NEXT Spring 09

also:

A reAlly greAt pArk

driving the future

the science of design

At the university of cincinnAti

rethinkingreseArch

spring 2009

a publication of

NEXT ®

Editor: Gary L. Skog, FAIA, LEED APManaging Editor: Judy LittleArt Director: Scott A. Withers, AIGAAdvisor: Ralph J. Mocerino, AIA Contributors: AIA Chicago Committee on the Environment; Reem Akkad, EDAC™; Edward Dean, AIA, LEED AP; Peter Devereaux, FAIA, LEED AP; Kevin Dow; Suzan Edwards; Tim Ellis; Larry Filson; Rick Hall, AIA, ACHA, EDAC™; Lou Hartman, PE, NCEES, LEED AP; Mark Hieber, ASLA, LEED AP; Steve Kismohr, AIA, LEED AP; Debra Levin; Corina Mare; Mary Beth McGrew, AIA; Andrea Paupert; Craig Rutherford, CPSM; Art Smith, FAIA, LEED AP; Enrique Suarez, AIA, LEED AP; Stephanie Sulcer; Rick Torri, AIA; Matt Walsh; Glen Worthington

NEXT is a publication ofHarley Ellis Devereaux Corporation© 2009Send comments and suggestions to:[email protected]

In this issue:

FEATURES

rethinking research

The University of Cincinnati opens up their laboratories

and creates one of the largest and most innovative

research facilities in the country.

this is a great park

The City of Irvine, California looks at a vacated naval air

station as an opportunity to give the public something

great.

together We drive the future

It’s what the people want.

evidence-Based design

New standards in architecture are being developed

proving that design can create places that improve the

patient experience.

DEPARTMENTS

What’s neXt?

Mary Beth McGrew, university architect for the University

of Cincinnati, tells us why architecture is more than just

giving shape to space.

green design: net Zero hero

A building that has a carbon footprint of zero? Is it

possible? There are organizations and government

agencies who believe it is. Includes a special link to the

CoolTool: A Guide to Footprint Reduction Strategies.

roundtable: constructive dialogue

Representatives from three of the nation’s largest

construction companies answer our questions about BIM,

their biggest challenges, and what they believe is NEXT.

neXt: viewpoint

The Future of Design: Three young professionals with

three distinct backgrounds offer three different opinions

about design. Their common thread? The quest for

collaboration and knowledge.

2

1

8

12

14

18

22

24On the cOver:Atrium of the University of Cincinnati’s new Center for Academic and Research Excellence

Printed in the USA on environmentally responsible and sustainable paper with 100% of the fiber from independently certified, well-managed forests, or controlled wood manufactured with electricity in the form of renewable energy (wind, hydro, and biogas) and includes a minimum of 30% post-consumer recovered fiber.

Design: Harley Ellis Devereaux Communications

UnIversIty ArchItectUnIversIty Of cIncInnAtI

In 1989, the University of Cincinnati set out to change pace and transform a once frenetic campus into a dynamic learning environment. A master plan mapped out every detail of a vision: to create a place where people want to be. Insightful minds envisioned a destination studded with masterpieces of architecture, a showplace that would inspire intellectual debate and discussion. Orchestrating and realizing the vision of the plan wasn’t easy. In order to make the vision a reality, there needed to be a shift in thinking. The practice of plopping buildings on any available space stopped and uprooting parking-lots in favor of open green spaces began. It also meant a commitment to designing premiere academic and research facilities.

Most importantly, realizing this vision meant creating a place where students, faculty, employees, and alumni wanted to congregate after class and work. The goal was to create a campus so comfortable that anytime two people were in the middle of a conversation, they would be inclined to say, “Let’s grab a spot over there and talk about it.”

Signature architects created grand scale buildings and the world took notice. The international media touted our campus as having “one of the most impressive collections of contemporary architecture on any American campus” and one that “architecture students will be studying 30 years from now.”

The University of Cincinnati’s aspiration is to place students at the center of everything we do, and the physical transformation of campus has given us a fresh environment and attitude.

Architecture goes way beyond shaping space; it has the power to shape behavior. It contributes to a different kind of learning and doing – learning that is not just the professor in front of a room and doing that’s tied to the community. It stimulates collaboration which in turn fuels new ideas in a world that demands constant and relevant innovation.

What’s neXt?mAry beth mcgreW, AIA

neXt Spring 2009 | 1

2 | neXt Spring 2009

UrbAn reneWAl:The dramatic lines of UC’s new CARE/Crawley Building

creates a new front door for the medical campus

the university of cincinnAti’s neW center for AcAdemic And reseArch eXcellence

rethinkingreseArch


neW pedAgOgy:Students, faculty, and researchers find opportunities to connect in the nine-story atrium


tep inside the University of cincinnati College of Medicine’s new front door and you’ll see what’s next in medical research.

Look up the towering nine-story glass atrium and people are walking on glass bridges. Look in front of you and a researcher is chatting with students on a serpentine wooden bench. Peek inside a study hut to see aspiring doctors cramming for the third test this week. Look beyond the splendid curve of interior glass and you’ll see a library acting as a lifeline for those who are exploring the endless possibilities of health science. Upstairs students are working in the labs. In the basement, students are working out in the fitness center, while others experience what it’s like to dissect a cadaver.

Outside people connect on the landscape. Professors conduct class on Levine Park’s grassy knoll, while students catch a cat nap in between classes at Eden Quad.

Whether it’s learning to care for others or discover-ing breakthroughs through research, medicine will change you. UC’s new Center for Academic and Research Excel-lence, known as the CARE/Crawley Building, teems with a 21st century mindset. Its support for the new pedagogy in learning is in the atrium that evokes a town center feeling and the pedestrian-friendly land-scapes that stimulate the senses of community. Sunny laboratories are thrust in front and exposed to those who pass, proclaiming that research is important, ex-citing, and the engine that drives human potential.

A recipient of the chicago Athenaeum American Archi-

tecture Award, this building is equipped with enough geometry to fill a textbook. And its unique forms and an-gles are so appropriate for a campus known for its avant-garde architecture.

