Sterling Hall of Medicine I Wing 1st Floor Laboratory

The Sterling Hall of Medicine I Wing 1st Floor Laboratory renovation was completed in 2006 and earned a LEED-CI Gold certification in 2008. The I1 Lab was the second Yale research facility to achieve the certification, following the C3 Laboratory completed earlier the same year. The 1L Laboratory, a 19,000 square foot wing housing the researchers at the Department of Genetics, adopted many of its cousin’s sustainable features.

Site and Transportation

The Sterling Hall of Medicine is located in an urban area, close to many amenities and public transportation options. Many New Haven and Yale bus lines are within close proximity to the building. In addition, long-distance commuters can easily arrive in New Haven by train, as Union Station is located within a quarter mile.

Water Management

Old bathroom fixtures in office buildings can use an excessive amount of potable water; laboratories, with an increased number of fixtures, can use even more water. The SHM I 1 Laboratory renovation includes the installation of ultra low-flow lavatories and dual flush water closets throughout the floor, resulting in a 30% annual reduction in potable water use.

Energy Efficiency

To increase efficiency, the Heating , Ventilation & Air Condition (HVAC) systems are zoned and controlled separately. All private offices and specialty spaces, including labs and lab support rooms, have active controls that are capable of sensing occupancy and adjusting the HVAC system according to use. To decrease the energy consumed for electrical lighting, daylighting is promoted throughout the building. 90% of occupied seated spaces have direct lines of sight to perimeter glazing and there is a minimum daylight factor of 2% in 77% of all the spaces occupied for visual tasks. In addition, all workspaces have individually controlled lighting — researchers have carrels equipped with task lights and lab benches equipped with 80 foot-candles of light. This design allows a minimum number of lights to be used in each workspace.

Indoor Environmental Quality

To ensure high indoor air quality for all occupants, the laboratory contains materials low in volatile organic compound (VOC) content, including all adhesives, sealants, paints and coatings. Wood products and laminate adhesives contain no added urea-formaldehyde resins. The project minimizes exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) by restricting smoking areas to spaces at least 25 feet from building entries.

Materials

Since renovation projects consist of work done on existing buildings, special consideration must be taken to determine where sustainable materials and practices can be incorporated. During the SHM I1 Laboratory renovation, 85% of the construction and demolition and packaging debris was diverted from landfills to other uses. Daily recyclable waste materials, including cans, paper and newspaper were also collected at a worksite recycling area. Permanent recycling stations have been designed into the project. Furniture no longer suitable for the renovated lab was donated to local charities.

10.14% of the total value of materials used in construction consists of post-consumer or pre-consumer recycled content. These materials include ceiling tiles, VCT flooring, rubber base and carpet.
61% of the wood based materials and products used during renovation are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which promotes the sustainable management of forests.
46% of building materials and products used on the project were manufactured within a 500 mile radius.

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Sterling Hall of Medicine I Wing 1st Floor Laboratory