The idea for the Michigan Alternative & Renewable Energy Center (MAREC) was born when Dr. David Mielke, the former dean of Grand Valley State University’s Seidman School of Business, proposed the idea to create a facility that would explore how alternative energy sources could impact the future of business and construction. “I envisioned an incubation space, a place where businesses and organizations could bring concepts for our graduate students to explore, develop, implement, and eventually take to market,” explained Dr. Mielke.

Dr. Mielke’s idea became a reality in November 2003, just three short months after the nation witnessed and experienced the vulnerability of the U.S. power grid and the need for alternate energy sources. Workstage LLC was appointed to design and construct the 26,000 square foot facility, a building that functions as an incubation space and research center, but also stands as an example of future building construction.

“The facility stands as a paradigm of innovation, both in its mission and its structure”, explained Ken Skinner, project manager at Workstage. MAREC is believed to be the first commercial project in the world to integrate fuel cell technology, a heat recovery system for heating and air conditioning, solar photovoltaics and a nickel hydride battery storage system. Though the new facility is hooked to the U.S. power grid, it can run entirely on alternative energy sources. In the next few years, the facility will transition entirely to alternative energy sources and will only use the U.S. power grid as its backup power.

As with most buildings designed and constructed by Workstage, the MAREC incorporates underfloor air distribution. This can reduce energy consumption by 10 to 20% because less fan energy is required. The conditioned air is introduced at the occupant’s level, as opposed to a traditional HVAC system where the air is being pushed down. Other energy saving elements include windows that bring in natural light (daylight) and sensor-controlled interior lighting. The sensors measure the amount of light in a space turning off fixtures where daylight is sufficient. Each of these systems are helping the MAREC receive a Gold LEED™ (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design - www.usgbc.org) rating for green and sustainable buildings, a distinguished title that is shared by only 22 buildings throughout the US.

As the Center is poised for changes in the energy industry, the building itself has been designed to accommodate future technology changes as well. The building features a state-of-the-art operating platform, dubbed by Workstage as the “Stage”, integrating HVAC, voice, data, and electrical cabling under a raised floor. Housing these systems at the floor level allows quick and easy access to all utilities, making changes in technology or space requirements happen in hours instead of days. The flexibility of this system provides Grand Valley State University with a forward-thinking facility for its cutting-edge research.

In addition to creating the sustainable structure of the facility, Workstage leveraged its relationship with Steelcase to implement a work environment that promotes innovation, learning, creativity, and communication. Using Steelcase’s user-centered furniture design and space planning, MAREC researchers and employees benefit from an environment that supports the effectiveness of people, technology and business processes.

The MAREC facility will continually change over the years, as the concepts that are developed by the researchers are incorporated into the structure of the facility from which they were born. Although the impact the facility will have on building construction and the way we access energy in the future is still unknown, both Workstage and Grand Valley State University look forward to witnessing the tremendous ideas and concepts that will result from the collaborative efforts of all parties involved in this project.