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
Office Buildings | Aug 24, 2015
North America’s real estate market is close to stabilization in cap rate pricing
The latest CBRE survey, covering the first half of the year, finds retail and hotel sectors experiencing the greatest compression.
Office Buildings | Aug 19, 2015
Good design can combat open-office issues
Three tricks to maintain privacy and worker production in a cube-less world, according to GS&P's Jack E. Weber
High-rise Construction | Aug 12, 2015
Construction begins for Kengo Kuma-designed twisted Rolex tower in Dallas
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma designs tower with gradually rotating floor plates for Rolex's new office in Dallas.
Giants 400 | Aug 7, 2015
GOVERNMENT SECTOR GIANTS: Public sector spending even more cautiously on buildings
AEC firms that do government work say their public-sector clients have been going smaller to save money on construction projects, according to BD+C's 2015 Giants 300 report.
Giants 400 | Aug 6, 2015
GREEN BUILDING GIANTS: Green building movement hits a new plateau, but the underlying problems remain
Today, the green building movement is all about eliminating toxic substances in building materials and systems and, for manufacturers, issuing environmental and health product declarations. Whether these efforts will lead to healthier products and building environments remains an open question.
Codes and Standards | Aug 6, 2015
Difference in male-female thermal comfort is due to clothing, ASHRAE says
Women wear lighter clothing in the summer, so they tend to be cooler in air-conditioned rooms, according to the group.
Giants 400 | Aug 5, 2015
GIANTS 300 REPORT: Top 85 Office Sector Construction Firms
Turner, Structure Tone, and Gilbane top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest office sector contractors and construction management firms.
Giants 400 | Aug 5, 2015
GIANTS 300 REPORT: Top 75 Office Sector Engineering Firms
AECOM, Jacobs, and Burns & McDonnell head BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest office sector engineering and engineering/architecture firms.
Giants 400 | Aug 5, 2015
GIANTS 300 REPORT: Top 135 Office Sector Architecture Firms
Gensler, HOK, and Perkins+Will top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest office sector architecture and architecture/engineering firms.
Giants 400 | Aug 5, 2015
OFFICE SECTOR GIANTS: Today’s workplace design must appeal to Millennials’ ‘activity-based’ lifestyle
Office market AEC Giants discuss the latest trends workplace design, and the state of the office construction sector.