Lincoln, MA – Chapman Construction/Design recently broke ground on an Environmental Learning Center at Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln.
Designed and built to achieve net zero certification, through the International Living Futures Institute, the building must produce as much renewable energy as it consumes on an annual basis.
Rendering of Environmental Learning Center east elevation / Maclay Architects
The project team includes: architect, Maclay Architects; construction manager, Chapman Construction/Design; structural engineer, Engineering Ventures; civil engineer, Samiotes Consultants Inc.; MEP/FP engineer, Engineering Services of Vermont; landscape architect, CBA Landscape Architects; and energy consultant, Energy Balance Inc.
Chapman team and Mass Audubon staff celebrate groundbreaking at Mass Audubon.
In 2014, Mass Audubon instituted a net zero green building standard for all its future buildings, and the Environmental Learning Center is a great example of its commitment to green building.
To achieve net zero status, the building will include a 42 kW photovoltaic rooftop array, which will produce enough electricity to power both the Environmental Learning Center as well as several other buildings on the property. The super-insulated building will have an R60 roof, R40 walls, and R20 below-slab. In addition, triple-glazed, dual low-e coated windows will greatly reduce the heating and cooling loads.
The tightly air sealed building envelope will be tested by depressurization and will exceed code air leakage by 300%. To accomplish this, the building envelope will have a continuous air barrier that will eliminate exfiltration and infiltration through the floor, walls, and roof. The building’s HVAC design utilizes heat recovery ventilation units to provide fresh air and air source heat pumps to accommodate the reduced heating and cooling loads.
Additional sustainable strategies will include:
- Rainwater gardens to manage storm water.
- Daylighting to reduce the need for artificial lighting.
- Products with low or no volatile organic compounds, to ensure indoor air quality.
- Sustainable materials, locally sourced when possible.
- Native plantings to attract wildlife.
- Removal of invasive plans.
The project is slated for completion spring of 2018.
