2 OPN-designed projects awarded for Excellence in Energy Efficient Design

Two OPN-designed projects were honored for Excellence in Energy Efficient Design in a virtual event on Oct. 1.

The new Automotive Technology building at Kirkwood Community College and Ankeny’s new public library are both among the top 10 projects with highest energy savings that participated in Iowa’s Commercial New Construction program.

Kirkwood Community College Automotive Technology

The new auto tech building achieved 43% kBTU savings when compared to the program baseline.

Geared to take Kirkwood Community College students into the future, the state-of–the-art space to educates students and prepares them with an optimize environment for learning crucial automotive diagnostic and repair skills for the rapidly changing automotive maintenance and repair market. The program was key in setting the bar and incentives during design so that the design team could achieve and exceed energy savings strategies without sacrificing function and comfort for Kirkwood Community College and its students.

The new space was renovated from an existing forge with a pre-cast exterior that included no window or daylight views. The design team worked across disciplines to find the best way to accomplish the project goal of increased daylighting in both classrooms and the open shop. This required structural modifications to the pre-cast panels, new high efficiency glazing, and HVAC/Lighting controls to maximize the benefits of the additional daylight.

Ankeny Public Library

Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library was conceived of as part of a new development for a growing midwestern city.  The vision for the development was to model a traditional town square. As such, it was important that the new building strike the appropriate civic tone.  The design modernizes traditional proportion, massing and materials that lend a sense of endurance and permanence.

On axis with the commercial district and water features, the library anchors the town square. Building orientation and careful application of overhangs and exterior shading coupled with roof monitors for daylighting were major components of keeping the energy consumption down. The southwest-facing building’s long, narrow bars drive daylight deep into the floor plates. O­­verhangs and vertical fabric sun-shades help to avoid direct sunlight at the open collection spaces inside.

Other strategies include:

• Ground-source distributed water-source heat pumps.
• Hydronic radiant in-floor heating system.
• Dedicated Outdoor Air System with Energy Recovery and Integrated Heat Pumps.
• Daylighting in lobbies, stack areas, stairwells and along Southwest façade.
• Occupant-controlled lighting.

As a result, the library achieved 53% EUI reduction compared to the program baseline.