Building Statistics

Building Statistics Report
(Parts 1 and 2)

INTRODUCTION

After opening in January of 2013, the Glen A. Weed Library located in Wilmington, North Carolina serves as a newly constructed building to supplement Coastal University’s extensive library program. Glen Library is an icon on campus that was designed not to mimic surrounding buildings but to compliment them with a futuristic look. Its main feature is the automated storage and retrieval system, also known as the ASRS or bookBot, which holds up to two-million volumes of books to reduce the building footprint size by almost 40%. Glen Library includes open collaboration spaces, group study rooms, an auditorium, technology labs, and creativity studios to enable learning, research, and collaboration.

At 253,000 square feet, the total project cost for this new library was $93,750,000, leaving the cost per square foot to equal almost $400. In comparison, most libraries in the past have cost less than $200 per square foot to build. High investments were made towards sustainability efforts in order to achieve a LEED Silver certification.

This report summarizes the building systems within Glen Library. This report looks at the architecture, building façade, and sustainability as well as the structural, mechanical, lighting, and electrical systems and construction management that took place during this project. Please note that a fictitious name and location are used for owner confidentiality.

Part 1

Detail 2: GFC Siding and Curtain Wall

Details 3 and 4: Green Roof Layers

Detail 1: Building Facade to Roof

BUILDING ENCLOSURE

Building Façade

The elevation above shows one area of the curtain wall and metal panel facade on Glen Library. Distinctions can be seen in the different material types from the curtain wall panel legend. The curtain wall and metal panel facade is composed of 800 components that had to be tracked by scanning prior to shipment, arrival onsite, and after installation. Solar fins are also used to control shading and prevent solar glare due to the sunny climate.

Detail 1 on the right shows a transition from the building facade to a lower roof. The curtain wall and metal panels tie into an aluminum composite panel system, roof membrane, 5” rigid insulation, and ⅝” exterior sheathing on top of structural metal decking. The 8” solar blades sit between each component on the facade.

Detail 2 on the right shows wall components where GFC siding and curtain wall is used at level 2. In this detail, CMUs play a structural role, followed by an air barrier and 3” extruded polystyrene foam insulation. Where there is no curtain wall, 1/2” glass fiber concrete siding is used. Where there is curtain wall, a silicone membrane connects the air barrier with the curtain wall system and a sealant and backer rod is found at the curtain wall connection.

Roofing

The roof is composed of three main parts: the main roof level, the green roof and the roof terrace. The partial green roof helps preserve the local natural hydrology by controlling rainwater runoff. Additional structural support was required for the green roof area and roof terrace. At the roof terrace, occupants are able to walk out and study at tables provided.

Details 3 and 4 above show green roofing system layers at connections to the parapet and CW. Structural decking support structural floor slab, lightweight concrete, a rubber asphalt membrane, followed by root barrier protection, 2” rigid insulation, a drainage mat, soil, river stone, and plants.

The U-Values of the three roof areas are shown as follows:

Main Roof: 0.032

Roof Terrace: 0.089

Green Roof: 0.021

ARCHITECTURE

Glen Library is an iconic building at Coastal University. Prior to design, students were asked what features they would like to have within the building. They requested a modern building that would continue to grow with the technological world around them. Glen Library has an irregular polygonal shape with a metal and glass facade that reflects movement throughout the building. The library footprint spans greater than the length and width of a football field to allow for an immense amount of collaboration, group study, and office spaces within the library, as well as the bookBot storage system. The bookBot was an innovative second-thought during the design process and reduced the building footprint by almost 40%. The primary users of Glen Library are undergraduate and graduate students at Coastal University. Auditorium spaces are also used by outside companies and researchers for presentations and information sessions.

Major National Codes

2009 North Carolina State Building Code (2006 International Building Code with revisions)
North Carolina State Construction Manual, Ninth Edition
Applicable ASHRAE Standards
LEED IEQc2 Requirements

Zoning

Because the building is sprinkled, the allowable maximum height was increased to 180 ft and 12 stories although this building is only 86’ high and 5 stories above grade. The required type of construction is I-B. There were no historical requirements for this project.

