Science Center - Building Envelope and Indoor Air Quality
The building envelope, which is the separation between exterior and interior environments and includes the walls, floors, roof, and penetrations of a building, has a great impact on the quality of life lived within, affecting temperature, light, and air.
The Science Center’s building envelope was designed with energy-efficiency in mind, to create the atmosphere and comfort necessary to a teaching and laboratory building. One important architectural feature is the generous transparency and natural light within the building, bringing daylight and views to a majority of the spaces.
Some factors taken into account include:
- Minimum IAQ performance
- Environmental tobacco smoke control
- Outdoor air delivery monitoring
- Increased ventilation
- Construction IAQ management plan during construction and before occupancy
- Low-emitting materials: adhesives/sealants, paints/coatings, carpet systems, and composite wood
- Indoor chemical and pollutant source control
- Controllability of lighting and thermal comfort systems
- Thermal comfort design and verification