“This is the only place in the country where you can see such a significant collec-tion of architectural masterpieces within very close proximity to each other,” says mary beth mcgrew,

AIA, university architect for UC.

Executive architect, landscape architect, and engi-neers harley ellis devereaux and design architect stU-

dIOs Architecture collaborated for nearly a decade to bring this signature building to life. Connected to the

existing Medical Sciences Building, it provides nearly 240,000 square feet of additional space on the me-dial campus for research and teaching, and is the new home of the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library.

Stemming from UC’s master plan, the CARE/Craw-ley Building and other architectural works builds a dynamic, colorful new urban research university that is anything but pastoral. Bold, star-studded de-signs are woven together with a cohesive landscap-ing theme designed by hargreaves Associates. Each

building, including CARE/Crawley designed by UC alumnus and STUDIOS Architecture principal erik

sueberkrop, stimulates conversations in architecture and academia and provides a learning experience for students.

ChanCe enCountersFrom the invention of the world’s first functional heart-lung machine to breakthrough discoveries in

cancer genes, the University of Cincinnati has a repu-tation for expanding new frontiers in medical science.

But the reputation of research as a profession was not resonating with a younger generation of students, as the profession was perceived as isolating and even, well … nerdy. And recruiting top staff and research-ers was challenging, but a must if UC wanted to com-pete for a high caliber of global talent and funding.

UC’s Medical Sciences Building stemmed from the 1970s, when labs were windowless and each lab ca-

tered to a different function. Often small in form, labs were assigned to individual researchers, leaving no oppor-tunity for interaction.

lou hartman, pe, ncees, principal with Harley Ellis Devereaux, remembers how the old Medical Sciences Building was designed to get people from point A to point B. “People would park their cars, walk to the building, then into a small, two-door vestibule where they were greeted by a row of elevators. Because people entered the building at three different levels and took different paths, there was very little chance of bumping into one another,” he said.

qUIet pleAse:Students enjoy some quiet time in the study huts

Research is important, exciting, and the engine that drives

human potential."


tAke A breAk:The cafeteria gives diners relaxing

views of the campus

frOnt And center:Passersby can see what’s happening in

the light-filled research labs

Mary Beth McGrew, AIA University Architect

University of Cincinnati

Our corporate donors are not coming in and saying 'How extravagant,' they are saying 'These people are doing

amazing things.'"


eXUdes energy:A great place to work, study, and perform state-of-the-art research

research was reserved for introverted types.

This new front door to UC’s medical campus cut through the Medical Sci-ences Building’s many stories to cre-ate a signature expansion. It’s one that bathes in sunlight, cantilevers with angles, and intentionally spurs cross-pollination.

“In order to remain competitive with institutions outside of Ohio, we need to be attractive to out-of-state and in-ternational talent. Multiple researchers have the opportunity to work together in one lab and interact with students. The exposed laboratory space, the energy of the atrium, and a dynamic site demonstrates to anyone who visits our campus that our medical research is filled with energetic people,” notes McGrew.

Hartman adds, “The cutting-edge design says to the world’s leading re-searchers that the University of Cin-cinnati is a great place to work and a place where they can perform state-of-the-art research.”

sustainable show-stopperPlans for a sustainable showpiece were set in motion long before sustainabil-ity was a household name. Labs are energy-intensive by nature, but that didn’t stop the design team from de-signing the CARE/Crawley Building for LEED Gold Certification.

“I think it was very forward thinking of the team to bypass a lot of the cyn-ics at the time who were still arguing sustainability. They moved forward be-cause it was the right thing to do,” said McGrew.

“On the outside, we demolished and then recycled an entire parking struc-ture to make way for a green, pedes-

trian-friendly campus. On the inside, the atrium is all naturally-ventilated and motion sensors save energy. Reflective roofing materials will also minimize the building’s heat absorption,” she added.

mark hieber, AslA, leed Ap, associate and landscape architect with Harley Ellis Devereaux, pointed out that the design of an innovative landscape irrigation system turned out to be the right thing to do for UC and the City of Cincinnati.

The City of Cincinnati combines its sewer system, which means there are overflow issues when they ex-perience large amounts of rainfall. The Metropolitan Sewer District of Cincinnati identified the need to de-

tain storm water on site and release it slowly into the sewer system. In order not to overwhelm the City’s sewer system, the project team created a 90,000-gal-lon storm water detention system and used storm wa-ter for landscape irrigation.

“Not only did we address the Metropolitan Sewer District’s concerns, we took advantage of an oppor-tunity to capture and reclaim storm water that drains across the site and use it for supporting the land-scape,” notes Hieber.

The call to bring sustainability to the campus extends beyond academia and those who design. Students are proclaiming that it’s important to them, too.

“When students visit our campus, they care about how many LEED-certified buildings we have. Sus-tainability is important to this generation and it’s fur-thering our recruitment of new students and faculty,” says McGrew.

after effeCtsBringing together 20 departments and 3,000 students, faculty, and staff in what is now one of the largest, most innovative research facilities in the nation has major impact.

McGrew says that corporate donations are the lifeline of any research institution, and donors expect more from a space – they expect a place where great things will happen. “This has given us even more credibility. Just the other day our vice president of research said ‘I love showing off the building.’ Our corporate do-nors are not coming in and saying ‘how extravagant,’ they are coming in and saying, ‘These people are do-ing amazing things,’” McGrew said.

Hartman adds, “There’s a real hands-on type of learn-ing in medicine. Now juxtapose that against the airy, light finished spaces that are filled with interaction. It’s an interesting way to create a setting for educa-tion.”

And with a campus of 35,000 strong, those who are using the CARE/Crawley Building are extracting its fullest potential.

McGrew concludes, “The students are so excited. One student talked about how it was a totally differ-ent building when his sister went here. You can tell they like it because they use it. They’re here all of the time. It’s nice to walk in the front door and see students in the library, in the study huts, in the open study areas, and walking up and down the stairs. The bridges really defy logic. Not only do they connect the existing wing to the research wing, they contribute to the lightness of the atrium. It really did make an in-terior street that made the college of medicine come alive.”

