Sunday Structures 3rd Edition

Welcome readers to the newest installment of Sunday Structures. Today, I thought it would be fitting to share some information on the place that I spend most of my time, and the place that will most likely become more of my home rather than my actual apartment during my time here at Judson.

The Harm A. Weber Academic Center (aka HAWAC, pronounced Hey, wack)

Architects: Burnidge Cassell Associates of Elgin, IL.

88,000 square feet, houses the library, classrooms, gallery, and architecture studio space.

Certified Gold Level LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by the USGBC (US Green Building Council)

Energy conversation through natural lighting, passive cooling, photovoltaic system, and a mixed mode naturally ventilated heating system.

What better way to learn about sustainable building and energy conservation than to study in an actual model of it? Winston Churchill said "We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us." I love this quotation from him.

First, Mixed-mode natural ventiliation system. The building can operate fully natural, fully mechanical, or a mix of the two. Cool air comes in from the basement of the building and is allowed to flow naturally up the four floors until it is exhausted into the outside air at the top. In the winter and summer, the air is recycled inside instead of being let outside.

Second, Photovoltaics (PVs). Those are the solar panels at the top of the picture. They generate electricity for the building. Third, the deep set windows on the south facade. These windows allow the winter sun in to light and heat the building, but in the summer, it allows light in, but not heat. This has to do with the position of the building to the position of the sun during those seasons.

Also, the buildings' studio space and library has ample views of the outdoors and daylight, which is shown to increase workplace productivity. The middle block of the architecture studios and library has a light well atrium. It brings in light from the outside to the very center of the building and down into the basement. During most of the daytime hours, we don't even need to turn the lights on because of this naturally daylighting approach.

The exterior is as much a part of this building as the interior is. The landscape provides stormwater control, minimizes water runoff, and reduces the need for storm sewers. The native plant species restores native habitat. The walkways are made of light colored concrete, which reduces heat generation.

This is a good building to study in; a good design. Here's more information on the building in an interactive map. http://www.judsonu.edu/uploadedFiles/__Judson_Public/Support_Judson/New_Academic_Center/LEED_map.swf