The campus is Saudi Arabia’s first LEED-certified project and, at the time of its certification, the world’s largest LEED Platinum project. In 2011, R&D Magazine awarded it ‘Lab of the Year’ status, reporting:
KAUST contains just about every modern lab concept known today. Just a few of the notable features include interchangeable lab neighborhoods, changeable lab support zones, grid planning, kit-of-parts lab furniture, walkable interstitial space, overhead lab services, MEP systems integrated with lab grid, heat recovery wheels, lab visibility/transparency, collaboration spaces, simple and large circulation spines, high-height pilot areas and lab daylighting.
Benjamin Bachman, the CEO and managing director of a U.S.-based resilient floor manufacturer, recalls the conversation with the HOK design team and contractor, Saudi Oger, who discussed flooring for the KAUST campus.
“Originally, when I met with the team, the KAUST high-sustainability goals were a catalyst to prioritize product attributes by LEED v3 points contribution, such as maximizing recycled content,” he says. “There was further discussion about selection criteria, such as using the best high-traffic resilient floor for laboratory usage, using a product that could last 20 years, and using a product that requires no waxing. In the final analysis, a product was installed to accomplish both the sustainability and performance goals.”
“Now with LEED v4, we can tell a much more comprehensive story about the life cycle and ingredients in our products, which include products that go beyond recycled content and low-emitting aspects. From the beginning, each phase of the product is considered, including saving on natural resources (energy/water) to maintenance without harsh chemicals, as well as the durability for a good long life,” Bachman continues. “We are looking forward to LEED v4 revealing to the building community more about how products relate to the environment and health.”
Pioneer
As mentioned, energy and water savings may be common high priorities, but they are not the full measure of a material. Perhaps a cutting-edge client has other environmental priorities, such as bio-based material ingredients—that is, commercial or industrial products (other than food or feed) significantly composed of biological products, renewable agricultural materials, or forestry materials. As a specifier, one must look to the neutral green expert(s) and their recommendations with respect to product manufacturers, investing in this particular field’s research and development.
One of the most respected resources for green building research, resources, and products, BuildingGreen’s Environmental Building News (EBN) highlighted Healthy Building Network’s (HBN) analysis of alternatives to phthalate plasticizers in 2014. HBN is another recognized independent green material research resource that analyzes environmental, health, and social outcomes. It found certain proprietary bio-based plasticizers stood out as having the fewest environmental and health impacts.
Perpetual
Ideally, all the products specified are put into buildings we occupy in the perpetual loop of reuse. A visionary specifier goes beyond identifying the life cycle analysis and examines the product history, as well as the future innovation forecast. Although the industry is transitioning from recycled content to life cycle thinking, this does not mean companies are forgetting where they came from.
In analysis, one often finds reused or recycled content to be better for the overall life cycle. It is important to consider products that include a minimum percentage of recycled content across their entire product line, as well as those that have the ability to be 100 percent recycled or reused.
Purpose
One of the new big green trends is transparency, from the macro to the micro. This can be translated to the manufacturers with whom the project team partners. Companies are made up of people focused on a purpose. It is critical to ask questions when collaborating with outside companies and organizations to determine their business values and environmental ethos.