That’s a problem, and the old-school design prac-tice of housing research labs in the building’s back side created another problem, according to McGrew. “Students were not interested in being researchers because conducting research meant sitting in a dark, dusty lab; or they associated research with a lack of excitement,” she said.

And attracting world-class talent that would position UC as a leader in a globalized world would not be addressed in the Medical Sciences Building’s aging in-frastructure and enclosed interior design. So in 1999, the design team set out to renovate and expand to not only add research space, but to foster collaboration, support UC’s strategic plan, and defy the notion that


Up, Up, And AWAy:Passengers soar 250-400 feet in the Great Park Balloon

greAt pArkby Mark E. Hieber, ASLA, LEED AP

Almost tWice the siZe of nyc’s centrAl pArk, the orAnge county greAt pArk is the most significAnt pArk under construction in the u.s.


o you remember your first childhood play spaces? It may have been your backyard, the street, a blanket fort in your bedroom, or your neighborhood park. Where I grew up, the neighborhood park was the place to be. During the summer, we played wiffle ball where the backstop of a regulation softball diamond served as the hitting measure. Over the top of the fence – a home run! I remember swinging on the swing set as high as I could to make my feet touch the trees tow-ering out of my reach. In autumn, it was touch foot-ball on sunny, Sunday afternoons. In the winter, the city made an ice rink for skating and hockey. And big mounds of plowed snow became mountains to climb and see far away places with your imagination. I have strong memories of that place … the park, the focus of a child’s world.

Our need for various types of parks changes as we grow, explore new in-terests, and our families transform. Parks come in all shapes and sizes, from just a few square feet to hun-dreds or even thousands of acres. They can be active recreation spaces or they can be quiet, contemplative places. Their appearance can take on any number of faces, from natural, soft, and green to completely paved and focused on one activity.

So what makes a park great? What can a great park do for children, adults, and families to create memo-ries that last a lifetime? And how can a park become part of a community’s fabric?

the perfeCt parkParks contribute significantly to the livability of our cities by keeping neighborhoods safe, promoting healthy living, and adding value to the community. In order for a park to thrive it must be easily accessible by the people it’s designed to serve. There is ground-breaking legislation pending in New York City that seeks to ensure that all citizens live within a ten min-ute walk of a park, an indication that parks are impor-tant to society.

Great parks bolster the health of people, nature, cul-tures, and communities. For people, parks are places to become refreshed, experience the tranquility of nature, exercise, socialize, enjoy fresh air, and witness the changing seasons. All contribute to the vitality of an individual and add to a healthy lifestyle. Natural habitats for plants, animals, insects, and birds, which are integral to supporting ecosystems, also add to the success of a park. Studies show that people’s interac-tion with nature has a powerful rejuvenating effect.

Parks also add significant “green infrastructure” ser-vices to the community by supporting ecosystems, sustaining clean air, reducing urban temperatures, and allowing storm water to seep into the ground rather than become runoff that floods rivers.

The cultural identity of a community is reflected in its park spaces. Parks offer opportunities to contrib-ute to the arts and culture of the locale by opening up their spaces for concerts, fairs, sporting events, and exhibits. They are also proven economic engines. Real estate values are nearly always higher for homes or businesses located near parkland. Businesses near parks also enjoy increased revenues.

the latest and Greatest parkThe newest significant park currently under con-struction in the U.S. is the Orange county great park

located in Irvine, California. Plans for the park will incorporate the same transformation processes of other great parks around the world. harley ellis de-

vereaux and its partner company greenWorks studio

are providing landscape architecture and sustainable design oversight for the Orange County Great Park on behalf of the City of Irvine.

Located in the center of America’s third most densely populated county and situated on the site of the for-mer El Toro Marine Corp Naval Air Station, Orange County Great Park will be one of the largest metro-politan parks in the United States, almost twice the size of New York City’s Central Park. The Great Park will include extensive natural areas and open space in addition to recreational and cultural uses. The 1150-acre park is described as three park experiences in one:

greAt pArkby Mark E. Hieber, ASLA, LEED AP

The design of the park looks beyond

the normal ‘kit of parts’ of recreational

amenities to a holistic approach that brings nature

and recreation together with education.”

Glen WorthingtonManager of Planning and Environmental Services

Orange County Great Park


loon located in the Preview Park. The initial phase of the project was funded through a land auction where the successful bidder achieved control of four par-cels surrounding the park totaling 4000 acres. Future phases will be funded by the value added of real es-tate taxes on the new developments.

Canyon Park – excavated from existing flat land, the earthwork will create a 60-foot grade change. At over one mile in length, Canyon Park will provide a myriad of trails, wetlands and watercourses, a group camping area, and places for many different native plant com-munities.

Fields and Memorial Park – will provide high intensity recreational fields and courts, a skate park, and cul-tural spaces such as a botanic garden, performance venues, and museums.

Habitat Park – will provide restoration of wildlife ar-eas, restoration of a stream that is currently in a pipe underground, and connections to adjacent public lands for wildlife movement.

According to glen Worthington, Great Park’s man-ager of planning and environmental services, “The design of the park looks beyond the normal ‘kit of parts’ of recreational amenities to a holistic approach that brings nature and recreation together with educa-tion. The Orange County Great Park is a designed space that will offer the visitor a broad variety of experiences.”

Already the recipient of many professional awards, the park’s master plan calls for a high degree of sus-tainability categorized into five major systems: energy, water, nature, materials, and people. Sustainable infra-structure includes renewable energy generation, non-polluting shuttles, connections to mass transit, water reclamation and natural water treatment systems, and recycling of site materials to build a variety of the park’s features.

