Wash U. Engineering Building Combines Classic Design, Sustainability

The new home for the engineering program at Washington University in St. Louis combines classic campus architecture with state-of-the-art sustainable technology. Clayco Inc. recently completed construction on Stephen F. & Camilla T. Brauer Hall. Ground was broken on the facility in October of 2008, and the project was completed one month ahead of schedule in April 2010. Ground was broken on the facility in October of 2008, and the project was completed one month ahead of schedule in April 2010.
 
The 150,000-square-foot-plus structure is part of Washington University's School of Engineering & Applied Science and is registered for LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Located near the northeastern perimeter of the University's Danforth Campus, the four-story concrete Brauer Hall features a granite and limestone façade and includes 27 labs.
 
The facility will serve as the home for the School of Engineering's Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering (EECE), provide space for the International Center for Advanced Renewable Energy & Sustainability (I-CARES) and share facilities with the University's highly successful Department of Biomedical Engineering.
 
"This structure relates to the rich tradition of historically based collegiate gothic style design on the university's Danforth Campus, while incorporating the latest technologies to enrich the activities of those who will be utilizing the facility," said Steve Street, Clayco vice president and project executive on the Brauer Hall construction. "Brauer Hall connects with Uncas A. Whitaker Hall, home of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, on all levels of its west façade, presenting a seamless quality to those within the two structures and creating an extraordinary physical presence."

Two-thirds of the space in Brauer Hall is dedicated to research laboratories designed to maximize flexibility across the range of aquatics, aerosols, synthetic chemistry, and biomedical research activities that will be undertaken in the structure. A plug-and-play casework system, which includes moveable base cabinets, removable tables, and ceiling-mounted service panels, improves the ability to accommodate a range of bench-top and floor-mounted equipment while reducing the cost of future renovations as research priorities change. An 86-seat distance-learning classroom will be available to all academic departments and schools. Inspiring research collaboration from across the globe.
 
The structure was also designed and built with superior sustainability in mind in order to achieve LEED Gold status. Some of the sustainable design features of Brauer Hall include:
• Off-site renewable energy sources which power a large percentage of the building's energy needs
• Thermally efficient building envelope which reduces heat gain and heat loss
• High albedo roof to reduce the heat-island effect
• Energy savings in excess of 30 percent through high-efficiency air-handling systems that incorporate air-to-air recovery
• Reduced water consumption by 30 percent through the use of low-flow fixtures including waterless urinals
• Storm water recycling system for use in site landscape irrigation
• Low-emitting materials for adhesives and interior floor and wall finishes
• Recycling/salvaging at least 75 percent of non-hazardous construction waste
• On-site bike racks, accessibility to Metrolink light rail, and many bus route stops which encourage ridesharing and alternative transportation measures to reduce potential transportation pollution
 
RMJM served as architect on the project. Joining Clayco, Cole & Associates, Inc. was the civil engineer, KPFF, Inc. was the structural engineer, and William Tao & Associates, Inc. was the mechanical consultant overseeing the MEP, FP design builders.

Columns