Oregon Health Science and University building expected to be

Oregon Health Science and University's Center for Health and Healing is expected to be the first LEED platinum building in Portland - and the project engineers are letting the rest of the green building world know exactly how they got there.

Interface Engineering released Engineering a Sustainable World, a 48-page, exploration of the firm's work on the center, Wednesday during the GreenBuild International Conference and Exposition in Atlanta. The book's meant to open up the design process and share engineering innovations, but it's also aimed at proving that projects can go platinum on a conventional budget.

The first thing I hear when I hear LEED from architects and other people who haven't been doing this very long is, 'Well, how much is this going to cost us? Three percent of construction costs?' said Andy Frichtl, Interface principal and lead engineer on the project. Well, that's what I used to think too. My approach and the way I look at things are totally different after this project. We can save money up front and do all this at the same time.

The design approach saved nearly $4 million in the initial $30 million budget for mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. It's also projected to be 61 percent more energy efficient than required by LEED standards and to reduce potable water use 54 percent more than a similar conventional building.

The book traces the project from beginning goals to design challenges along the way to the projected results. It breaks down design challenges into areas such as inhabitant's needs, energy efficiency and water efficiency and offers detailed study of design features and strategies. The firm plans to pass out 6,000 copies of the 48-page book to architects, builders, developers, building owners, design schools and clients.

In a way, Frichtl said, the book is kind of a blueprint for how to build green cost-efficiently. Every project is different, he said, but there are 50 or 60 strategies presented that can be pulled out for use in any building. How the team looked at the project - by seizing all available natural resources, challenging traditional engineering practices and integrating design features - is larger than just specific tactics.

It's the approach that you take, more than taking this and copying it onto every project, he said.

The project is on track to go platinum and is definitely expected to get gold, he said. The book's final LEED analysis puts Interface's contributions to the credit point total at about 26 - half the total needed to achieve platinum - with its work pulling in points in 18 categories. The project's scheduled for completion in summer 2006.

To request a copy of the book, visit www.interfaceengineering.com/ portfolio/green_building/book/book_order.php.

Copyright 2005 Dolan Media Newswires
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