The Great Park officially opened in July 2007 with the launch of the iconic Orange County Great Park Bal-

The development of the Orange County Great Park is evidence that a public/private partnership can suc-cessfully spearhead a major public works construc-tion project. The result will be a great public space that is an unprecedented center for world-class art, music, architecture, and landscape architecture. It demonstrates an understanding of how a park can

bIg pIctUre:Great Park will be a center for world-class art, music, architecture, and landscape architecture


thIs pArk rOcks!Mark Hieber, age 4.

bring together the culture and economy of a region to make a viable place for people and the ecology to live in balance. It represents what’s next in park design.

the treasured parkWhat makes a great park? For Worthington, “A great park is one that provides a comfortable environment;

one that takes me away from the day-to-day if only for a little while. A great park should have a variety of opportunities but not force me to do anything but enjoy it.”

A great park should also be treasured by its visitors. Successful park design must seek to create appeal to the community by engaging them, providing services to them, and becoming an integral part the communi-ty’s emotional fabric. Thoughtful and brilliant design can make all the difference between a park that has no value and those that are cherished by the commu-nity that surrounds it. A great park should be a place that creates long-lasting memories and unforgettable experiences like swinging as high as you can to touch the treetops.

Where is your great park and what memories do you have about that place? Tell us your story at [email protected].

Mark Hieber is an associate and landscape architect with Harley Ellis Devereaux.

bIrdseye vIeW:Orange County Great Park is almost twice the

size of Central Park

nIght vIsIOn:Balloon passengers experience views of the park

and the City of Irvine

green Is greAt:Sustainable infrastructure will include renewable

energy generation, non-polluting shuttles, and water reclamation


herO!by Edward Dean, AIA, LEED AP

WhAt’s neXt for Buildings And greenhouse gAs emissions

reenhouse gas emission and climate change is not only about cars and trucks. A concerted effort to reduce the emis-sion of greenhouse gas (GHG) involves buildings to a large degree because the construction and operation of both commercial and residential buildings is responsible for about 35 percent of all GHG emissions nationally. 1

green desIgn:

clIck tO dOWnlOAd the COOLTOOL, A hAnds-On gUIde tO redUcIng cArbOn fOOtprInts fOr bOth IndIvIdUAls And cOrpOrAtIOns

á


zerOIng In:Harley Ellis Devereaux and GreenWorks Studio are talking to a number of clients

who are pushing the envelope toward net zero energy, including LA Community

College for their Trade Tech College (above) and Lawrence Technological

University for a potential new Engineering and Science Building in Southfield,

Michigan (right)

Large reductions in the GHG emissions in the build-ing sector are possible through aggressive actions by owners, builders, and design professionals. Many of these actions are being taken by motivated “early adopters” in the building community, while govern-ments are providing motivation for others by the adoption of regulations and incentives. The result within a relatively short period of time will be a dra-matic change in how we design and operate buildings.

GHG emissions that result from the construction and operation of a building is often referred to colloqui-ally as the “carbon footprint” of that building. Strictly speaking, this carbon footprint should include account-ing for the carbon emissions resulting from all activities, materials, and energy used in a building “from cradle to grave.” However, over the life of a typical building, most carbon emission products are small compared to that produced to supply operating energy to the building. A more common approach, therefore, is to limit the de-termination of the carbon footprint to only the carbon emissions produced by off-site and on-site sources of energy to operate the heating, cooling, plumbing, and lighting systems of the building.

takinG up the ChallenGeGiven the severity of the climate change problem, the ideal goal would be to re-duce the carbon footprint of every new and renovated building to zero. This, as it turns out, is not an unreasonable goal.

In fact, a consortium of building in-dustry leaders, including harley ellis de-

vereaux and greenWorks studio, known as Architecture 2030 has even set a timetable to achieve this goal, known as the 2030 chal-

lenge. This initiative sets benchmarks to arrive at carbon neutral designs for new buildings and major renovations by the year 2030. To produce a carbon neutral design, these buildings will have to minimize the energy demand and use zero-emission sources for whatever small en-ergy demand there is.

On the demand side, such buildings will have to employ “best practices” in design and what we would call to-day innovative design features. These include configur-ing the building for daylighting, carefully designed solar control and daylight control for windows, control sys-tems for integration of daylighting with energy-efficient lighting, natural ventilation techniques, using building mass for designed temperature swings, and improved technologies for energy-efficient HVAC systems.

Carbon neutral buildings obtain all their electricity from either on-site photovoltaic systems in possible combina-tion with off-site zero emissions sources such as hydro, nuclear, solar, or wind. In addition, any fossil fuel source used for the building’s heating and/or cooling would be offset by additional photovoltaics feeding power back into the utility grid or by purchasing carbon emission offsets2 from other sources.

The timetable and benchmarks for the 2030 Challenge are as follows for all new buildings and major renova-tions starting design in the year designated.

• 60% in 2010• 70% in 2015• 80% in 2020• 90% in 2025• Carbon-neutral in 2030

Under the assumption that the carbon footprint cor-relates directly to energy use, the percentage refers to the energy performance level of the design compared to the performance of the total U.S. stock of buildings of that type as measured and documented in 2003 by the U.S. government. The performance is measured in thousands of Btu per sq. ft. per year, known as the building’s EUI, or “Energy Use Intensity.”

A master table has been created, the 2030 Target Find-er, which lists all building types and the EUI target for

each of the benchmark years for that building type. This master table, an important reference for all archi-tects and engineers, can be downloaded from the EPA Energy Star website: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_bldg_design.bus_target_finder

For laboratory buildings, a special case, refer to the Labs21 Energy Benchmarking Tool, available at the following website: http://www.labs21century.gov/toolkit/benchmarking.htm

For building types not available in the EPA’s Target Finder, their EUI benchmarks are provided in the 2030 Challenge targets tables, 2030 Challenge Targets: Na-tional Averages and 2030 Challenge Targets: Residential Regional Averages. PDF files for these tables are avail-able on the Architecture 2030 website: http://www.architecture2030.org/2030_challenge/targets.html

California leads the way In addition to building industry initiatives, governments have introduced a number of incentive programs and regulation structures specifically aimed at reducing car-bon emissions. Leading the way as it has frequently done in the past with environmental initiatives, Califor-nia passed AB 32 in 2006, the Global Warming Solu-tions Act, which requires a reduction of GHG emis-sions to 1990 levels by 2020. This requires a reduction of 15 percent from 2008 levels. Recognizing that even this measure does not adequately address the severity of the climate change problem, California Governor Schwarzenegger signed California Executive Order S-3-05, which requires an 80 percent reduction of GHGs from 1990 levels by 2050. Also, his Million Solar Roofs Program, signed into law in 2006, set a goal of installing 3,000 megawatts (MW) of new solar electric systems by 2017 on California’s buildings.

