This month, ASHRAE’s new global headquarters became fully net-zero energy upon the installation of its photovoltaic system.
This 66,700-sf, three-story building, which previously housed an information management company Recall, was originally built in 1978. It’s located in Peachtree Corners, Ga., along Atlanta’s Technology Parkway corridor, and 10 miles from ASHRAE’s previous headquarters. The building’s transformation, which began in January 2020, is “a living showcase of what’s possible,” said Charles Gulledge III, PE, ASHRAE’s 2020-2021 President. It might also serve as proof that net-zero energy can be more than an aspiration for existing buildings.
The renovation and retrofit used innovative technologies and sustainable materials to reduce energy use, water consumption, and the building’s carbon footprint. Skanska, the project’s Construction Manager at Risk, completed the renovation during the coronavirus pandemic without having to shut down. ASHRAE’s 110-person staff started moving into the building last October.
The net-zero-energy ready design exceeds ASHRAE’s own energy and indoor standards. (Even before the COVID pandemic, ASHRAE had planned to provide 30% more outside air to the renovated building than the required minimum ventilation rates from its own Standard 62.1.) The design targets LEED and International Living Future Institute zero energy certifications.
THE TECHNICAL BELLS AND WHISTLES
ASHRAE's headquarters is distinguished by a radiant ceiling panel system (above) and formidable mechanical room that includes four heat pumps.
The new headquarters’ technical features include:
•A radiant ceiling panel system for heating and cooling, and a dedicated outdoor air system to enhance ventilation via overhead fresh-air distribution
•Six water-source heat pumps
•Demand-control ventilation for high-occupancy spaces
•Modeling Energy Use Intensity of 17 kBTU/sf/year
•On-site electric vehicle charging stations
•18 skylights and a reconfigured window/wall ratio, which at the work plane is 79.9%.
There are 18 skylights in the building (above), and dashboards throughout that relay information about the building's performance.
Among the headquarters’ digitally connected solutions are remote monitoring and analysis of building performance via online dashboarding, and an advanced Building Automation System that’s’ integrated with other systems. Advanced conferencing is designed to serve as a “digital lighting” teaching resource.
To help fund this $20 million project, ASHRAE raised $9.7 million from 31 corporate donors, which included gifts of equipment and services. ASHRAE members donated more than $500,000.
The project’s design team included McLennan Design, Houser Walker Architecture, and Integral Group. Collins Project Management managed the renovation, and Epsten Group was the Commissioning Agent.
Related Stories
Government Buildings | Mar 24, 2023
19 federal buildings named GSA Design Awards winners
After a six-year hiatus, the U.S. General Services Administration late last year resumed its esteemed GSA Design Awards program. In all, 19 federal building projects nationwide were honored with 2022 GSA Design Awards, eight with Honor Awards and 11 with Citations.
Geothermal Technology | Mar 22, 2023
Lendlease secures grants for New York’s largest geothermal residential building
Lendlease and joint venture partner Aware Super, one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds, have acquired $4 million in support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to build a geoexchange system at 1 Java Street in Brooklyn. Once completed, the all-electric property will be the largest residential project in New York State to use a geothermal heat exchange system.
Green Renovation | Mar 5, 2023
Dept. of Energy offers $22 million for energy efficiency and building electrification upgrades
The Buildings Upgrade Prize (Buildings UP) sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy is offering more than $22 million in cash prizes and technical assistance to teams across America. Prize recipients will be selected based on their ideas to accelerate widespread, equitable energy efficiency and building electrification upgrades.
Affordable Housing | Feb 22, 2023
Passive House, sustainability standards meet multifamily development
These multifamily developments are not only Passive House (PHIUS) certified, but affordable for tenants.
Senior Living Design | Feb 15, 2023
Passive House affordable senior housing project opens in Boston
Work on Phase Three C of The Anne M. Lynch Homes at Old Colony, a 55-apartment midrise building in Boston that stands out for its use of Passive House design principles, was recently completed. Designed by The Architectural Team (TAT), the four-story structure was informed throughout by Passive House principles and standards.
Sustainability | Feb 9, 2023
University of Southern California's sustainability guidelines emphasize embodied carbon
A Buro Happold-led team recently completed work on the USC Sustainable Design & Construction Guidelines for the University of Southern California. The document sets out sustainable strategies for the design and construction of new buildings, renovations, and asset renewal projects.
Sustainability | Feb 8, 2023
A wind energy system—without the blades—can be placed on commercial building rooftops
Aeromine Technologies’ bladeless system captures and amplifies a building’s airflow like airfoils on a race car.
Green | Jan 26, 2023
Corporations fall short on climate pledges by failing to embed net-zero actions into operations
Many corporations are failing to implement simple, practical steps needed for them to hit their stated decarbonization goals, according to a survey of more than 300 operations managers across key industrial sectors including construction, energy, and chemicals in the U.S., U.K., and Germany.
Green | Jan 17, 2023
Top 10 U.S. states for green building in 2022
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its annual ranking of U.S. states leading the way on green building, with Massachusetts topping the list. The USGBC ranking is based on LEED-certified gross square footage per capita over the past year.
Cladding and Facade Systems | Dec 20, 2022
Acoustic design considerations at the building envelope
Acentech's Ben Markham identifies the primary concerns with acoustic performance at the building envelope and offers proven solutions for mitigating acoustic issues.