Global Ecology Research Center

Photo credit: Peter Aaron / Esto Photographics

Materials & Resources

The project's embodied carbon emissions were reduced by 43% primarily through the substitution of flyash for over half of the cement in nearly all of the concrete.

Finish materials were kept to a minimum. exposed acoustic deck ceilings, radiant integrally-colored concrete floors (ground down in the lobby to expose the aggregate), and exposed steel trusses and columns were left exposed, providing much of the material character.

Salvaged materials reduced virgin material use and added narrative character to the project. Exterior redwood siding was salvaged from decommissioned Sebastiani Vineyards wine vats. Due to the tight-grained quality of this old-growth wood, no sealer or paint was necessary as a preservative, reducing first cost and maintenance over time and helping to pay for the higher quality wood. Tables in the conference room and lobby were milled down and finished from trees salvaged from a nearby municipal yard. Workstation tabletops were derived from salvaged doors donated by the contractor. One-fourth of the casework and all lab sink faucets were salvaged. Recycled aggregate substituted for 20% of site concrete aggregate.

All non-salvaged wood in the building, including doors, new casework, trim, light shelves and railings is domestic ash certified according to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards.

Green Products Used

• Certified Wood Panels
• Energy-Efficient Electric Hand Dryer
• Occupancy Sensors and Controls
• Water-Efficient Dual-Flush Toilets

Design for Adaptability to Future Uses

The research program requires flexibility over the short and long term. Researchers split their time equally among the field, their offices, and the lab. Therefore, all spaces were designed to allow for expansion and contraction of research teams and informal space sharing. Strategies include a standardized lab layout with movable benches and shelving and an open office plan instead of shared grad student offices as initially requested.

The research building was designed for a 100-year service life (warehouses and greenhouses were designed for 50-year life spans). A clear-span structure on the second floor will accommodate changes to the building over time. Windows, roofing, and flashing were designed so that their disassembly would not affect adjacent finishes. Redwood siding is attached with exposed screws to permit future salvage. Indoors, individual carpet tiles can easily be replaced if they are damaged.

Open ceilings in the laboratory and an exposed steel structure allow for easy reconfiguration of services and spaces as needs change.

Early programming efforts allowed a 36% reduction in building floor area. Workshop space, storage, and much of the heat-producing equipment are housed in an adjacent warehouse, reducing the need for conditioned, finished space and heat loads in the lab

Green Strategies

• Protection of Global Ecosystem
  • Minimize ozone-depletion potential of refrigerants in cooling systems
• Reusable Components
  • Use materials with integral finish
• Design for Materials Use Reduction
  • Determine whether varying functions can be accommodated in shared spaces
  • Minimize space devoted exclusively to circulation
• Recyclable Materials
  • Specify carpet from manufacturers who will recycle used carpet
• Toxic Upstream or Downstream Burdens
  • Choose naturally rot-resistant wood species for exposed applications
  • Specify only low-mercury fluorescent lamps
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Manufacture
  • Replace up to 30% of the cement in concrete with flyash
• Resource-Efficient and Biobased Materials
  • Use trusses for roofs and floors
• Salvaged Materials
  • Use salvaged wood for finish carpentry

previous topic: Energy

next topic: Indoor Env

Our thanks to the ENERGY STAR program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and to the U.S. Department of Energy, and to BuildingGreen, Inc. for hosting the submission and judging forms.

For more information about the AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects, contact AIA/COTE. For help on how to use this Web site, contact .