| NEWS | DESIGN | BUILDING | DESIGN TOOLS | ENVIRONMENT | CULTURE |
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LEED Platinum at UCSB | |
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Bio-Solar House in Thailand | |
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LEED Platinum at UCSB Education by Example As researchers and students learn about how to manage a healthier planet, they can simply look around them to see numerous examples of ecologically healthy building practices. Interior wood paneling comes from certified sustainably managed forests. Twenty-four percent of all the building's materials contain recycled content. The structural steel contains 77 percent post-consumer and 18 percent post-industrial recycled content. Other interior materials include 14 tons (13,000 kilograms) of recycled carpet and biodegradable linoleum — the primary flooring material — which is made from linseed oil, limestone, and wood flour. The student commons floor is unicork, a renewable and natural resource. And on the third floor is rubber flooring made from recycled tires. Every 100 square feet (9 square meters) of this flooring diverted 7.5 tires from landfills. As is required by LEED standards, the effort toward the Bren School's certification touched every scale of design and construction. At the site scale, the selected location was near public transport, existing topsoil and trees were preserved during construction, the building footprint was minimized, and the landscape was replanted with drought-tolerant native plants. Asphalt from the site, formerly a parking lot, was recycled as part of the substrate for new paving. Paving in the courtyard and countertops and partitions in the restrooms use recycled glass. A fire road was made with recycled permeable turf-block and a grass overlay. Reclaimed water is used for irrigation. New trees provide shade and reduce energy consumption. Energy Conservation and Production The building minimizes use of conventional energy, exceeding the California Title 24 (1998) standard by 30 percent. Natural ventilation is coordinated with the mechanical system, both of which are monitored with an energy management and control system. Electric lights in high-efficiency fixtures are controlled by motion sensors and are automatically turned down or off when there is sufficient ambient daylight. Alternative energy sources supply a good deal of the building's electrical needs: 25 percent (125 kilowatts) comes from grid power generated by landfill methane gas, and roof-mounted solar photovoltaic panels supply an additional seven percent. LEED also calls for clean indoor air, and Bren met this requirement by minimizing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in construction adhesives and sealants and with permanent air monitoring systems. Air filters remove excess carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and VOCs from the air circulating in labs and classrooms. Water efficiency is also a major concern, so water-conserving fixtures and waterless urinals are used throughout the building. Reclaimed water is used for toilet flushing. The architects credit LEED with providing them a structure for the research effort as well as a means to measure results. In May 2003, The Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management was recognized with a 2003 Calibre Award for Environmental Leadership, sponsored by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), Southern California Chapter. According to the IIDA jury, "The Bren School exemplifies the essence of the award... green interior design through a maximizing use of interior materials developed from renewable sources. The Bren School also carries this concept further by the continuing education of the public through teaching and research." In addition to its many technical attributes, the openness of the building's form, engaging Santa Barbara's gentle climate and lovely costal setting, should encourage such ongoing environmental contemplation. Discuss this article in the Architecture Forum... Project Credits Architect: Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership
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