Engineered Systems - December 2008 - (Page 26)

Photo courtesy of Mark Beane, Loyola University Chicago Just as this university stayed ahead of the curve with its digital library, designers harnessed the benefits of radiant heating and cooling with the advantages of natural HVAC. With a building that frequently employs hybrid or all-natural modes, readers and researchers can enjoy lower-impact comfort to go with the sights and sounds of Lake Michigan. BY DAVID LAVAN AND DON MCLAUCHLAN, P.E., CEM, LEED® AP L 26 oyola University Chicago’s (LUC) new digital library, named Klarchek Information Commons began with very ambitious goals. The university wanted a visually transparent, energy-efficient building built on the shores of Lake Michigan where students could learn and exchange information digitally in a “book-less” library. With the lakeshore location, there was an additional goal of creating an indoor experience similar to being outdoors on a beautiful day. To meet these aggressive goals, Solomon Cordwell and Buenz (SCB, architect) assembled the design team of Transsolar (indoor climate consultant), Elara Energy Services (MEPFP engineer), and Halvorson and Partners (structural engineer). Unlike much traditional construction, this project required a very high level of integration and coordination with all the design elements of the building. The building was complete in January 2007 and has attained LEED® Silver certification. Typically, the percentage of glass necessary to achieve transparency is not complementary with the goal of energy efficiency. In an effort to maximize the views of the lake, and to further complicate matters, the building was oriented with its primary axis running almost near north-south. This design parameter created additional challenges to control glare and solar heat gain loads on the building. The building is approximately 70,000 sq ft, with three full floors and a partial fourth floor. There are three floors of large open space in the center of the building, with all-glass east-west facades flanked by traditionally constructed bookends. There are classroom/seminar rooms in the bookends and open study areas with partially glass-partitioned group study areas in the center open area. There is a groundfloor café and connecting links to the existing traditional library and chapel. The main building access is through a “winter garden” entry space on the west side. The roof is partially vegetative. To meet these considerable challenges the following innovative strategies were implemented. VENTILATED, DOUBLE FAÇADE WINDOWS WITH INTERSTITIAL SHADING In order to mitigate solar heat gain on the west side and improve the overall “U” factor of the glass façade, a double skin was selected. The motorized Venetian blinds in the interstitial space deploy when needed to block direct sunlight and control glare. The interstitial space is naturally ventilated with intake air entering through cavity dampers at the bottom and exhausting through awning windows located at the top of the four-story glass stack. It was determined En g i neer ed Sy stem s December 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Engineered Systems - December 2008

Engineered Systems - December 2008 Contents Editor's Note HVAC Challenge Back2Basics Case In Point Commissioning Building Automation HVACR Designer Tips Applications Checklist Lakefront Library: Radiant Systems Meet Natural Ventilation Before (And After) The Flood Basics For Refrigerant Chillers Wire-To-Shaft Efficiency For HVAC Pumps Products Glossary Classifieds Advertiser Index Tomorrow’s Environment

Engineered Systems - December 2008

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