LEED in early design
How did early planning affect LEED? The project achieved LEED Gold versus its initial target of LEED Silver. The project achieved resource savings of 26 percent for energy and 30 percent for water. Given this project’s focus on control and verification, there are a number of credits that were important to achieve, including the lighting and thermal comfort credits and outdoor air delivery monitoring. Enhanced commissioning, measurement and verification to make sure those systems are functioning well after constructed, and as designed, was critical.
Lean is green, and green in early design is essential. Early planning that brings designers, engineers, contractors, and owners to the same table can result in energy and material savings that translate into upgraded lab spaces equipped to serve researchers today and in the future.
David Miller is the discovery practice director for BSA LifeStructures. His experience contributes to the ongoing development of BSA’s discovery market, the term the firm uses to describe research, science, and technology. Miller has more than 25 years of experience and is known for leading participatory workshops—bringing a sense of fun and enthusiasm to facilitate diverse groups toward consensus. His science and technology experience includes laboratories and support spaces for teaching, testing, and research for public and private sector clients throughout the U.S. Contact him via dmiller@bsalifestructures.com.
Noble Lilliestierna, PE, LEED BD+C, WELL AP, LSSYB, is a mechanical engineer at BSA LifeStructures. He focuses on sustainability and is always looking for what can make buildings healthier places for the planet and the people who use them. As part of integrated design teams, he draws from knowledge including energy modeling, passive and active solar systems, daylighting, computational fluid dynamics, and renewable energy generation. He can be contacted via nlilliestierna@bsalifestructures.com.
