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What if the intent of a green building on a university campus is to be a model for more sustainable design, meaning the physical structure itself becomes a means of learning for both students and scholars alike?
That was the challenge facing KJWW Engineering Consultants' branch in Rock Island, Ill., when designing the electrical distribution system of the Harm A. Weber Academic Center on the campus of Judson University in Elgin, Ill. The building opened in time for the fall 2007 semester, with green features that include natural ventilation design, extensive daylighting, and a photovoltaic system that reduces grid power usage.
As of early 2008, the university was striving toward USGBC LEED NC Gold certification, which is expected to be achieved by fall 2008. Additionally, KJWW was honored for its work on the project with this magazine's ARC Silver award in New Construction (see Consulting-Specifying Engineer, December 2007, page 25).
Unique building design
At 88,000 sq. ft, the Weber Academic Center is the biggest building on the Judson University campus. It houses the School of Art, Design, and Architecture; the university library; 20 faculty offices; an administrative suite; and a host of studios and classrooms. It is roughly divided into three separate areas:
The block element, including the library and studios
The bowtie element, a four-story area made up of classrooms
The bar element, made up of studios and offices.
A sustainable design can encompass many things. In the Weber Academic Center's case, that included substantial window glazing and a 4-ft-thick wall cavity that simultaneously reduces solar heat gain and allows in abundant natural light. Photosensors strategically placed throughout the facility turn artificial lights off when there is enough natural light.
Project manager Wade Ross, senior engineer at KJWW, knew that designing an appropriate electrical distribution system to adequately support the Weber Academic Center's sustainability goals would take a...