LEED Facts »
| Certified February 2009 | |
| Silver for NC v2.2 | 34/69 |
| Sustainable Sites | 9/14 |
| Water Efficiency | 4/5 |
| Energy & Atmosphere | 5/17 |
| Materials & Resources | 4/13 |
| Indoor Environ. Quality | 7/15 |
| Innovation & Design | 5/5 |
Architect: Ballinger Architects
Civil Engineer: Vanasse Hangen Brustlin
Commissioning Agent: Farnsworth Group
Contractor: Gilbane Company
Landscape Architect: Todd Rader
LEED Consultant: Nathan Gauthier
Structural Engineer: Ballinger Architects
Mechanical Engineer: Ballinger Architects
Plumbing Engineer: Ballinger Architects
Project Size: 169,000 square feet
Total Project Cost: $95,000,000
Photographs courtesy of Brown University Department of Facilities Management
Project Background
The Sidney E. Frank Hall for life Sciences opened in late 2006. The building was named for Sidney E. Frank ’42, who gave the largest single gift to the University in support of undergraduate financial aid. The five-story glass and brick structure features 62 offices, 30 laboratories, 10 conference rooms, and a 98-seat seminar room. it is a hub for life science research at the University and was designed to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration. To fulfill this objective, it houses the departments of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, and neuroscience. The building is adjacent to the biomedical building complex.
Strategies and Results
The Sidney E. Frank Hall for Life Sciences was built on a previously developed site in an urban environment. it is located near many public transportation hubs. Sustainable features of the building include:
• A highly insulated building envelope and efficient HVAC systems allow for an energy performance of 30% better than code.
• A monitoring system that checks outdoor air as it enters the ventilation systems to ensure the air is fresh and unpolluted.
• A monitoring system that ensures the thermal comfort ranges meet the conditions for human occupancy standards.
• Replacement of harmful CFCs/HCFCs in the HVAC system with safe substitutes (tetrafluoroethane).
• A white roof to reduce the heat island effect.
• Daylighting and direct views to the exterior in 90% of regularly occupied spaces.
• A rainwater collection system that provides water for landscaping irrigation, fulfilling 100% of the need for exterior water consumption.
• Low flow fixtures that reduce water use by 30%.
• Low VOC-emitting building materials.
• 14% of building materials had significant recycled content and 37% were manufactured regionally.
• Bicycle storage, showers, and changing rooms that encourage the use of alternative transportation.
Moreover, the project included an enhanced commissioning process with additional design and post-occupancy reviews to make sure that the building was reaching its energy performance targets.
About Brown University
Founded in 1764, Brown University is an independent, coeducation ivy league institution with both undergraduate and graduate programs, plus the alpert Medical School and the School of Engineering. Brown’s community consists of 6,000 undergraduates, 2,000 graduate students, 400 medical school students, and nearly 700 faculty members. in 2002, the Corporation of Brown University announced the Proposal for academic Enrichment, which focuses on expanding Brown’s core academic programs, as well as upgrading campus life, student support networks, facilities, and infrastructure needs.