University Business - November/December 2010 - (Page 24)

viewpoint Miami University (Ohio), officials are looking to make substantial improvements to existing residential and dining facilities over a 20-year period to increase the diversity of housing arrangements, attract new students, and keep more students on campus, thus helping Miami capture monies that might otherwise have been spent off campus. A recent analysis by Shawmut Design and Construction estimates that campuses can save anywhere from 23 percent to 108 percent by renovating an existing building, depending on the age of the structure, in contrast to building new. Utilizing existing foundations and shells (outer walls) of buildings can represent enormous cost savings, and allows colleges to forego the expense of acquiring additional land, which may be necessary for new construction. This is an especially important consideration for urban campuses where land may be very expensive or unavailable. Renovations do not always require installing new infrastructure to support the buildings, which can be served by existing water and sewer lines, and electrical and IT wiring. While systems upgrades may be needed if a building is being adapted for new uses, these are typically less expensive, not to mention disruptive, than installing new systems. Renovation and reuse can pay big dividends in a college’s relationship with its neighbors, helping smooth delicate town-gown relations. New construction, because it often is done on the outskirts of campus, is more likely to abut surrounding neighborhoods and directly impact residents. Even if it is not the intent, in the public mind, new buildings mean more space and thus greater capacity to add students, noise, and traffic. Building anew generally requires campuses to submit to an often protracted and contentious public approval process. While you may need to secure zoning changes to accommodate a new use for an existing building, the public approvals for existing buildings are considerably easier to attain 24 | November/December 2010 and the process is less likely to attract negative attention. Old is the New MOderN Sometimes there is no substitute for new construction. New dorms may be needed to accommodate higher enrollments or increase the percentage of students living on campus. Colleges and universities may also choose the new construction route for reasons having to do with promoting sustainability and ensuring highperforming facilities. Public approvals for existing buildings are less likely to attract negative community attention. It’s natural to link energy efficiency and environmentally conscious design to new construction. But sometimes, the oldest campus buildings feature sustainable elements and can be retrofitted easily to reduce waste and energy consumption. Existing buildings embody energy and materials that were spent in their production. Demolition of existing buildings produces waste, while new construction requires that we expend both new energy and resources. A study by Mike Jackson, a visiting professor in the School of Architecture at the University of illinois at UrbanaChampaign, noted that energy embodied in existing buildings, particularly well built historic structures, should be included in a holistic approach to sustainability. In comparing improving the efficiency of an existing building by 30 percent to new construction, Jackson found it took a period of over 50 years before new construction would achieve any lifecycle energy savings—longer than the life span of most new buildings. Many existing buildings, especially those built before World War I, are ripe for improvements that enhance their energy efficiency and reduce their environ- mental impact. Replacing old mechanical systems for heating, air conditioning, and ventilation with new, state-of-the art systems can deliver enormous energy savings. The floor-to-ceiling height of old buildings makes it easier to install these new systems. Air infiltration and solar heat gain have the most dramatic impact on energy use to sustain an acceptable indoor environment. Insulating unheated attic and basement spaces, rehabbing existing windows (rather than replacing), eliminating weight pockets that introduce cold air into the building (an equivalent of opening the window), and using window shading devices to cut solar heat gain are examples of noninvasive, economical investments with very short payback periods that result in significant energy savings. Existing buildings, especially some of the oldest, are extremely well built and have features that can be adapted to many different academic uses, from new dry science buildings to residence halls to faculty offices and classrooms. Ironically, some of the newest buildings can be the most difficult to upgrade, as many post-WorldWar II structures were built of poured concrete, and their low ceilings make it difficult to integrate contemporary lighting, technology, and electrical systems. the OptiMUM strategy College and university planners can’t decide in the abstract whether pursuing new construction or renovation is the best approach. That decision will depend on many factors having to do with the site, existing buildings, and institutional objectives. Any approach will come with a set of tradeoffs that need to be weighed and balanced against the benefits. Renovation and reuse are often thought of as “second-best” solutions, but they can be the optimum strategy and produce results every bit as effective as new construction. The more you look at renovation and reuse, the more appealing it is as an approach to planning, design, and building regardless of the economic climate. universitybusiness.com http://www.universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - November/December 2010

University Business - November/December 2010
Contents
Editor's Note
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Behind the News
Viewpoint
Financial Aid
Models of Efficiency
An Edible Arrangement
Friend or Foe?
Sense of Place
Independent Outlook
Internet Technology
What's New
End Note

University Business - November/December 2010