LEED GOLD Certified
Samuel Trask Dana founded the School of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1927. Over the decades, the school has evolved into one of the Nation’s premier environmental science programs and is now know as the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment.
JM Olson Corporation was contracted to provide Construction Management services for the four year extensive renovation project that became affectionately known as the “Greening of Dana”. Commissioned to update the building’s physical plant and add classroom space, JM Olson Corporation also worked with the school’s dean to incorporate Green construction elements and technologies to inspire the student body and faculty. The entire project was a testament to the school’s leadership in the environmental community.
JM Olson Corporation’s partnership with the University of Michigan, as well as the students and faculty of School of Natural Resources and Environment made this $25 million renovation tremendous success. The S.T. Dana Building received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, and is a model for Green Building innovation with its use of solar lighting and heating, radiant cooling, and material recycling strategies.
Project Features
Natural Energy
Utilizing natural renewable energy sources was a priority in the S.T. Dana Buildings renovation. The new architecture called for adding a fourth floor, and covering the interior courtyard. JM Olson Corporation worked together with designers to incorporate a 4,000 SF skylight to enclose the courtyard area, creating a beautiful bright atrium with energy efficient benefits. In order to do this, the building’s original roof was removed and the new roof and massive skylight were installed. Students reclaimed the roof’s old timbers and contributed them to JM Olson Corporation for use on the interior moldings. The remainder of the wood was used to construct benches around the college campus.
The skylight provides natural light to the interior offices as sunlight penetrates the glass and fills the atrium. The Skylight design also allows solar heat to filter into each of the four floors, reducing overall energy consumption.
Solar Power
The renovation project called for the utilization of efficient solar power sources. In order to provide, this JM Olson Corporation contracted with a premier manufacturer and installed solar panels around the perimeter of the skylight. This active system is silent and produces no emissions while harnessing the suns natural energy. The electricity produced supplements the university’s cogeneration power plant.
Thermal Envelope
The renovation of S.T. Dana required updates to the structures physical plant as well as the reconstruction of the interior classrooms. The structure itself was over 100 years old and before the project it was drafty and prone to leaks. The brick superstructure is 16 inches in thickness; however this brick was exposed on all interior walls. While attractive this lack of enclosure offered occupants little comfort during the winter months.
JM Olson Corporation was charged with re-fitting the entire structure thermal envelope with insulation. Contractors installed wall studs into the strong brick structure and best in class insulation material. The interior walls were then recovered with drywall partitions. 3,000 existing windows were replaced with multi-paned insulated glass.
Construction Waste
Each year construction and demolition projects create over 136 tons of waste. This trash consumes up to 50% of available landfill space. JM Olson Corporation partnered with the School of Natural Resources and Environment’s students to combat this by giving the 3,000 windows that were removed to Recycle Ann Arbor, who in turn re-used the materials, contributing to local conservation efforts of the university and surrounding community.
HVAC Installation
Before S.T. Dana’s renovation, the building had no cooling system. While the students could take pride in the fact that they were not using inefficient air conditioning found in other buildings around campus, the classroom environment was unbearable during the summer months. JM Olson identified Green Building technologies that would reduce energy consumption and promote the health and comfort of occupants. The solution: an efficient HVAC system that is supplemented by radiant cooling.
First, JM Olson took steps to improve indoor air quality when it installed the new HVAC system. During a typical construction process, contaminants float in the air and get into the ductwork, impacting occupant health for years to come. To combat this, all HVAC fixtures were sealed during the renovation. JM Olson Applied paints, adhesives and finishes that reduced exposure to dust and volatile organic compounds. There were no residual contaminants or “paint smells” in the HVAC system during or after construction.
Radiant Cooling
JM Olson then installed the novel radiant cooling system. This technology works just like a floor based radiant heating system, but the conditioning source is found above. Radiant cooling is a closed apparatus that runs cold water through copper piping installed in the ceiling of each room. The cold water acts as a heat sink for the warm air in the room, thereby replacing the air in the traditional forced-air system. The radiant cooling system reduced the need to supplemental forced-air cooling. Water is about three times more efficient than air as a heat-transfer medium. This creates an estimated savings of 10% on energy consumption.