Global Ecology Department – Stanford Campus

Woodring and Associates managed the construction of the Carnegie Institution's new Global Ecology Department on the Stanford Campus, dedicated in April 2004. Built to last a century, the $5.5 million facility maximizes energy efficiency, minimizes waste and uses recycled materials - including redwood siding from 100-year-old wine barrels and crumbled concrete from other buildings.

The building was designed by Esherick Homsey Dodge and Davis of San Francisco with guidance from university architect H. Ruth Todd and Professor Gil Masters, also of Stanford. Woodring and Associates worked with DPR Construction to complete the building in about eight months.

Designed for energy efficiency
Many energy-saving techniques were designed and installed. The long narrow building is aligned on an East-West axis to capture winter sun and minimize the exposure to blazing California summer afternoons. Windows and roof are coated to reflect away heat. Natural ventilation, oversized air ducts, high-quality air filtration. Motion sensors to turn off the lights when rooms remain unoccupied for a period.

Cooling the California lab
The client and architect worked with Rumsey Engineers who designed HVAC that uses 54 percent less energy than standard systems. Ceilings and floors contain metal panels that remove heat and radiate coolness. Cool water flows through the backs of the panels during the day, collecting heat. Later, the water is irradiated to kill microbes and pumped to the roof, where it forms a thin film that dumps its heat into the cool night sky.

Recycled materials were used whenever possible. Old carpet was reincarnated into small carpet squares, which makes replacement easy. DPR contributed recycled doors that were used to make furniture. High fly-ash concrete was used to reduce carbon emissions. Every effort was made top use materials to reduce polyvinyl chlorides in the building.

Conserving water in Northern California
Water conservation measures include installation of dual-flush toilets, low-flow faucets, even a waterless urinal. A gray water system irrigates native plants surrounding the building using wastewater rather than potable water.

“The building reinforces the philosophy of the department, which is to find a scientific foundation for a sustainable future," said Christopher Field, director of the Global Ecology Department and a Stanford professor.”