John W. Olver Design Building, UMass Amherst

[{"body":{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[["i"]],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The Olver Design Building, a new\ncollaborative facility at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, unites\nthree design departments from different schools under one roof. In doing so,\nthe building fosters new synergy across the disciplines of architecture,\nbuilding and construction technology, and landscape architecture on the\nuniversity\u2019s flagship western Massachusetts campus. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Drawing inspiration from various\nagrarian patterns found throughout the state, the new building links the more\nformal, large-scale Haigis Mall, built in 1975, to the informal and intimate\nspace of the historic campus. From its sloping site, the building acts as a new\npathway through the campus as its design evokes the school\u2019s roots as a\nland-grant college where local pastures and fields once served as its labs and\nworking classrooms. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The LEED Gold\u2013certified building was\nconstructed with a cutting-edge composite cross-laminated timber system, taking\nits cues from the building construction technology department\u2019s research on\nmass timber. It is the largest such building to be built in the United States,\ndemonstrating the university\u2019s commitment to sustainability and innovation. The\nbuilding\u2019s envelope functions as a protective weather jacket that shields its\nwood structure. A durable rain screen enclosure composed of copper anodized aluminum\npanels and vertical windows suggests the patterns of historic tobacco barns and\npatterns of the region\u0027s forests."]]],[1,"blockquote",[[0,[],0,"\u201cThis first-of-its-kind building\ncombines architecture, construction, and building systems to serve as a\nlearning element for students. While programmatically\nstraightforward, the project is unique and well-executed.\u201d - Jury comment"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Inside the building, the team shaped an\nascending band of makerspaces, studios, faculty offices, and classrooms around\na sky-lit commons to form a central space for collaboration. The commons,\nintended for gathering and presentations, features a stepped-seating area and a\nceremonial cross-laminated timber stair that spans two stories. Elsewhere,\nexposed timber columns, ceiling slabs, and cross-bracing bolster the building\u2019s\nwarm and rustic atmosphere. The building\u2019s mechanical systems are revealed\nwithin the labs and teaching spaces, allowing them to serve as teaching tools\nthat enhance the learning environment for the university\u2019s future architects,\nplanners, and engineers."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"As the building\u2019s spiritual heart, the\ncommons functions as a three-sided courtyard that spills out through the\nbuilding\u2019s cafe and entry to invite the rest of the campus in. A roof terrace\nperched above the commons serves as its outdoor counterpart, providing an\nopen-air classroom for the landscape architecture program. It is reminiscent of\nan alpine garden featuring wild-harvested sod, bare-root plants, and young\nevergreens. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Lessons learned throughout the design\nand construction process have been shared widely by the design team and the\nuniversity. The team\u2019s work has been published nearly 30 times, shared at\nnational and international conferences, and featured in the \u201cTimber City\u201d\nexhibition at the National Building Museum. In 2017 the "],[0,[0],1,"Wall Street Journal"],[0,[],0," noted it has helped \u201clay the foundations for\nthe smart use of mass timber in ways that will soon enrich, and transform, our\nenvironment.\u201d"]]]]},"title":"Project highlights"},{"body":{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aia.org\/resources\/6077668-framework-for-design-excellence","target","_new"]],["strong"],["em"]],"sections":[[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"AIA Framework for Design Excellence"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The "],[0,[0],1,"AIA Framework for Design Excellence"],[0,[],0," represents the defining\nprinciples of good design in the 21st century. Comprised of 10 principles and\naccompanied by searching questions, the Framework seeks to inform progress\ntoward a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment. "]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Integration"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Was there a design charrette? Yes"]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Equitable Communities"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Level of community engagement:"],[0,[],0," "]]],[3,"ul",[[[0,[],0,"Inform: Potential stakeholders were informed about the project, Consult: Stakeholders were provided with opportunities to provide input at pre-designed points in the process. "]],[[0,[],0,"Involve: Stakeholders were involved throughout most of the process. "]],[[0,[],0,"Collaborate: A partnership was formed with stakeholders to share in the decision-making process including development of alternatives and identification of the preferred solution "]],[[0,[],0,"Empower: Stakeholders were provided with opportunities to make decisions for the project."]]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Ecosystems"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Site area that supported vegetation (landscape or green roof)\npre-development:"],[0,[],0," 21% "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Site area that supports vegetation post-development:"],[0,[],0," 35%"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Site area covered by native plants supporting native or migratory\nspecies and pollinators:"],[0,[],0," 76%"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Strategies used to promote Design for Ecosystems:"],[0,[],0," biodiversity, dark skies, soil conservation, habitat conservation, flora\/fauna, abatement of specific regional environmental concerns"]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Water"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Is potable water used for irrigation?"],[0,[],0," Yes"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Is potable water used for cooling?"],[0,[],0," No"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Is grey\/blackwater reused on-site?"],[0,[],0," No"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Is rainwater collected on-site?"],[0,[],0," No"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Stormwater managed on-site:"],[0,[],0," 49%"]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Energy"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"2030 Commitment baseline EUI:"],[0,[],0," 166 kBtu\/sf\/yr"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Predicted net EUI including on-site renewables:"],[0,[],0," 46.8 kBtu\/sf\/yr"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Reduction from the benchmark: "],[0,[],0,"72%"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Is the project all-electric?"],[0,[],0," No"]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Well-being"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Level of air filters installed: "],[0,[],0,"MERV 12-14"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Do greater than 90% of occupied spaces have a direct view to the\noutdoors? "],[0,[],0,"No"]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Resources "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Estimated embodied carbon emissions, including the extraction and\nmanufacturing of materials used in construction: "],[0,[],0,"3.38"],[0,[1],1," "],[0,[],0,"kgCO2e\/m2\/yr"]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Change"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Estimated service life: "],[0,[],0,"60"],[0,[1],1," "],[0,[],0,"years"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Floor area, if any, representing adapting existing buildings:"],[0,[],0,"\n0%"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Ability to survive without utility power:"],[0,[],0," partial back-up power"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Risk assessment and resilience services were\nprovided:"],[0,[],0," climate change risk"]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Discovery"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Has a post-occupancy evaluation been conducted?"],[0,[],0," Yes"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Building performance transparency steps taken:"],[0,[],0," "]]],[3,"ul",[[[0,[],0,"Present the design, outcomes, and\/or lessons learned to the profession"]],[[0,[],0,"Present the design, outcomes, and\/or lessons learned to the public"]],[[0,[],0,"Publish lessons learned from design, construction, and\/or occupancy"]]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Disclaimer"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[2],1,"This information is being provided as a convenience and has been\nprepared by third parties. It is provided for informational purposes only.\nProviding this material does not constitute an endorsement or approval by AIA\nof any of the information. AIA bears no responsibility for the accuracy,\nlegality, or content of this information. Please use at your own discretion. "]]]]},"title":"Framework for Design Excellence metrics"}]