ASHRAE Journal - June 2024 - 58

2024 ASHRAE TECHNOLOGY AWARDS CASE STUDY
1
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radiant slab control zones.
High effi ciency and water-cooled laboratory
equipment, including controlled environmental
rooms and ultralow temperature freezers, were
specifi ed. The water-cooled compressors were
strategically placed in the linear equipment rooms for
easy access.
A rainwater collection system treats and fi lters
graywater used in fl ushing fi xtures and makeup water
for the cooling towers at the central utility plant. It
compr ises 50,000 gallons (189 271 L) of underground
storage tanks and harvests over one million gallons
(3 785 412 L) of rainwater annually.
The building's roof and adjacent parking structure
feature 500 kW of photovoltaic panels to generate
energy, with the lower roof areas featuring green roofs
to reduce stormwater runoff and limit the heat island
FIGURE 1 Annual energy use intensity (EUI) by end-use.
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
323.0
325.8
109.3
Existing
Lab Bldg
Baseline
2007
Energy
Model w/PV
128.7
Overall Energy Use
Humidifi cation
Space Heating
Heat Rejection
Space Cooling
Pumps
Fans
Actual
Energy Use
effect on adjacent interior spaces, adding to the facility's
biophilic design elements.
The building was designed to achieve a 65% reduction
in energy consumption compared to the ASHRAE
Standard 90.1-2007 baseline (Figure 1). The current
building energy use is 60% below the baseline model.
Indoor Air Quality
The entire building is supplied with 100% outside air
provided by independent laboratory and non-laboratory
(offi ce/admin) air handling systems using MERV 8
prefi lters and MERV 14 fi nal fi lters. Reverse osmosis
water with an adiabatic (atomizing) humidifi cation
system provides a minimum of 30% relativity
humidity, improving occupant comfort, ensuring long
term durability of the mass timber elements and
satisfying laboratory process requirements. Kornberg
incorporates purge sections on the energy recovery
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wheels to fl ush odors and particulates to the exhaust
stream. Non-laboratory spaces are supplied with 100%
outdoor air by a low-wall displacement ventilation
system offering fresh air directly to the occupants,
improving ventilation effectiveness and exceeding
ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2013 ventilation rates and
enhancing indoor air quality. Laboratory spaces feature
selective chemical exposure control devices to capture
contaminants and protect laboratory users.
The double skin façade with automated exterior and
interior windows provides natural ventilation for open
offi ce areas when outside conditions are favorable.
Manual overrides of interior windows are provided
locally for individual occupant control when desired.
Combining radiant heating and cooling strategies with
user control of operable windows ensures compliance
with ASHRAE Standard 55-2013.
Innovation
Misc. Loads (With PV Offset)
Interior Lighting
Designed as a 200-year structure, the building
was envisioned as one that would far exceed the
energy savings of similar modern laboratories. Over
160 energy cost-saving measures were thoroughly
reviewed to assess system options for further study
and evaluation. Thermal comfort, acoustics, air
quality and overall return on investment were all key
deciding factors in determining the selected systems.
The Kornberg Center is the fi rst laboratory facility
in the United States to showcase a double skin façade
around its entire perimeter. It also ranks among the few
institutional buildings in Wisconsin to integrate natural
ventilation. Automated controls continuously monitor
interior and exterior conditions, including wind speed/
direction and solar sun angle. Exterior and interior
window positions, automated shade controls, adjustable
lighting and radiant heating and cooling systems are
amassed in an all-in-one room level control panel to
optimize the interior environment for the occupants.
The vibration-sensitive laboratory equipment required
18 in. (457 mm) thick fl oor slabs, allowing the design
team to incorporate exposed concrete ceilings in the
offi ce spaces and embed radiant piping for decoupled
sensible heating and cooling. The mass of the slab was
leveraged to condition the space for extended periods
of time. Acoustic sound baffl es were coordinated to
mitigate noise and ensure the radiant slab ceiling
performance was maintained. 
EUI (kBtu/ft2·yr)
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ASHRAE Journal - June 2024

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