Kamuela, Hawaii, United States
Flansburgh Architects
Post By:Kitticoon Poopong
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
Conceived as a high school science building dedicated to the study of
alternative energy, the new Energy Lab at
Hawaii Preparatory Academy functions as a zero-
net-energy, fully
sustainable building. The project’s fundamental goal is that of educating the next generation of students in the understanding of environmentally conscious,
sustainable living systems. The project targets
LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge certification. Recently completed in January 2010, the Energy Lab today strives as a living laboratory, furthering its educational goals as a functioning example of
sustainability.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
The Energy Lab was developed in response to the science curriculum it houses. From small project rooms, to a large research center, to a laboratory, spaces were designed to encourage student discovery, exploration and experimentation. The building’s configuration facilitates scientific study both indoors and out, linking interior spaces with the surrounding landscape. Students are surrounded by the systems that they study, and constantly reminded of their methods. Hawaii Prep’s Energy Lab offers a continuous sustainable ‘teaching moment’.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
The building is a LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge candidate. It attempts two exceptionally strict building programs, the latter applying material restrictions and point-of-manufacture radius limits. The building generates all power from photovoltaic and windmill sources. It presently uses only eight percent of the energy it produces, the remainder being net-metered back into the campus grid. The building captures and filters all of its own drinking and wastewater, and generates hot water from solar thermal panels. The building is entirely naturally ventilated, and employs an experimental radiant cooling system as an alternative to air conditioning. There are many other green features but perhaps the greatest sustainable contribution is the building’s alternative energy educational mission where students actively learn from the built environment that surrounds them.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
Daylighting, Sun Shading & Views:
Polycarbonate skylights, wood sun screens, and interior roller shades all work together to introduce, reflect and control natural day light. These components were strategically employed to satisfy foot candle minimums, tackle glare, and enhance views, resulting in a pleasantly lit interior environment.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
Natural Ventilation:
The building is entirely naturally ventilated. Building automated louvers maintain temperature and relative humidity levels to maintain interior comfort. If necessary exhaust fans are activated to induce airflow.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
Experimental Radiant Cooling System:
As an alternative to conventional air conditioning, a radiant cooling system was designed. At night water is circulated through thermal roof panels, cooled via lower evening temperatures, then stored in a below-grade tank for use as a chilled water for air handling units during warm afternoons.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
Integration with the Site:
Located at the windward edge of campus to take full advantage of the abundant trade winds that accelerate down from the hillside above. The site faces due south to picturesque 14,000 foot Mauna Kea volcano. Due southern exposure optimizes solar thermal and photovoltaic panel performance and enables many interior building views directed toward the volcano and valley below. Given the favorable Hawaiian climate and the building’s dramatic hillside setting direct connections to the outdoors are enhanced via operable glass doors. An entry court is located to the east, a large teaching porch opens directly south, and a wind sheltered court to the west sponsors and outdoor, covered classroom. The topography of the hillside is reflected in the stepped, terraced arrangement of the building’s internal spaces, where storage tanks, solar panels and other systems have been strategically located to take advantage of this change in elevation.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
Integration with the Community:
The Elab online, the facility’s website, is a virtual nexus of information. The site tracks local weather data from multiple remote stations, monitors building systems and energy use, studies water consumption and rain collection, and offers all of this valuable microclimate and building data to neighboring residents of Kamuela and to the virtual community beyond. The Energy Lab’s conference room has been designed to take advantage of Hawaii’s bridge between the West Coast and Asian Mainland time zones. Where formerly Hawaii may have suffered from geographical isolation, Hawaii Prep students now benefit by engaging both sides of the pacific during their regular school day via video conferencing.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
Building Systems Monitoring:
Developed to function much like the human brain, the Energy Lab is capable of regulating its breathing, cooling/heating, watering and energy generation, via input from over 250 sensors. The Energy Lab self-regulates its interior climate, maintaining temperature, relative humidity, and carbon dioxide levels in all spaces at all times. Truly a marvel, this system optimizes building performance and is believed the reason for better than anticipated yields in performance thus far.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Matthew Millman |
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| first floor plan--drawing Courtesy of Flansburgh Architects |
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| roof plan--drawing Courtesy of Flansburgh Architects |
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| section diagram--drawing Courtesy of Flansburgh Architects |
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| diagrams--drawing Courtesy of Flansburgh Architects |
The people
Architects: Flansburgh Architects
Location: Kamuela, Hawaii, United States
Partner in Charge: David A. Croteau, AIA
Client: Hawaii Preparatory Academy
Contractor: Quality Builders Inc.
Project Management: Pa’ahana Enterprises LLC
Civil Engineering: Belt Collins Hawaii Ltd.
Structural Engineering: Walter Vorfeld & Associates
Mechanical Engineering: Hakalau Engineering LLC
Electrical Engineering: Wallace T. Oki, PE Inc.
Surveyor: Pattison Land Surveying Inc.
Sustainability Consultants: Buro Happold Consulting Engineers
Completion Date: 2010
Construction Area: 6,100 square feet
Construction Value: $650/sf
Photographs: Matthew Millman
