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Sustainable Building Essay 3

March 15, 2011

I had the privilege of visiting some of the first LEED Platinum and Gold buildings in Calgary and was asked to write an essay on the experience…....

Delighting in the Difference; A Look into the Ethos of Sustainable Buildings

It is always interesting when we become aware of something that is not new but is new to us, that…. when we go from sideways glance to a blossoming understanding and we begin to sense the swelling of its importance, we feel as if we’re waking up. So it is when one first enters a building that has been built with an understanding and a forethought to what’s to come, but also built for us now and suited to its surroundings rather than suiting its surrounding to itself. And those built with the human spirit in mind and embody it through architecture and in art and place and in prose hold the most delight for they express what is best in all of us.
University of Calgary’s E.E.EL Building is one of these buildings. E.E.EL stands for Energy, Environment and Experiential Learning. By purpose alone this building stands for the future, its very rationale is to create an environment in which ideas for a better future are born. Experiential Learning may be the most important sustainable aspect of the building itself, so by function alone this building’s intent is to wake up our generation (and generations to come) to consider a better future and then to create it.
The layout of the building is based on an expanded open concept. When we think of open concept we typically limit our thinking to one floor. E.E.EL is four stories of open. Four stories surrounded by classrooms and laboratories that are open both inwards and outwards. Inwards so that students from other disciplines and departments can see and interact with what’s going on in every laboratory. Windows face outwards so that the students can stay connected with the outdoors and the environment that perhaps they are striving to save. This is to promote integrated thinking and sharing of information across disciplines. An internal engine is more than just mechanical, it burns chemicals and it has waste energy and if you’re just a mechanic you’ll only see the moving parts, but partner with chemist and you may just invent something. Four stories of cross disciplinary learning; beautiful.
One of the main features of the E.E.EL building is the passive daylighting that is not just done through windows but done through an amazing structure on the roof. It is a huge U shaped belly that sits above the roof line but is enclosed by windows. It’s not totally white but close enough and is positioned to catch just the right amount of sun at the right time of day. This technology with cut down on the amount energy spent on lighting considerably as well as adds the benefits of having natural light. The open concept allows light to make it all the way through the building, right into the labs and classrooms. Another passive technology is the use of sun shading and deflection. The building is outfitted with sun shades both mechanical and static. The mechanical ones move with the sun to allow more or less light, the static ones are positioned according to the prevailing angle of the sun to allow the right amount of light but they do not move. The building’s exterior has reflective panels that deflect solar gain according again to the prevailing angle of the sun. They also take into consideration where they are reflecting the sun, which is to say they kept in mind the local traffic, and built the panels to direct sunlight where it would do no harm. Passive strategies that actively open the mind.
When I first stepped into the E.E.EL building the open concept really hit me. Seeing the entirety of the building from the center of it was a new experience. As the building was explained and its purpose dawned on me is when I felt as if I was being woken up. The enormity of understanding and thought that went into the design of the building made me realize the importance of Sustainability and how we use our energy and resources. But also the feeling of gratitude that I’m alone in my thinking and delight at knowing that its happening, slowly but it’s happening. I would affectionately call my experience Daylight-enment.