These state laws have generated a number of actions from state agencies that will ultimately have a transfor-

mative effect on the design of buildings in the State of California. For example, the California Division of the State Ar-chitect, which controls plan approval for all K-12 schools and community col-lege buildings in the state, has just an-nounced that beginning in December, 2010, all building plans must show de-signs that are grid neutral 3.

California continues to move aggres-sively on all fronts toward a remark-able goal of zero carbon footprints for all of its proposed new and renovated

buildings in the very near future. This reflects both the seriousness of the climate change problem and the belief by state government that the design and construction community is ca-

pable of delivering such high performance buildings right now.

Will this be a model for other states to follow and be-come net zero heroes? Results will be known very soon. Ed Dean is an architect, researcher, and educator with GreenWorks Studio, a Harley Ellis Devereaux Partner Company.

1 Source: World Resources Institute (WRI), Working 9 to 5 on Climate Change: An Office Guide, 2002.2 A market of quantifiable carbon emission reduction is emerging where build-ing owners can sell extra carbon reduction levels beyond established standards. Other owners, to achieve carbon neutral goals with buildings that cannot meet these standards, can purchase carbon offsets on this market. These offsets will be traded in the form of tender called RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) and VERs (Verified Emission Reductions). 3 Grid Neutral: a building or site that produces at least as much electricity as it consumes in a year.

green desIgn:


n Septem-ber 18, 2008, the genesis of a new idea was born. It was not just an ordinary day, but a celebration. People were shoulder-to-shoulder, the place was rockin, the music was thumpin, and folks were having the time of there lives. No, this was not one of those great

Latino night clubs in South Beach, but the beginning of a new company.

The launch of Das Auto was a way to recapture volk-

swagen’s brand essence. The campaign tapped into the mindset of an emerging consumer target that was defined as “The Car.” Today, the Volkswagen brand touches many hearts and is part of our everyday lives. Who we are and what we do in life stands at the cen-ter of what Volkswagen represents.

After all … it’s what the people want.

Volkswagen’s core values of approachable, honest, friendly, and with a witty tone are especially relevant

in these times. Communities, families, moms. dads, and friends alike represent the fabric of the brand: Individuals who want experience over accumulation. Simply put … people who enjoy life.

the VisionVolkswagen’s vision was to create a place that con-nects to everyone that is part of their family and ex-tend the essence of the brand to those who are curious.

Since the launch of Das Auto, awareness of the Volkswagen brand is growing, fueled by an increas-ing demand for sensitivity for the environment. “It is Volkswagen’s notion of ‘sustainable mobility.’ We believe that the life-cycle of a car from development and design through its road life and its afterlife must be considerate of environmental sustainability,” says stephan Jacoby, CEO, volkswagen group of America.

by Ralph J. Mocerino, AIAit’s WhAt the people WAnt

together we drive

thefUtUre


cAmpAIgnIng tO the mAX:Max, a 1964 Beetle, has interviewed some of

America’s most recognized cultural icons

Designed by harley ellis devereaux, the new Volkswa-gen arrival place in Herndon, Virginia centers on the creation of an inviting, friendly environment that is as unique as the brand Volkswagen. The arrival experi-ence is about how people interact with the brand and is a showcase for design and innovation. The space is a destination for just about anything including spe-cial meetings, hospitality events, press communica-tions, auto enthusiast events, or just a place to hang out and be entertained with the likes of Max (1964 Beetle), Brooke Shields, David Hasselhoff, or even Heidi Klum.

From the beginning, Volkswagen’s creator, Ferdinand Porsche, envisioned an affordable and reliable means of transportation for everyone. Today the brand em-braces the individuality of each owner with an array of incredible cars that fits into any lifestyle.

According to tim ellis, vice president of marketing for Volkswagen Group of America, “Max personifies the brand; to bridge our rich heritage with our future. He’s a beloved cultural icon that we bring to life to tell a very contemporary story about Volkswagen and its

emergence here in America. We like to say that we’re a German company with an American story. One that’s classic, sexy, and innovative; has a no-compromise look and feel; and is comfortable. Individuality – it’s the ultimate differentiator.”

To reinforce this dedication to the VW customer, Harley Ellis Devereaux and crispin porter bolgusky, Volkswagen’s advertising agency, designed a long, ser-pentine wall, reminiscent of a winding road, which exhibits hundreds of photos of individual owners.

innoVatiVe desiGn … the way a Car should beVolkswagen means “people’s car” in German. The original concept for the people’s car called for fuel efficiency, reliability, ease-of-use, and economically efficient repairs and parts. That original concept still exists today and you’ll recognize it as the New Beetle. Its distinctive shape with a rear-mounted engine was

together we drive

thefUtUre

dAs AUtO:The cars are the main event at Volkswagen of America’s

new arrival experience in Herndon, Virginia


lOUngIng ArOUnd:The gallery is a multi-function space that allows for several

variations of colored lighting and furniture flexibility

Well done."Stephan Jacoby

CEO Volkswagen Group of America


frOm the OUtsIde lOOkIng In:The autos and the action can be seen through the glass entry

a great engineering achievement back in the thirties. Vehicle styling and engineering have come along way since then, but VW’s focus continues to be based on the original idea. The new CC, hailed as a “wake-up call” for other iconic German engineering, fits right in this very provocative piece of architecture.

