Life Science Laboratories at UMass Amherst achieved LEED Gold® certification
The new Life Science Laboratories (LSL) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst achieved LEED Gold® certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
The LSL is a research facility dedicated to cross and transdisciplinary research. The laboratories are planned with a flexible ‘ballroom’ concept to enable a variety of future research. Vertical duct shafts are pushed to the ends, leaving an open central area free for a wide range of lab planning modules. This investment in flexible space provides the University with opportunities to recruit new faculty and form partnerships with industry leaders.
The west facade features a cantilevered glazed canopy, which provides weather protection, and runs along the entire length of the building ending at a terrace with picturesque views. At the base of the building, rain gardens/bio-swales capture, filter, and contain runoff from the roof, parking lot, and pavement.
The design incorporates multiple energy reduction strategies, including high-efficiency (low-flow) fume hoods, enthalpy wheel and heat-pipe energy recovery AHU’s, heat exchangers to harvest energy from water cooled equipment, and a continuous air monitoring system. These systems reduced site energy 36.7% versus code-minimum, for an energy use intensity of just 160kBTU/sf/yr. In AIA 2030 terms, this is a 50% reduction from the Labs21 regional average of 320kBTU/sf/yr.
Innovation in Design credits were awarded for fully commissioned, ASHRAE 110 compliant, low flow fume hoods throughout the labs, exemplary water use reduction (49% reduction, exceeding the Energy Policy Act of 1992 fixture performance requirements) and for a Green Building Education case study and comprehensive signage that were deemed actively instructional.
The construction team at Whiting Turner was able to divert 81% of construction waste from landfill, greatly exceeding the LEED 75% waste removal requirement and 22% of construction materials were extracted, processed, and manufactured regionally.