Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Net Positive Outdoor Sustainability Learning Center
EPA Grant Number: SU836791Title: Net Positive Outdoor Sustainability Learning Center
Investigators: Glasser, Harold
Institution: Western Michigan University
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Phase: I
Project Period: November 1, 2016 through October 31, 2017
Project Amount: $14,536
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2016) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Sustainable and Healthy Communities , P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
The purpose of this project is to collaboratively design a building that will function as an Outdoor Education Space, while upholding the many sustainable design principles found in the Living Building Challenge 3.1 Standard. This project also aims to go beyond the typical design-bid-build approach of modern design firms by placing design power in the hands of the community that will be using the space. The two main products from this project will be a detailed and replicable process that any small team can follow and, with some support, achieve similar results, and the schematic design of the space itself.
The Outdoor Education Space is a case study approach to forge a new design process for net positive buildings on university campuses. People of diverse backgrounds are brought together to develop awareness and understanding about sustainability principles that influence the spaces we live and learn in. The challenge is not about having the technology or brain power to bring all of the ideas together, but in creating a human-scale process that can.
The open, accessible process that we are developing provides a stable and replicable platform, which other teams may use to design products, objects, and policies. Our inclusive, community-centric design process acts to lower the barriers between designers, architects, engineers, and those they serve via building design and construction. By showing that net-positive sustainable design can be done by small teams with small budgets, our process is not only improving outcomes – it’s opening the design field to many who might otherwise choose a more traditional method, or avoid the field altogether.
We intend for the Outdoor Education Space design to result in a building to be constructed at the Gibbs House site, a living-learning laboratory devoted to permaculture research, demonstration, and education. The Outdoor Education Space will host a diverse array of programming and activities, such as: workshops, classes, business meetings, retreats, potlucks, film festivals, and more. A primary focus of the public activities and workshops will be centered around education and learning to support lifestyles and behavior change to promote net-positive living.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Divergent brainstorming took the form of open workshop-based events with many community members and a loose event structure that would help our project team to move from identifying potential activities to design elements, constraints, and patterns. The objective of these initial charrettes was to work with a very diverse group of potential users to generate a broad variety of desired programming uses, building features, and other concerns for the future Outdoor Education Space. The project team learned, very early on, that bringing in users to identify and discuss building features and tradeoffs iteratively and openly would enable them to create the most usable, enjoyable, healthy, and productive public space.
Convergent conceptualization of the design took the form of group community meetings and smaller informal critique sessions with industry professionals such as architects and developers. The leading outcome from these group charrettes involved identification of six constraints to guide the schematic design. The six constraints are non-intrusive facade, connection to site, flexible space, optimize annual energy production, natural light, and usable outdoor space.
Decision making for the scope of schematic design required an internal milestone for the project team. Design Development (DD) and Construction Documents (CD) are future building phases that require additional detail and solidified decisions based on final community consensus, available budget, and professional consultant input. Technical and philosophical responses to each identified design issue are considered the milestones for closing the schematic decision-making stage. It is important to note that the Design Development phase typically addresses and resolves system level issues that stem from schematic design topics. Construction Documents resolve more technical and production design conflicts based on actual building materials and construction type.
Conclusions:
Schematic Design Set
The key deliverable for Phase I is a schematic design set for the Outdoor Education Space. The drawing set is intended to define general building form, scale, and features. The current state of the drawings are based on the collaboratively defined decisions made during the latest round of critique and decision making sessions. The next phase, Design Development, intends to expand upon the schematic design set to size systems, select materials, and other architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and landscape design aspects.
Rainwater System Design
Given the roof dimensions and area, we have calculated an estimated amount of annual rainfall that will be harvested by the rainwater collection system. From our programming charrettes we have been able to estimate the amount of guests per annum (approximately 2000), which allowed us to extrapolate water per guest requirements and a baseline of water required per year to support the entire building envelope, guests, and staff. Estimations show that 7,700 gallons of water will be needed per year, and with the roof design as it currently stands, there will be 1195 sq. ft. of collection space, which would result in an annual collection of approximately 23,927 gallons per year. This surplus of 16,157 gallons will allow the permaculture research team to use the harvested water in the gardens and hoop houses, while demonstrating to guests the safety, ease, and benefits of rainwater collection.
Energy Systems Design
Electrical demand is another instance of net-positive design for this space — since our design calls for the integration of rainwater and solar systems, they can be run in parallel, resulting in saved space and energy. The maximum solar photovoltaic system size based on the available south facing roof area is 20 kW-DC. The solar panels shall roof mounted at a 3”/12” roof pitch (14°) which shall provide approximately 22,160 kWh annually based on ideal estimations provided by the NREL PVWatts Calculator. These estimates are based on a standard 340W panel and a typical Michigan solar irradiation rate of 3.83 kWh/m2/day. The system shall be grid-tied to meet University safety standards. However, energy metering will be provided to quantify future energy use and production patterns. Therefore, the building will be net-positive in terms of electricity production, although it will not be storing energy on site, as per LBC 3.1 requirements, rather, excess electricity will be sent back to the municipal grid, ensuring that the energy produced does not go to waste while sitting in batteries.
Hot water for heating is intended to be provided in the building in order to provide radiant flooring for occupant thermal comfort. Heating hot water shall be provided by a solar thermal system and holding tank. System sizing and specifications shall be explored in the Design Development phase. Domestic hot water shall also be provided for the kitchen and lavatory sinks included in the building. The building is required to be tied to the domestic water line on the property in order to meet University safety standards. Domestic hot water shall be provided by the solar photovoltaic energy system, with a backup electrical hot water heater as emergency contingency. An energy recovery unit with an enthalpy wheel shall function as the main ventilation unit for
the building during peak occupant usage hours.
The iterative, social and collaborative design process explored in this study yielded a schematic design that clearly identifies form, scale, and core architectural features to meet the desired programming uses. Phase I work provided a complete architectural schematic design set by drawing on outputs from our social learning platform, which brought together community members and professionals to explore fundamental elements of programming and design. The high level of community involvement has created a strong sense of engagement for everyone involved as the process moves forward. The project is now able to enter the Design Development phase with the help of consultant professionals to address structural, site, architectural, mechanical, electrical, daylighting, and other technical production-level layers of the design. Construction Documents are the next step after Design Development to ensure the building design meets applicable codes and standards, and maintains safety, buildability, and budget constraints. The scope of energy and water systems have been determined to be net-positive as well as Living Building Red-List compliant. Additionally, the LBC petals of Beauty, and Health and Happiness will be pursued during the certification phase, after construction. Discussions and recommendations for these systems is described below. The Phase I process and positive results ensure that the Outdoor Education Space will be an exemplar of local sustainable design that will serve as a beacon to all who wish to learn and participate in a learning community based around improving quality of life for all.
Recommendations for Phase II include continuing the high level of community engagement and to incorporate additional insight and training from professional consultants. As the project progresses, more technical skills are required for Design Development and Construction Documents. Therefore, inclusion of a diverse set of architects, engineers, developers, landscape architects, and other building professionals is required to develop a feasible, appropriate, and cost-effective building design.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Living Building Challenge, passive building, architectural design, responsible materials, green building, composting toilet, laser cutter, sustainable design, collaborative design, solar photovoltaics, social learning, charrette, community designRelevant Websites:
Western Michigan University Exit
Western Michigan University - Sustainment Exit
Western Michigan University Outdoor Education Space Exit
Gibbs House Outdoor Education Space Exit
Inernational Living Future Institute Exit
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.