A prime concern in the renovation of Gallatin Hall was the preservation of existing exterior masonry while ensuring the building’s energy efficiency. The masonry had behaved consistently through the freeze/thaw cycles of the previous 80 years, and we were concerned that complying with modern energy codes and LEED standards could have an adverse effect by moving the location of the dew point. Using energy modeling programs, we were able to determine that with 1” thick spray foam insulation, we could achieve an exterior wall assembly with an R-Value of 6 that didn’t drastically move the dew point from ...[more]

NORTHBORO, MA – Saint-Gobain marked the completion of the expansion of the firm’s largest international research center in Northboro, Massachusetts, with a ceremony on July 30 attended by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and company executives from around the world.

The $15 million R&D facility, which broke ground a year ago, provides 60,000 square feet of new lab, office and meeting space for 200 scientists and engineers involved in cutting-edge research into building materials, plastics, ceramics, and abrasives, as well as the development of state-of-the-art technology to promote energy efficiency in buildings. The Northboro site is the largest of Saint-Gobain’s four worldwide research centers.

The facility, which is targeting LEED Gold certification, ...[more]

The Brody Learning Commons at Johns Hopkins University, which has been packed since its doors opened last August, has something big to celebrate this week: LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council. It’s the first new construction on the school’s Homewood campus to earn this distinction.

The Learning Commons’ sustainable strategies include:

Managing solar gain: Heat gain and loss from the glass curtain wall system was combated by high-performance glass, automated interior shades, and perimeter (hydronic) heating and cooling.
Energy efficiency: While the under-floor air distribution system ...[more]

Colleges and universities that are looking for ways to improve energy efficiency and resulting cost savings are realizing that some habits start from the ground up, as discussed in “How to achieve a tight building envelope,”� which appears in the June 2012 issue of College Planning & Management.

In the article, Jonathan Baron talks about the value to owners of investing in building component mock-ups and building commissioning, as well as the importance of evaluating the compatibility of different materials used in creating the building envelope.

Jonathan’s remarks on building ...[more]

As architects, making a positive environmental impact means being more than responsive to project needs: it means being active and deliberate in developing and applying research to make better, more energy-efficient buildings.

An important component of sustainability is the reduction of energy consumption. After all, less energy used translates to less fuel burned, which results in fewer emissions of global warming gases. In addition, less demand for energy results in a need for fewer power plants (whether coal burning or nuclear plants, or even photovoltaic arrays or windmills), using fewer natural resources for construction.

At ...[more]

The transformation of a former Amherst College fraternity house near the main campus into a 44-bed residence hall is now underway, with plans to open in the 2013-2014 academic year.

The 21,000 square foot renovation and expansion of Seligman House, which was built in 1921, preserves the character of the original building and adds a three-story wing that complements it aesthetically. The wood rafters of the original structure are preserved, as are the hewn beams of the living room, along with its wood-burning fireplace.  A patio is nestled in the new ...[more]

Beauty may be more than skin deep, but when you’re talking about energy-efficient buildings, it starts with the building envelope.  Strategies for detailing and specifying for high-performance building enclosures are discussed in “Energy performance starts at the building envelope,” in the December 2011 issue of Building Design + Construction (BD+C).

The article features three members of Shepley Bulfinch’s in-house Technical Advisory Council – Greta Eckhardt, Mark Finneral, and Dan Salive – among the design and construction professionals who offer their insights and strategies regarding thermal performance and materials.

Energy performance ...[more]