Harley Ellis Devereaux designer Art smith, fAIA, leed

Ap describes the space, “The arrival place is purpose-fully void of color and decoration. The vehicles are prominent. The white space is a perfect backdrop to showcase each vehicle’s design and the polished white terrazzo floor tile further expresses the engineering and styling. It’s a place that is a combination of emo-tion and engineering.”

The new arrival place in Herndon reflects the future of Volkswagen. But a peek into the future requires a contemplative look at the past. By getting back to VW’s roots of simplicity, reliability, and com-fort, the space is a showcase for the VW brand and echoes their latest campaign, Das Auto. The auto-maker keeps their pioneering philosophy alive to-day through dedication, commitment to sustainable mobility, and the constant pursuit of creative design, performance, and innovation. And, of course, by giving the people what they want.

As Jacoby slowly walked through the Herndon event last September, he marveled at the faces of people having the time of their life, the faces of owners showcased on the sensuous serpentine wall, and the display of the most innovative, sexy cars in the industry. Turning to his colleagues, he comments, “Well done.”

Ralph Mocerino is an associate with Harley Ellis Devereaux and the firm’s retail practice leader.

“It’s a place that is a combination of emotion

and engineering.”

Art Smith, FAIA, LEED APDesigner, Principal

Harley Ellis Devereaux

In yOUr fAce:Faces of Volkswagen owners reflect the essense of the brand


constructive

cAndId thOUghts On the cOnstrUctIOn

IndUstry frOm three leAdIng eXperts

dIAlOgUe

these Are unprecedented times for the design And construction

industry. tAlent WArs, the finAnciAl crisis, And neW technology Are just A feW of the issues. neXt spoke With three construction leAders to find

out hoW they Are responding to these chAllenges. here’s WhAt they

hAd to sAy>>

rOUndtAble:


WAlsh cOnstrUctIOn:

Walsh Constru

ction is a

Chicago-based

general contrac

ting, constru

ction

management, and desig

n-build firm

founded in 1898. Walsh is r

ecognized

as the lar

gest constru

ction firm in

Chicago acc

ording to Crain’s C

hicago

Business, as w

ell as one of the natio

n’s

top 20 contractors.

tUrner cOnstrUctIOn:

Founded in 1902, Turner Constru

ction

is one of the lar

gest constru

ction

management companies i

n the United

States. W

ith 46 offices in the U.S.,

Turner is act

ive in 20 countries

around

the world and averages 1

,500 projects

per year.

lArry filson

engineering director,

WAlBridge construction

WAlsh construction

vice president And mAnAger of

cAliforniA operAtions,

turner constructionkevin doW

mAtt WAlsh

WAlbrIdge:

Since its fo

unding 1916, Walbridge

has stead

ily grown to beco

me one

of the most su

ccessful co

nstructio

n

companies in North Americ

a. A

privately-owned company, W

albridge

provides desig

n, engineeri

ng, and

constructio

n management through

three groups: in

dustrial, co

mmercial,

and heavy civil sp

ecial project

s.


lArry filson

mAtt WAlshhere are certainly some serious chal-lenges confronting the construction industry today. Beyond the current economic downturn, design and construction organizations are fac-ing issues involving new technolo-gies, recruiting talent and a shrink-ing workforce, the environmental

impact of buildings, declining productiv-ity, and increased competition. Wow.

This convergence of challenges is inspiring industry leaders to develop new approaches to the design and construction process. NEXT spoke with representa-tives from three of the largest construction compa-nies in the nation to gain some insight into how their companies are handling these issues. kevin dow, Vice President and Manager of California Operations,

turner construction; larry filson, Engineering Direc-tor, Walbridge; and matt Walsh, Walsh construction gave us their opinions from the job site point of view.

neXt: What is the next big challenge for the design and construction industry?

keVin dow (kd): In the short-term, we cannot be so focused on getting through the current year that we lose sight of the real opportunities for 2010 and 2011. We’re also facing an unprecedented number of firms ch a s i n g the same project; the competition is

tough.

larry filson (lf): In addition to training our people, we’ve identified three other challenges for us: the credit markets, surety and bonding, and bond issues and the associated risks. I think all three are the chal-lenges for our whole industry.

Matt walsh (Mw): No matter what other issues there are, our main chal-lenge has been finding and training good people. We need to find young

professionals that are eager, who want to work in this business, are willing to accept

new technologies and methodologies, and want to be trained in our construction standards so they can continue up the ranks.

neXt: Speaking of new technologies, how will the construction industry tap into the full power of BIM?

Mw: Most of our BIM experience has been with our healthcare and water treatment plant cli-ents. BIM is turning into a No. 2 pen-cil on almost every job in these markets. For healthcare, we’re using BIM for MEP coordi-nation. We’re not yet comfortable using BIM for es-timating, but we are utilizing it for site logistics on most jobs. On a recent major in-terior renovation, the use of BIM worked out well for both the own-er and us.

lf: I think we’ve only really started investigating the full potential of BIM, and we see that the software is lagging behind the wishes of the construction com-panies. The next steps need to focus on developing models that not only meet the needs of designers, but also become a lean tool for the contractors.

kd: We’re struggling to get BIM up to speed with our 4-D and 5-D needs. We’re also double-checking

BIM is turning into a No. 2

pencil on almost every job ...”

Matt WalshWalsh Construction


kevin doW

Our vision is one of a company that is very

adaptable. It’s a company that has a diverse delivery platform, has a talent-oriented

group, and takes collaboration with its construction

partners seriously.”

Kevin DowVice President and Manager

of California OperationsTurner Construction

our quantities in Excel because we’re not at the level where we completely trust the BIM model. I think we’re going to get there, but the software is lacking. What really excites me about the power of BIM is being able to visually convey to an owner what’s in-cluded in the project cost estimate. BIM’s true power is in its ability to facilitate communication.

neXt: Part of the promise of BIM is that it will ul-timately support true Integrated Project Delivery (IDP). How far away is IDP and what will be the owner’s role?

kd: If you asked me six months ago, I would have said a year or two away. But because of the current financial situation, owners are actually bidding out work again. We have yet to sign a full IDP contract, but we are using the principles of IDP. The owner needs to be extremely involved in the process. The main purpose of the IDP is to have own-ers establish a vision for the team and to keep them together.