GENERAL BUILDING DATA

Building Name: Glen A. Weed Library

Location: Coastal University at Wilmington, NC

Occupancy: Types Primary Occupancy: A-3, Secondary Occupancy: B and S2

Size: 253,000 sf (43,500 sf footprint)

Number of Total Stories: Five stories or 86 feet above ground

PROJECT TEAM

Owner: Cannot Be Disclosed

Architect of Record: Pearce Brinkley Cease + Lee, PA (now Clark Nexsen)

Design Architect: Snøhetta https://snohetta.com/

Civil Engineering: Colejenest & Stone, PA https://colejeneststone.com/

Structural Engineering: Stewart Engineering http://stewartinc.com/

ARUP https://www.arup.com/

MEP Engineering: Affiliated Engineers, Inc http://www.aeieng.com/index.php/home

AV + IT + Acoustics: The Sextant Group http://thesextantgroup.com/

Automated Retrieval Systems: H K Systems https://www.dematic.com/en-us/

Cost Estimating: Davis Langdon (acquired by AECOM) https://www.aecom.com/

Landscape Architect: Susan Hatchell Landscape Architecture http://www.susanhatchell.com/

Construction Manager: Skanska, USA Building https://www.usa.skanska.com/

CONSTRUCTION INFORMATION

Dates of Construction (start – finish): August 2009 - September 2012

Total Building Cost: $93,750,000 (state-funded)

Overall Project Cost: $115.2 million (including campus infrastructure, adjacent parking

deck and stream restoration)

Project Delivery Method: Design-Bid-Build

Figure 1: Steel Superstructure

STRUCTURAL

Superstructure

The superstructure of Glen Library consists of a composite structural steel framing system. Joists span between girders that frame into wide flange columns and all beams are spaced 10’ on center. Throughout the building, the steel beams support 7” lightweight concrete slab on 20 gauge 3” steel deck, except for Level 3 where 5 ¼” lightweight concrete slab and 20 gauge 2” steel deck is used. There are transfer girders over the large ASRS space. Cantilevers are found in localized areas throughout suspended floors on Levels 2, 3, 4, and 5. The roof over Level 5 is open web joists spaced 6’-0” on center that supports 20 gauge metal roof deck. The design also incorporates reinforced concrete shear walls.

Design Values

The following loads were selected to also comply with ASTM Standards for structural steel:

Live Loads: Assembly and Stairs: 100 psf

Office: 80 psf

Roof: 20 psf

Loading Dock: 250 psf

Storage: 150 psf

Snow Load Roof: 16.5 psf

Snow Load Ground: 15 psf

Seismic: Category B with 95 mph wind.

Geotechnical

Geotechnical information was provided for the site based on eleven preliminary and sixteen final borings drilled to depths up to 60 feet. The foundations are shallow continuous strip footings as well as shallow spread footings comprised of reinforced concrete.

SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES

The 253,000 sf facility is LEED Silver certified and features an abundance of sustainability features. In addition to the green roof, the building has rooftop solar panels, a solar water heater, a chilled beam and radiant panel system, and LED light fixtures. Almost all of the open study and collaboration spaces feature natural lighting. Fritted low-E glass is helps reduce the amount of heat gain entering into the building. Ultra-low-flow plumbing fixtures use 38% less flow compared to traditional fixtures. A Building Automation System provides for mechanical and lighting controls. Recycled materials with low VOC improve the indoor air quality, along with 30% increase in fresh air when conditions are ideal. Combined, these features result in an overall 31% energy savings.

Part 2

Figure 2: Mechanical Room

100% outside air with energy recovery and passive dehumidification. AHU-3 is an independent system that brings in 50% outside air to the space it serves. An air recirculation unit, ARU-1, serves as space heating, cooling and humidification for the ASRS where air is distributed through a conventionally ducted system. Four humidifiers are located in AHU-1, AHU-2, AHU-3, and ARU-1 with controls set at 35% RH at 72°F. Two dedicated exhaust fans, EF-3 and EF-4 serve the north and south sections of the building when AHU-1 and AHU-2 are running.

Plumbing and Fire Protection

The plumbing scope of design includes sanitary waste and vent piping connected to all plumbing fixtures and floor drains, stormwater piping connected to the roof drains from pitched roof areas, and grease waste and vent system piping. It also includes domestic cold water delivered through a 4” water service line and hot water integrated with a solar thermal collector on the roof. A combined sprinkler/ standpipe and dry standpipe system is used for the fire protection that is connected to a supply header in the main sprinkler room. The ASRS book area is protected by separate pre-action dry sprinkler systems that is initiated through the very early smoke detection alarms (VESDA).

MECHANICAL

Mechanical systems were designed using a prescriptive approach to comply with the 2009 North Carolina State Building Code, applicable ASHRAE Standards, and LEED Certification requirements. Design criteria was derived from the building location in Climate Zone 3A.

