Studebaker East Residence Hall - Ball State University
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| View of west entrance |
Occupied by students in January 2013, the Studebaker East Residence Hall has already made an impact on the Ball State University Campus. It has become the first building on campus to achieve LEED Gold certification. A major contributor to achieving this level of certification was the use of valance mechanical units (see article below for explanation on how the valance system works) that tie into the campus geothermal loop, maximizing the efficiency of the system. The mechanical system earned 14 of the project's 66 points. Other key sustainability points were awarded for site items and materials.
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| View of main entry feature wall |
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| Typical resident room |
The project is considered a renovation, although the only existing piece of the original building that remains are the concrete structure. The building is an 8-story dormitory for 430 students, equipped with 2-story lounge spaces, a large multi-purpose room to be used for meetings and presentations, an exercise room, music rooms, and other support spaces.
The project was also recently awarded runner-up in the Indiana IIDA IDEA awards for Sustainable Design Interiors.
This facility will be the home to the International and Language Living-Learning Communities (students studying foreign languages, international students, or American students interested in international topics)
The facility has become a great gateway to the campus from the east, and sets a new benchmark for Ball State's commitment to sustainability.
This facility will be the home to the International and Language Living-Learning Communities (students studying foreign languages, international students, or American students interested in international topics)
The facility has become a great gateway to the campus from the east, and sets a new benchmark for Ball State's commitment to sustainability.
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UnderSTANding LEED:
Valance Mechanical Systems:
Valance heating and cooling units are similar to radiator units, only these units also cool spaces. The units utilize hydronic coils mounted in an enclosure. They are typically located close to ceilings near an outside wall. The units do not require the use of fans to provide heating or cooling to the space. Water runs through the coils provided from system pumps located in a mechanical room in the building The hot or cold water coils induce air to flow through the valance unit and temper the air.
Valance systems offer the following benefits:
1. Quiet - There is no fan noise with the system. They are virtually silent.
2. Efficient - No fans are used to re-circulate the air. The coils operate at a very efficient point, since the air velocity is low across the coil.
3. No draft - With no fans or blowers, the valance system provides consistent operation with gentle air circulation.
4. Easy maintenance - With no moving parts or filters, the only maintenance required is occasional surface cleaning.
5. Easy installation - The units do not require motor connections, just hook into heating and cooling piping and it is complete.
opinion
It is amazing how technology has advanced the design and construction industries. Not only are we now tracking building performance to a higher degree and improving with every project, but project designs are being completed in the blink of an eye compared to how long they took a mere 10 years ago. Schmidt Associates is currently designing a charter school project that will be partially occupied this coming August. (That is roughly a four month design and construction period.) To succeed with a project like that means that the team must have a good understanding of the materials and systems that will be utilized, and integrate them with other disciplines work quickly. The team will also have to work with the contractors to streamline the construction process to keep everyone on schedule. Any hangups or indecision could jeopardize the occupancy in August. The biggest tool that has allowed the design profession to adjust to schedules like these is the advancement of BIM (Building Information Modelling). Programs, like Revit, do not merely draw the designs for projects anymore, they model the building in three dimensions, allowing coordination to occur at a higher level earlier in the design process. I could go on and on about the benefits of BIM, but the main point I want to stress is that it has revolutionized the design process, and allows all disciplines to work smarter and faster. Who knows what design will be like in the next 5 years, but it is surely going to be very intelligent.
1. Quiet - There is no fan noise with the system. They are virtually silent.
2. Efficient - No fans are used to re-circulate the air. The coils operate at a very efficient point, since the air velocity is low across the coil.
3. No draft - With no fans or blowers, the valance system provides consistent operation with gentle air circulation.
4. Easy maintenance - With no moving parts or filters, the only maintenance required is occasional surface cleaning.
5. Easy installation - The units do not require motor connections, just hook into heating and cooling piping and it is complete.
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| image courtesy of Sigma Corp. |
It is amazing how technology has advanced the design and construction industries. Not only are we now tracking building performance to a higher degree and improving with every project, but project designs are being completed in the blink of an eye compared to how long they took a mere 10 years ago. Schmidt Associates is currently designing a charter school project that will be partially occupied this coming August. (That is roughly a four month design and construction period.) To succeed with a project like that means that the team must have a good understanding of the materials and systems that will be utilized, and integrate them with other disciplines work quickly. The team will also have to work with the contractors to streamline the construction process to keep everyone on schedule. Any hangups or indecision could jeopardize the occupancy in August. The biggest tool that has allowed the design profession to adjust to schedules like these is the advancement of BIM (Building Information Modelling). Programs, like Revit, do not merely draw the designs for projects anymore, they model the building in three dimensions, allowing coordination to occur at a higher level earlier in the design process. I could go on and on about the benefits of BIM, but the main point I want to stress is that it has revolutionized the design process, and allows all disciplines to work smarter and faster. Who knows what design will be like in the next 5 years, but it is surely going to be very intelligent.
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