The Kirsch Center for Environmental Studies, De Anza College, is the lead demonstration building for energy innovation and sustainability of the California Community College System and serves as a national model for educating the public about energy efficiency and resource conservation. The philosophy of this facility is “a building that teaches about energy and resources.” This contributed to the project earning ED+C’s Excellence in Design award for the institutional/non-profit/education/healthcare building category.

Awards judge Jerry Yudelson says, “This is a fabulous project, one worthy of study by other design teams. Taking what could have been a 'ho hum' community college project and making an exemplary 'restorative' building out of it is an outstanding achievement.”

Judge Jim Nicolow agrees and says the project demonstrates an “Impressive, integrated approach to reducing energy consumption. I appreciated the passive to active approach.”

Regional/Community Design

The project is an environmental studies building in a community college. As such, it is the highest and best representation of a desire to publicly educate the local community, provide a place of knowledge, and leverage impact through greater involvement in the natural world. The Kirsch Center encourages reduced automobile dependence through a reduced-capacity parking area and bicycling station.

Site Ecology

The landscape design of the Kirsch Center connects through to the Cheeseman Environmental Studies Area in plant life and permeable surface with a focus on native species appropriate to the region. Passers by are educated not only by the well-placed signage, but also by the clear integration of insects and birds in the local ecosystem. (The project is an infill project on previously developed land.)

Bioclimatic Design

• South Orientation
• Slanted Roof Profile
• Clerestory Glazing
• External Shades and Internal Light Shelves
• High-Performance Glass
• High-Performance Roofing
• Full Thermal Insulation Wrap (to eliminate thermal bridging)
• Walls & Roof Insulation exceeding Title 24
• Natural Ventilation and Mixed-Mode Ventilation
• Nighttime Flushing
• Heat Pipe Energy Recovery
• Daylighting
• Underfloor Ventilation — East Wing
• Radiant Floor for Heating and Cooling — West Wing
• Photovoltaics

Light + Air

Operable windows are a feature that can be found throughout the building.

When walking through the Kirsch Center, the first thing you’re likely to notice is that not a single artificial light is on. The daylighting is exceptional, due to appropriate placement of glass, and selective use of clerestories, light shelves and skylights.

Breathe the air in the Kirsch Center and you’re likely to note the extraordinary freshness. In the east wing, this results from an ample supply of air per occupant, the underfloor ventilation system (displacing rather than fully mixing the space contaminants), and the use of a 100 percent outside air supply for the first floor classrooms.

Other features include natural ventilation, operable windows and outside views throughout the building.

Energy (+ Carbon) Flows

• Reduce building load
• Apply passive energy reduction strategies
• Apply efficient active strategies
• Recover energy that is used
• Apply site generation
• Offset any remainder

By step five, the building has demonstrated energy savings 88 percent below the national average, exporting power to the grid much of the year. By spending a small additional sum of $400/year, the balance of imported energy is offset by green power. As a result, the project not only demonstrates exceptional energy performance in design, it has a zero carbon footprint!

KIRSCH CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, DE ANZA COLLEGE

LOCATION: CUPERTINO, CALIF.
SIZE: 22,000 SQUARE FEET
COST: $7.5 MILLION
PROJECT SUBMITTED BY: ARUP

PRODUCTS

INTERIORS
ARCHITECTURAL CASEWORK: MEDITE II MEDIUM DENSITY FIBERBOARD SUBSTRATE
HANDRAILS: WHITE MAPLE CERTIFIED BY FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL
WOOD DOORS: WHITE MAPLE VENEERS CERTIFIED BY FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL BY ALGOMA
COUNTERTOPS: PHENIX BIOFIBER COMPOSITE BY DAKOTA BURL IN LIBRARY, AND NATURAL FIBER COMPOSITE BY RICHLITE SURFACE IN LABS
ACOUSTICAL GLUE-ON CEILING TILE: ARMSTRONG HIGHSPIRE IN CONFERENCE ROOM
CARPET: MOHAWK ECOFLEX
LINOLEUM TILE: FORBO MARMOLEUM
CONCRETE TOPPING: DAVIS INTEGRAL COLOR WITH CLASS-F FLY ASH
WOOD: FSC-CERTIFIED LUMBER AND PLYWOOD
PAINT: ENVIRONMENTAL FORMULA LM9200 BY ICI PAINTS
ACOUSTICAL WALL PANELS: PERFORATED METAL PANELS WITH MANVILLE INSUL-SHIELD CONTAINING MINIMUM OF 25 PERCENT RECYCLED GLASS FIBERS

