New Headquarters for Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.
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| Hoosier Energy HQ exterior rendering |
As an outgrowth of a 2011
Strategic planning effort led by Schmidt Associates, Hoosier Energy made the
decision that a new Headquarters facility was required to enhance their overall
operations. The existing site was
constrained in size, had inadequate access and parking, limited flexibility,
and was challenged to provide appropriate technology and security.
The new facility will be
located in Bloomington near the Tapp Road and State Road 37 intersection. It is the desire of Hoosier Energy that this
building will enhance their overall operations and improve recruiting efforts
by creating interactive and collaborative work areas with a high level of
technology and flexibility.
Within a $27.5M total project
cost, the new facility will be an 83,000 SF building that is three stories with
a basement under one wing. A future
addition has been master planned that will add approximately 30,000 SF.
This building will house the
administrative functions for the Hoosier Energy REC, which includes 6 major
departments: Senior Staff, Management Services, Business Development, Finance
and Accounting, Power Supply, and Power Delivery. The building has been sized to accommodate
the current staff of approximately 115 as well as 50 future staff.
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| Hoosier Energy HQ Lobby rendering |
Sustainability will also be a
major focus of the new facility. Hoosier Energy has a desire to pursue LEED
Gold certification as a means to indicate their commitment to the environment
and to clearly communicate and validate the sustainable design initiatives within
the project. Some of the primary goals
include:
- Maintaining a compact building footprint to preserve as many trees as possible
- Maximize views to the woods while providing natural light to work spaces
- Use of Car charging stations
- A 40% reduction in water usage with low flow fixtures, including dual flushing toilets
- Create a highly energy efficient facility with a Geothermal VRV system, LED light fixtures, daylight harvesting, and receptacle switching to cut down on phantom loads. Project energy efficiency is approximately 45% better than the LEED baseline.
As part of the early design
meetings with the Owner, several mechanical system options were evaluated. Based on the desire to show how efficient an
electrically operated mechanical system can be, three variations on a VRV
system were explored: Air cooled, Water cooled, and Geothermal. Early life cycle costing showed that an air
cooled system would be the least expensive over a 25 year life cycle by almost
$400,000 over a geothermal system. Even
with this in mind, the Owner decided to pursue geothermal due to its overall
energy efficiency benefits. Once bids
were received, it illustrated that, in fact, a geothermal VRV system will be
less costly over a 25 year life cycle by almost $300,000.
This project was a great
example of what early energy modeling and analysis can do in terms of
right-sizing equipment and being intentional with the design of the building
envelop relative to energy performance.
Through early energy models, it was determined that 14 geothermal wells
could be eliminated if an improved glazing was used on the west facing
windows. This resulted in an overall
savings to the project of approximately $20,000.
In addition, sun studies made it possible to determine the
optimal overhang distance for the soffit.
As you can see, technology has
made it possible for the design team to do early analysis and help to make
informed decisions on system decisions to get the greatest return on investment
relative to energy efficiency.
The Owner is projected to
occupy the new facility by December 1, 2014.
events
Schmidt Associates Energy Fair 2013
Plans have begun for the 3rd annual Energy Fair at Schmidt Associates. Each year this event has gotten bigger and better. This year should be no different. Stay tuned for more info. The event has been preliminarily slated for late October.
opinion
The entry above about Hoosier Energy demonstrates how building performance has really changed the way designers look at buildings. Being able to identify the differences changes in glass characteristics can have in the number of geothermal wells needed is amazing. Early performance modeling programs like Sefaira and Ecotect are helping designers quickly understand implications of tweaking design options in dollar values that the Owner will spend when operating the facility. This kind of analysis helps justify some of the premiums that high-performance design sometimes requires. It also helps designers realize other means to achieve the performance they are targeting. Whatever it does to the design its obvious that it is improving the process of design and achieving better results. The Hoosier Energy Headquarters project will be a great project to see constructed and an even greater project to see in operation. Smarter design is what we are about.
Sustainable Stan
Plans have begun for the 3rd annual Energy Fair at Schmidt Associates. Each year this event has gotten bigger and better. This year should be no different. Stay tuned for more info. The event has been preliminarily slated for late October.
opinion
The entry above about Hoosier Energy demonstrates how building performance has really changed the way designers look at buildings. Being able to identify the differences changes in glass characteristics can have in the number of geothermal wells needed is amazing. Early performance modeling programs like Sefaira and Ecotect are helping designers quickly understand implications of tweaking design options in dollar values that the Owner will spend when operating the facility. This kind of analysis helps justify some of the premiums that high-performance design sometimes requires. It also helps designers realize other means to achieve the performance they are targeting. Whatever it does to the design its obvious that it is improving the process of design and achieving better results. The Hoosier Energy Headquarters project will be a great project to see constructed and an even greater project to see in operation. Smarter design is what we are about.
Sustainable Stan