Water-Side Summary

The Central Utility Plant delivers chilled water to Glen Library from the campus distribution system at 61°F where it is sent to primary and secondary chilled water loops. The primary loop serves cooling coils in all air handling units and fan coil units. After passing through two plate and frame heat exchangers, secondary chilled water is distributed to active chilled beams and radiant cooling panels. High pressure steam is also delivered from the Central Utility Plant at 125 psig where it is reduced to a lower pressure when it reaches the building. Two shell and tube steam to water converters generate heating hot water set at 180°F. Once the hot water leaves the converters, it is distributed to air handling units, active chilled beams, radiant heating panels and fan coil units throughout the building.

Air-Side Summary

A conventional VAV reheat system is used within Glen Library. Three air handling units, AHU-1, AHU-2, and AHU-3, serve for ventilation and perimeter cooling in the North, South, and Auditorium zones. AHU-1 and AHU-2 are dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS) that provide

LIGHTING + ELECTRICAL

Power

The construction of Glen Library required new 277/480V service to be installed. Coastal University provided a new switch, pad mounted transformer, and medium voltage cabling into the building. Power is sent to distribution panels located in electrical rooms where it is then delivered to all floors at 120/208V for general use receptacles and technical power used by the building AV system. The majority of power is distributed overhead in above ceiling space. For floor box locations, the concrete slab is thickened for fire rating purposes. The grounding system includes driven ground rods around the building perimeter and buried #4/0 copper conductor rods. There is a copper ground bus bar in each electrical room as well and lightning protection on the roof terrace.

Standby Power

A diesel generator located on the south exterior of the building provides emergency power. The generator provides 500 kW, 277/480V power that is protected by a circuit breaker mounted inside the generator enclosure. Three emergency transfer switches, ATS-E, ATS-OP, and ATS-LR, are found on every floor for emergency lighting panels, receptacle panels, mechanical loads, five elevators, cooling for elevator control rooms, and receptacles in the equipment rooms.

Lighting

Fluorescent T8 lamps and LEDs are the main sources of light found within Glen Library. Public spaces and offices have T8 fluorescent lamps in pendant and wall mounted fixtures. The ASRS uses LEDs because they require little maintenance and have a long life. Multi-colored LEDs are used in presentation spaces for theatrical lighting. Exit signs also use LEDS that are backed up by emergency power and batteries. Lighting on the exterior of the building is standard for the campus but also incorporates decorative accent lights around benches.

Control System

Lighting within Glen Library is connected to the Building Automation System (BAS) through digitally programmable fluorescent ballasts. Automatic dimming, relay cabinets, and automatic window treatments are also connected to the controls system. Occupancy and vacancy sensors are integrated with the mechanical system for energy saving purposes.

Figure 3: Electrical Room Panelboards

Figure 4: Exterior View at Night

Figure 5: Aerial View During Construction

CONSTRUCTION

The project delivery method for this project was design bid build. Skanska held the role as General Contractor on this project. The team used digital tools to help maintain a swift pace throughout the duration of construction. Autodesk BIM 360 was used for field jobsite management. To track fabrication and installation of the complex curtain wall system, material barcodes were scanned prior to shipment and upon arrival onsite.

Schedule

Construction began with site grading in August 2009. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 23rd, 2009 for foundations and after nine months the structural steel erection began. MEP and interior construction took place during the winter and spring of 2011 while a separate parking deck was simultaneously built. The building was fully enclosed by the summer of 2011 and books could finally be loaded into the bookBot in the fall of 2012. Construction was completed in September 2012 and Glen Library officially opened on January 2nd, 2013.

Project Budget

The total budget was finalized in June 2009 with planned funds totaling $115.2 million through state appropriations and donor support. This includes costs for an adjacent parking deck, campus infrastructure, and stream restorations. The building itself totaled $93.75 million dollars.

ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING SYSTEMS

Fire Alarm System

The fire alarm system includes a main control panel, two annunciator panels, manual pull stations, smoke and heat detectors, water flow switches, and visual and audible annunciation devices throughout the building. When activated, the entire system goes into alarm even though each floor is its own zone, and all HVAC systems shut down. The AHU smoke and fire dampers close when the duct mounted smoke detectors alarm. VESDA systems are located in critical spaces such as Level 2 and 3 main public spaces, the ASRS, and the library server room. Fire curtain systems isolate the ASRS and Level 2 stairs. When a fire is detected, the campus receives a notification via digital alarm communicator transmitter (DACT) to alert first responders to take action.

RETURN TO TOP