High Performing Buildings - Winter 2011 - (Page 36)

marc m. swendner, seton family of Hospitals C A S e S t u d y Healing Environment B y P h i l l i P S . R i S n e R , P. e . , M e M B e R A S h R A e As a Level 1 trauma center that serves a 46-county area the size of Ohio, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas must have the capacity to treat children in all weather and emergency conditions — including triple-digit summer heat waves. To meet both grid independence and sustainability goals, the hospital partnered with Austin Energy to build an on-site combined cooling and heating power plant. W 36 hile all hospitals are required to have emergency backup power for life-safety systems, often the backup power is not sufficient to run building ventilation or cooling systems. Dell’s natural gas-fired combustion turbine is designed to provide 100% of the hospital’s energy needs and is unaffected by an electrical grid shutdown. The plant’s power production is about twice as efficient as a coalfired power plant. Sustainability and environmental stewardship priorities are reflected throughout the LEED Platinum hospital, which was built on a brownfield site located within blocks of downtown Austin. The hospital is Winter 2011 Above The three-acre Healing Garden at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas, gives children and families a place to relax and play outside of the hospital environment. Many patient rooms and staff break rooms overlook the pond and garden, which includes native or adapted plant species. Opposite Windows on every level provide natural light to patient rooms, treatment areas and waiting rooms. The hospital’s exterior materials and contemporary design take cues from architectural styles of other Austin buildings. The metal shingles were locally produced. HigH Performing Buildings

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of High Performing Buildings - Winter 2011

High Performing Buildings - Winter 2011
Commentary
Contents
Portland State's Shattuck Hall
Oberlin College's Adam Joseph Lewis Center
Dell Children's Medical Center
CMTA Office Building
EPA Region 8 Headquarters
Honda's East Liberty, Marysville Auto Plants
Advertisers Index

High Performing Buildings - Winter 2011