HVAC SYSTEMS, APPLIANCES, PLUMBING
PATTERSON-KELLEY MACH SERIES C-300 CONDENSING BOILERS
TENTROL/GOVERNAIR CUSTOM AIR-HANDLING UNITS WITH HEAT PIPE TECHNOLOGY
TECHNICAL SYSTEMS INC. (RAE CORP) EVAPORATIVELY-COOLED CHILLER. MODE 35EOSS35-SPT
PLUMBING FIXTURES: FALCON WATERLESS URINALS, SHORT DURATION FAUCETS IN THE BATHROOM, GOBI SOLAR HOT WATER COLLECTORS

BUILDING ENVELOPE
STRUCTURAL STEEL FRAME: MINIMUM 75 PERCENT RECYCLED CONTENT
PORTLAND CEMENT PLASTER BY LA HABRA PRODUCTS ON EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE BY DOW CHEMICAL
GLASS: MANUFACTURED BY VIRACON
SOLAR LIGHT TRANSMITTANCE AND SHADING COEFFICIENT DESIGNED DIFFERENTLY FOR EACH SIDE OF THE BUILDING
ALUMINUM WINDOWS AND STOREFRONT WITH THERMALLY BROKEN SASH AND 30 PERCENT RECYCLED CONTENT BY ARCADIA, INC.
MOTORIZED WINDOW OPERATORS BY CLEARLINE, INC.
SPRAYED CELLULOSE INSULATION WITH MINIMUM OF 80 PERCENT RECYCLED CONTENT: HAMILTON MANUFACTURING

ROOFING
BUILT-UP ROOFING BY JOHNS MANVILLE WITH WHITE REFLECTIVE COATING BY METACRYLICS
ROOF INSULATION: ENERGY 3 PLUS BY JOHNS MANVILLE
STANDING SEAM METAL ROOFING WITH HIGHLY REFLECTIVE CUSTOM COLOR BY BERRIDGE

CONGRATULATIONS TO KEY PROJECT PLAYERS:

OWNER: DE ANZA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DESIGN ARCHITECT: VAN DER RYN ARCHITECTS
EXECUTIVE ARCHITECT: VBN ARCHITECTS
MEP/TELE/ACOUSTIC ENGINEERING & SUSTAINABILITY: ARUP
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS: DASSE
OWNER’S ENERGY CONSULTANT: DON AITKEN ASSOCIATES
CIVIL ENGINEER: SANDIS HUMBER JONES
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: COTONG & TANIGUCHI
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: GILBANE
MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR: WKW
CONTROLS CONTRACTOR: MALONE CONTROLS
HYDRONIC CONTRACTOR: WHITEOAK PLUMBING

ED+C’S EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN AWARDS INSTITUTIONAL-CATEGORY FINALISTS

ANIMAL FOUNDATION DOG ADOPTION PARK

Submitted by: Tate Snyder Kimsey
Location: Las Vegas
Size: 18,678 square feet
Completed: March 2006

BENJAMIN D. HALL INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH BUILDING

Submitted by: Capital Projects
Location: Seattle
Size: 150,989 square feet
Completed: April 2006

ENGINEERING/COMPUTER SCIENCE BUILDING, UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA

Submitted by: Busby Perkins+Will, Architects Co.
Location: British Columbia
Size: 88,265 square feet
Completed: June 2006

GERDING THEATER AT THE ARMORY

Submitted by: Hoffman Construction Company
Location: Portland, Ore. (Brewery Blocks Redevelopment)
Size: 20,000 square feet
Completed: September 2006

HARVARD UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OPERATIONS SERVICES BLACKSTONE STATION ADAPTIVE REUSE

Submitted by: Bruner/Cott & Associates, Inc.
Location: Cambridge, Mass.
Size: 44,549 square feet
Completed: May 2006

HEIFER INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

Submitted by: Polk Stanley Rowland Curzon Porter Architects, Ltd.
Location: Little Rock, Ark.
Size: 95,000 square feet
Completed: January 2006

PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY, MORKEN CENTER FOR LEARNING AND TECHNOLOGY

Submitted by: Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP
Location: Tacoma, Wash.
Size: 57,000 square feet
Completed: January 2006

ST. MARY’S/DULUTH CLINIC FIRST STREET BUILDING

Submitted by: HKS. Inc.
Location: Duluth, Minn.
Size: 225,000 square feet
Completed: September 2006

HONORABLE MENTIONS INCLUDE:

• Albion College Science Complex
• Bronx Zoo Eco-Restroom
• Clifton Park - Halfmoon Public Library
• Esther Eastmand Music Center, Hotchkiss School
• Hispanic Center of Western Michigan
• Library West Addition/ Renovation, Gainsville, Fla.
• Plymouth State University
• Powell Structures Materials Lab
• St. Gabriel’s Church
• Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences
• University of Cincinnati – Richard E. Lindner Athletic Center
• Zoomazium