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Commitment to Sustainability
Forge has a deep commitment to sustainability. We feel that sustainability can and should underpin every aspect of the design and construction of new buildings and landscapes. Designing and building responsibly should be integrated into the project delivery process for owners, architects, engineers, and contractors. In most cases, deciding at the beginning of a project to integrate modest or even somewhat aggressive sustainable features will result in no additional cost, and will decrease the long-term operating cost of a capital asset.
University of Chicago
Eric Eichler is a LEED accredited professional and has been fortunate to work on two major recent projects with very sustainable designs. The Logan Center for the Arts and Campus North Residential Commons were both LEED Gold certified by the USGBC, and contain elements that go beyond contributing to LEED certification.
The Logan Center for the Arts received an ICECF grant for 60% of the cost of a photovoltaic solar panel system to be installed on the sawtooth roof structure above the complex’s art studios and wood and metal shops. The grant funding was not secured until well into construction of the building. Eric led the design and construction team to make adjustments to the skylight structure and electrical systems to accommodate the installation of a large array of solar panels.
These panels contribute 3% – 5% of the building’s electricity, depending on the season. This may not sound like a large percentage, but for a large building with seven theatrical venues, it amounts to nearly $30,000 savings on electricity per year.
The Campus North Residential Commons is a very innovative, sustainably designed building. Sustainability was built into the project delivery process. As part of a design competition led by Eric Eichler, the competing firms were required to meet energy use targets and to submit energy models with their design proposals.
The aggressive energy targets established by the University led the successful design from Studio Gang to feature radiant concrete slabs to temper the space, with no forced air for heating or cooling. The concrete slabs contain many thousands of feet of radiant tubing, which receive a mix of hot and chilled water depending on whether the building is in heating or cooling mode. Each floor of the building contains four zones of temperature control. The system allows slab temperatures to vary by zone depending on outside air temperature and solar exposure.
By eliminating the need for forced air to heat and cool the spaces, the building promotes the use of natural ventilation. Architectural metal grilles on the facade are not only for aesthetic purposes, but provide solar shading, and allow each student room to have fully operable windows, with the grilles also providing fall protection outboard of the operable windows.
White precast concrete façade panels, the building’s architectural signature, also contribute heavily to energy performance. The panels are as deep as 24” in some locations, allowing them to provide a super-insulated building envelope that helps the radiant system function properly.
Together, the radiant heating and cooling, insulated facade, and use of natural ventilation combine to provide an integrated design that reduces energy use and increases comfort.
The building opened in September 2016 and is projected to reduce energy use by half compared to the University’s most recent residence hall of this scale, which opened in 2009.
#forgeprojects #uchicago #sustainability
- May 8, 2023
- 2 min read
Forge Projects is Growing
- Updated:
- Jul 26, 2023
Forge Projects has been experiencing an exciting period of growth, with a host of new clients and projects. In order to best serve our clients, we have recently added two stellar professionals to our team.
Chip Weir – Project Director
Chip Weir is a skilled project management leader with expertise representing developers, corporations, and lenders in the delivery of multiple project types including office space, corporate headquarters, hospitality, multi-family, retail facilities, healthcare, R&D, and industrial. With 35 years of industry experience, he utilizes a hands-on, detail-oriented approach throughout the course of a project. His leadership skills and ability to work effectively with diverse user groups supports his proven track record achieving client cost and schedule goals.
Chip is currently working on a hotel development on Wells Street in Chicago with Condor Partners; the Embry West Loop with Sulo Development, and a condominium project with the 1500 Sheridan HOA in Wilmette, IL.
Jennifer Hart O’Brien – Senior Consultant
With 22 years of progressive roles in university student housing operations and facilities management, Jennifer has extensive experience with capital projects as well as campus master planning activities. Drawing from her long career in higher education in Residential Education, Residence Life, Housing Operations, Facilities Services, and as a faculty member, she brings a nuanced perspective to her advisory services for planning activities or studies. Jennifer’s experience has provided her with a unique understanding of student housing, both short-term and long-term planning and execution, as well as programmatic and student-facing roles. And, with over a decade in front of the classroom teaching undergraduate writing and rhetoric, Jennifer is extremely nimble at facilitation, presentation, and working directly with stakeholders.
Jennifer is currently working on projects at Clark University in Worcester, MA; School District 58 in Downers Grove, IL; and at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Sustainable Building Solutions
Building sustainably is now more affordable than ever. At Forge Projects LLC, we help clients take advantage of incentives like rebates, keeping costs down while promoting environmental responsibility.