Mw: Our office believes IDP is more like five years away from being all the way there. In the last few months, some owners have asked for a formal IDP but we’re unsure they were fully committed to the pro-cess. We hope they begin to recognize how crucial and valuable their involvement will be.

lf: We see IDP in place in three to five years. In an IDP world, the owner needs to define parameters, scope, and quality expectations. In addition, they need to provide review, answer questions, and make deci-sion in a timely manner to support the construction efforts.

neXt: What impact is sustainable design having on the construction industry and what innovations do you see coming next?

kd: The current impact is at the construction site where we are actually building more but with fewer materials such as finishes. Everyone can now show experience with different green systems like photo-voltaic panels, so there’s not a huge learning curve there anymore. The young people we are recruiting today are interested in sustainable construction, so it’s important for us to demonstrate that we are green in a variety of ways across the company.

lf: The next innovative steps will involve more than turning the lights off at the construction site. We need to look at how we utilize equipment, materials, and energy in the field to reduce our carbon foot-print. Over the next few years it will be important to

get people on the job site to understand the sustain-able goals of each project in order for them to solve problems and determine the best solutions.

Mw: From out in the field, there is no impact. For the typical building job, we haven’t had any issues in-stalling solar panel, green roofs, or other sustainable systems. We are, however, seeing some interesting op-portunities in new markets that we hope to add to our toolbox.

neXt: What is your vision of the con-struction company of the future?

kd: Our vision is one of a company that is very adapt-able. It’s a company that has a diverse delivery platform, has a talent-orient-ed group, and takes collaboration with its construction

partners seriously. We are seeing a lot more

joint ventures in California. I don’t think it’s a trend that is starting in this

part of the country, but rather a nation-wide trend. We see an integration of not only the designer, contractor, and owner, but the subcontractors as well.

lf: The contractor of the future will be able to deliver projects using many different delivery methods. Con-struction teams will see increased interaction between the designer and the construction team and transfer of more risk to both.

Mw: I agree that collaboration and team work will be imperative and an integral part of the construction company of the future. Building a team (owner, archi-tect, engineer, and contractor) with appropriate expe-rience developing the design to an acceptable budget is gradually becoming the norm. Continuing to col-laborate with partners who understand each others’ methodologies should provide owners with greater benefits as a result of these teaming arrangements.


he state of healthcare is in critical condition. One in 20 hospitalized patients experience health associated in-fections during their visit. Baby boomers are swelling facilities in massive numbers. By next year, the industry will be short nearly 800,000 nurses. Life expectancies are rising and the payment system is broken.

The number of people who die on the streets every day is eye-opening, but the real shocking statistic lies within our hospitals. In 1999 and 2001, the Institute

of medicine produced two landmark reports on the quality of healthcare in the U.S., stating medical er-rors claim nearly 98,000 lives every year.

A large body of evidence shows that the built environ-ment impacts patient stress, patient and staff safety, staff effectiveness, and the quality of care. Through evidence-based design (EBD), architects are reform-ing the way they design for healthcare by correlating how the built environment contributes to everything from patient care to staff efficiency to financial per-formance … to saving lives.

Architects are helping create credible bodies of knowledge that will drive the future of healthcare de-sign. harley ellis devereaux and other industry lead-ers are teaming up and learning from each other’s research so they can design for the best patient-cen-tered outcomes.

GaininG MoMentuMOver the past 15 years, various forces have converged to become the discipline now known as EBD. the

center for health design was founded in 1993 to ini-tiate and fund research and serve as a consortium for knowledge in many different fields that contribute to creating healing environments.

Today, The Center is working to standardize research methods and educate architects, clinicians, manu-facturers, educators, and students. The movement is gaining even more traction with a new evidence-based design accreditation and certification (EDAC) program. EDAC was developed as a way to educate and assess individuals on their understanding of how to base healthcare design decisions on credible re-search evidence and project evaluation results.

By C. Richard Hall, AIA, ACHA, EDACTM

gone Are the dAys of stArk, cold hospitAl environments. they’ve Been replAced By WArm, inviting plAces thAt Are fAmiliAr And comfortABle. Why the chAnge?

evIdence-bAsed desIgn

As awareness increases and the body of evidence

grows, more and more people are seeking to build hospitals

with the guidance of those skilled in the

practice. But up until now, there was no

standard definition of evidence-based design.

Debra LevinPresident and CEO

The Center for Health Design

“As awareness increases and the body of evidence grows, more and more people are seeking to build hospitals with the guidance of those skilled in the practice. But up until now, there was no standard defi-nition of evidence-based design,” said debra levin,

president and CEO of The Center.

Because of the potential for improved clinical and financial outcomes, hospitals and other healthcare facilities want to incorporate evidence-based design into their projects. EDAC will help healthcare execu-tives understand what they’re asking for and which design practitioners are qualified to use an evidence-based design process in healthcare building projects.

The EDAC program is a great example of how vari-ous disciplines from one industry can come together to initiate change. Harley Ellis Devereaux was one of six national design firms that partnered with The Center to bring EDAC to the industry. Each Cham-pion Firm volunteered their expertise to identify base knowledge essential to understanding how to imple-ment evidence-based design into healthcare building projects. Now nearly half of our healthcare design staff is accredited. The other EDAC Champion Firms are OWp/p, cama Inc., American Art, kahler slater and

salvatore Associates, and nurture by steelcase.

Harley Ellis Devereaux has been practicing evidence-based design principles with beaumont hospitals in suburban Detroit and firelands regional medical

center in Sandusky, Ohio. Plans to incorporate evi-dence-based design are taking place at the University

of toledo medical center and mercy hospital cadillac

in Cadillac, Michigan.

What’s neXt?Looking beyond aesthetics and studying how design strategies can help impact outcomes is still an emerg-ing practice that will only strengthen as the industry’s


portfolio of evidence-based design projects grow. Over 60 hospitals have committed to following an evidence-based design process since 2000 and many more studies are underway.

