there were no major impacts with the fabrication or installation of these members.”
Sidebar: University of California, San Diego, Health Sciences Biomedical Research Facility, La Jolla, Calif. Owner: University of California, San Diego
Architect: ZGF Architects LLP, Portland, Ore.
General contractor: McCarthy Building Cos., St. Louis
Civil engineer: Burkett & Wong, San Diego
Electrical subcontractor: Dynalectric Co., San Diego
Mechanical subcontractor: University Mechanical, San Diego
Structural engineer: KPFF Consulting Engineers, Portland
Curtainwall, metal panels, sunshades and louvers/installer: Benson Industries, Portland, Ore., www.bensonglobal.com
Solar shading system: WAREMA Renkhoff, Marktheidenfeld, Germany,
www.warema.com