Science facilities have many sustainable design challenges considered hard to overcome, but the University of Oregon's Lewis Integrative Science Building is working to change that.
Labs require a high degree of ventilation in order to remove chemical vapors , so the buildings use more energy than other types of structures commonly found on college campuses. In addition, health and safety requirements usually mean that the potentially toxic air in a science facility cannot be recycled.
But by employing some unique design techniques, the design team at THA Architecture was able to create a five-story building that UO officials say is poised to earn a platinum designation in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.
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