EBD is an evolving concept and we are reaching a better understanding of many different issues as projects are completed. The concerns about EBD are largely because no standards have previously existed. The EDAC program plans to further standardize the way research is conducted, a sign that many are dedi-cated to producing research that has lasting impact.

In the end, the focus is on the patient and caregiver. Design informed by research can help architects cre-ate healthcare settings that enable patients to devote their energies to getting well, and doctors and nurses can focus on the business of healing. Evidence-based design can improve the quality of care, provide more cost effective healthcare, and save lives.

Rick Hall is a principal with Harley Ellis Devereaux and the firm’s healthcare practice leader.


Three young professionals with Harley Ellis Devereaux, Reem Akkad, interior designer; Corina Mare, intern architect; and Andrea Paupert, mechanical engineer, grew up in a fast-paced, keep-me-entertained, multi-media world. What do these bright and conscientious designers think about the world of design? Their cultural and educational backgrounds are as diverse as their answers, yet there is a common thread that weaves them together. Each believes collaboration and exploration are necessary to create an environment that is beautiful as well as comfortable for its users. What does design mean to them? Read on.

reeM akkad: style, GraCe, substanCe: I relate my design philosophy to the recent purchase of a pair of shoes. I had to have them. The style was hot, the color was perfect, and I imagined how great I would feel when I wore them. Wrong! They hurt with my first step. They could not perform the function they were designed for – walking. Design should have a holistic approach. It is as much about the big idea as it is about the details of color and texture. Big ideas with poor execution result in “shoes that hurt.” Design is also about teamwork and discovery. The process should take a team down a familiar road but they should also be constantly on the lookout for unbeaten paths which will enhance the experience and the design.

Corina Mare: Collaboration brinGs desiGn to life: Design is an acute awareness coupled with a collaborative spirit; one cannot exist without the other. We are born with these instincts and naturally apply them to our everyday lives. My training in the field of architecture and

design embraces those instincts in order to enrich life’s experiences. Design awareness acknowledges all aspects relating to an environment, such as a client’s brand and a com-munity’s culture, and then adds an understanding of how other professionals contribute and enhance an overall design. They say that “two brains are better than one.” It’s all about collaboration … that’s what brings the process of design to life. Success has no room for selfishness. Awareness and collaboration work together to create a successful and compelling design. Be aware and share … design for life.

andrea paupert: reMoVinG roadbloCks to CreatiVe probleM-solVinG: I always wanted to be a kinesiologist, helping people understand the mechanics of their bodies. Then in high school, my math and physics classes started to click. Today, I’m a mechani-cal engineer, helping the mechanics of an environment work at optimum capacity. De-sign is making sure that the users of an environment are comfortable. Building design is very important. Unfortunately, people don’t remember its beauty if there are issues with heat or air circulation. The whole experience is compromised. Design disciplines working in collaboration produce the best environment; one that looks good and func-

tions properly. It’s exciting to be part of a collaborative team working through the numerous roadblocks on any project to discover

solutions that bring an owner’s vision to reality with comfort.

neXt: viewpointreem AkkAd, cOrInA mAre & AndreA pAUperthArley ellIs devereAUX

the fUtUre Of desIgnleft to right: Corina Mare, Andrea

Paupert, Reem Akkad

What does design mean to you? We’d like to hear your

thoughts, opinions, reflec-tions, and experiences for

publication in a future issue of NEXT ® magazine.Send your comments [email protected]


Project Team Credits:

University of cincinnati center for Academic and

research excellence

Client: University of CincinnatiArchitect of Record: Harley Ellis DevereauxDesign Architect: STUDIOS ArchitectureLab Consultant: GPR Planners Collaborative, Inc.MEP Engineering: Affiliated Engineers, Inc. Civil and Structural Engineering: Harley Ellis DevereauxLandscape Architect of Record: Harley Ellis DevereauxDesign Landscape Architect (Schematic): Hargreaves AssociatesContractor: Dick Corporation

Orange county great park

Client: City of Irvine/Orange County Great Park CorporationLandscape Architecture, Architecture, and Sustainable Design Review Services: Harley Ellis Devereaux, GreenWorks Studio with Bovis Lend LeaseTeam Lead: Ken Smith Landscape Architect with Great Park Design Studio

corporate Arrival space

Client: Volkswagen of AmericaArchitect: Harley Ellis DevereauxProgram Manager: Jones Lang LaSalleMEP Engineering: GHT ConsultingAdvertising Agency: Crispin Porter + BoguskyLighting Design: Illuminart AV Installation: AvatectureCeiling Fabricator: Division 9Technical Consultancy: ExhibitWorksContractor: Rand Construction Corporation

Photography Credits:

cover: Tom Drew, Black, White + Color Photographyp 1: Tom Drew, Black, White + Color Photographyp 2: Brad Feinknopf, Feinknopf Photographyp 4-5: Tom Drew, Black, White + Color Photographyp 6-7: Brad Feinknopf, Feinknopf Photographyp 8: Flickr/Horn Photographyp 9: Site Plan Courtesy of Orange County Great Parkp10: Renderings Courtesy of Orange County Great Parkp 11: Rendering Courtesy of Orange County Great Park; balloon image from Flickr/Robert Miller; author photo courtesy of his momp 12: Getty Imagesp 13: Harley Ellis Devereauxp 14-17: Tom Drew, Black, White + Color Photography; Max photo courtesy of Crispin Porter + Boguskyp 18-21: Getty Images and Harley Ellis Devereaux p 22: Getty Imagesp 24: Tom Drew, Black, White + Color Photographyinsert: Getty Images and Harley Ellis Devereaux

Up neXt:

living large in lA

lights, camera, Action

the greening of chicago

... and more

harleyellisdevereaux.com

los angeles

Chicago

san diego

detroit

san francisco

riverside

partner companies:

spectrum strategies

Greenworks studio

simCenter design

Crime lab design

hed build

NEXT Spring 09

Documents

Transcript of NEXT Spring 09