Case Study
Overview
Saint Xavier University - O'Brien Hall
More than 100 Saint Xavier University students recently moved into a new environmentally friendly residence hall at SXU’s Chicago campus, located at 3700 W. 103rd St. The 36,664 square-foot residence hall is the sixth co-ed residence hall at the Chicago campus. In an Oct. 15 ceremony, the University will officially name the building after Mother Mary Agatha O’Brien, R.S.M., in recognition of her founding role as one of the original Chicago Sisters of Mercy.
O’Brien was the first superior of the Sisters of Mercy who originally came to Chicago from Ireland in 1846. She was 24 at the time. The hall was built to LEED Gold Environmental Standards as set forth by the U.S. Green Building Council. Last year, SXU’s Arthur Rubloff Hall became the first university building in the state of Illinois to receive the coveted LEED Gold designation from the U.S. Green Building Council for environmentally friendly design elements.
Major Project Goal
Green Building: It is Saint Xavier University’s desire that all aspects of the project will be accomplished so as to minimize any current or future environmental impact. All attempts must be made to design and construct the site and buildings to meet or exceed the requirements necessary to be certified at the Silver Level of the LEED Green Building Rating System™, Version 2.2. of the U.S. Green Building Council.
Green Building
USGBC LEEDTM Program: The building will be designed and constructed to achieve a certified rating within the given program for the space and available budget. Requirements for green building items that are part of the LEED™ process will be incorporated in to drawings and specifications for the facility to provide clear direction to the construction team.
Measurable goals:
- The project obtains a Gold LEED™ rating
- The project meets the specifications
Results
- The project submitted is Gold LEED™ rating with 46 LEED points pending.
- Optimization of Energy Performance achieved was 28% below the ASHRAE Standard 90.1 – 2004 Energy Standard with an excellent envelope, mixed mode ventilation stair tower, variable volume air handlers/pumps and heat recovery in make up air units earning 6 LEED points for reducing emissions to the environment from coal-fired electric generation plants linked to global warming and ground level ozone (smog).
- Elimination the use of CFC and HCFC refrigerants in air conditioning equipment earned the prerequisites for Energy and Atmosphere and 1 LEED point for reducing emissions to the environment linked to global warming.
- Sustainable building material choices used included low volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) for adhesives, paints and carpet; over 10% in recycled content, over 20% manufactured locally and above 50% harvested locally which earned 4 LEED points.
- Water efficiency and use reduction from low flow plumbing fixtures and use of the campus lake for irrigation water earned 4 LEED points.
- Reducing impact on our ecosystems with sustainable site selection on an existing parking lot, near public transportation, with bicycle storage hooks in student rooms, preferred parking for car pools, development of open space adjacent the building and storm water management with a green roof and slow drainage swales and landscape designed to minimize heat islands earning 9 LEED points.
- Discarded construction waste material recycled and/savaged was over 90% and earned 2 LEED points.
- Erosion and sedimentation control Plan earned the prerequisite for sustainable sites.
- SXU Campus purchased Green power from windmills and solar farms earn 2 LEED points.
- Building commissioning identified issues with the chiller and energy optimization and earned the Prerequisite for Energy and Atmosphere and 1 LEED point.
- Daylight and views for 90% of spaces earns 2 LEED points.
- Indoor Environmental Quality with Mixed Mode ventilation in stair tower and direct injection of fresh air to student rooms increases ventilation effectiveness and thermal comfort, the controllability of the HVAC systems and permanent temperature and humidity monitoring earns 6 LEED points
- Construction IAQ plans earn 2 LEED points
- Green housekeeping and pesticides earn 2 LEED Innovation in design points.
Conclusion
The main driver for O’Brien Hall green design is the recognition of increased productivity from a building that is comfortable and enjoyable and provides healthy conditions. Comfortable occupants are less distracted, able to focus better on their tasks, and appreciate the physiological benefits good green design provides with day lighting, environmentally sensitive materials, outside views and thermal comfort. Since it opening to students on August 19, 2008, the O’Brien Hall has yet to receive formal accolades, but as engineers we are particularly satisfied by the overwhelmingly positive reaction from the students and administrators occupying the building relating to indoor air quality, acoustics and thermal comfort.