High Performing Buildings - Summer 2009 - (Page 16)

the sanctuary as well as the walls and ceiling of the chapel. The walls and ceiling provide both acoustic absorption and diffusion. First, the cypress slats obscure the fiberglass batts, made of recycled material. The 0.5 in. gaps between the slats make the walls and ceiling acoustically transparent, allowing sound to travel through the wall and hit the sound-absorbing material, which dampens the sound waves. Second, the wood walls and ceiling provide diffusing surfaces, which reflect sound waves in multiple directions to ensure that the quality of the sound is pleasing and reaches a greater number of listeners. The wood slat surfaces undulate in and out of plane in 4 ft sections to create large-scale diffusion, while B U I L D I N G S E C T I O N S S A N C T U A R Y S L AT W A L L DISPLACEMENT VENTILATION INTEGRATED ACOUSTICS CLERESTORY LIGHTSHELF Photo © Steve Hall, Hedrich Blessing the 0.5 in. gaps create small-scale diffusion in response to various wavelengths or frequencies. The wall design also integrates the displacement ventilation system. The wood slats screen the supply and return ventilation, making them essentially invisible to the users while still permitting the supply air to stratify in the room. In addition, the design takes advantage of the composite walls’ thickness by incorporating a lightshelf at the top of the wood slats and bottom of the clerestory windows, bouncing daylight farther into the 50 ft-wide sanctuary and social hall. Resource Use Summary In its first year of operation the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation has met or exceeded expectations concerning the building’s use and consumption of water, gas and electricity. Interviews with Summer 2009 The wood slat construction used in the walls and ceiling of the worship spaces provides both acoustic absorption and diffusion, and integrates the displacement ventilation system. the synagogue staff and members indicate that the facility is being used more intensely than projected. More large events have been scheduled in the sanctuary/social hall with an average increase in participants from 250 to 350 persons. The new building also has allowed the congregation to significantly expand their adult education program. An unanticipated occupant load is the almost weekly tours of the synagogue given by more than 25 volunteer members who have been trained as docents. The baseline building and design case annual water use were calculated as 210,558 and 123,456 gallons, respectively, for a projected savings of 41%. Calculations are based on estimated occupant use and included the following fixtures: dual-flush, low-flow water closets (1.1/1.6 gallons per flush [gpf]), 16 HIGH PERFORMING BUILDINGS

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of High Performing Buildings - Summer 2009

High Performing Buildings - Summer 2009
Contents
Commentary
Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation
Designing Efficient Lighting
CSOB Headquarters, Prague
U.S. Homeland Security, Omaha
Stellar Commercial Building
Advertisers Index

High Performing Buildings - Summer 2009