David and Bonnie Brunner Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex
LEED Project Summary
The David and Bonnie Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex houses the equine, farm animal and small animal hospitals. Not only is it a state-of-the-art complex that provides vital access to animal health care options, but it was also designed and constructed with sustainable building features to reinforce the University’s commitment to sustainable development.
Two hospitals within the complex – equine and small animal – have received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification. LEED, the most widely used green building rating system in the world, provides a framework for healthy, highly-efficient and cost-saving buildings, which directly contributes to progress towards the Physical Facilities Sustainability Master Plan goals. The list below illustrates key examples of LEED sustainability features that were incorporated into the new complex.
Integration
According to LEED guidance, an integrative process is a comprehensive approach to a building’s systems to identify synergies that improve building performance, human comfort and environmental benefits, while optimizing resources. For the Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex, an integrative process was utilized by project teams during the pre-design stage of the project. By working in an integrated manner from the beginning of the process, the design team was able to identify more opportunities for system optimization, with a special focus on water and energy.
Efficient Design
Efficient building design can substantially reduce energy use, lower operating and maintenance costs, and improve indoor air quality, thermal comfort and access to daylight.
At the Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex, the design team carried out evaluations to select building envelope components, including insulated doors, reflective windows and openings with thermal performance exceeding the State-required energy performance baseline (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1-2010). The more efficient envelope design, combined with efficient space cooling, heating, ventilation and lighting designs, resulted in an 8% improvement in energy savings compared to the baseline design.
Driving Green
Providing incentives for more sustainable modes of transportation is important for a green project. Transportation, including passenger vehicles for commuting to work and delivery vehicles supporting work facilities, accounts for a large portion of greenhouse gas emissions from combustion of petroleum-based fuels.
At the Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex, 5% of all hospital parking spaces are designated as preferred parking for green vehicles. In addition, electric car charging stations are available and are reserved for use by plug-in electric vehicles.
Starry Night
Outdoor light fixtures at the Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex were selected to reduce light pollution and light trespass while also meeting required light levels for safety. The fixtures were selected to meet LEED “BUG” ratings, which rates a light fixture for back-light, up-light and glare; in turn reducing light pollution and improving the ability to view the night sky.
Saving Water
The LEED rating system encourages water use reduction in buildings. Low-flush and low-flow fixtures have been installed throughout the Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex to reduce indoor water consumption. This includes faucets, toilets, urinals and showers. By using water-efficient fixtures, water consumption is reduced by almost 31% annually compared to the baseline design.
Right Lights
At the Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex, LED fixtures provide the right Color Rendering Index and illuminance levels required for critical operations in an animal hospital while still contributing to an anticipated 8% energy savings in relation to the ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010 requirements. Occupancy-based controls have been installed in as many locations as possible given the critical nature of the facility operations. Task lighting was incorporated into the design to reduce general lighting requirements, and dimming controls were installed throughout the hospital. These options provide users with the ability to adjust lighting levels to best suit their needs and the needs of the patients.
Keep It Clean
All meeting, conference, surgery, break and multi-purpose rooms at the Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex have landfill and recycling containers. The containers are used to collect mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, certain plastics and metals. Individual recycling bins are included in each hospital office.
Additionally, Purdue University has programs for recycling e-waste, mercury-containing lamps and batteries.
Drink Up
Once again, the LEED rating system encourages the reduction of water use in buildings. Electric water coolers are provided throughout the Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex with integrated bottle fillers to promote the use of refillable bottles, which in addition to saving water, reduces the amount of waste resulting from the use of bottled water.
ECO Materials
The Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex has finishes that are engineered from repurposed materials to help reduce the environmental impact. The finishes follow an environmental product declaration (EPD) that relies on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which provides information regarding a product’s environmental impact. For example, modular carpet selected for the complex is 68% post-industrial and 8% post-consumer recycled content and all wood veneer selected is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified with two selections being fully reclaimed wood paneling.
Well-Fitted
At the Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex, proper integration of ergonomic principles, specifically in the design of computer workspaces, improves occupant well-being, human health and worker productivity. Furniture selected meets the American National Standards Institute/Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (ANSI/BIFMA) requirements for safety and performance. In addition to implementing the furniture, Purdue provides an education program to ensure ergonomics strategy goals are met.
