How can Brown University build cost-effective spaces that enhance learning and user satisfaction while reducing adverse impacts on the natural environment?

"We shape our dwellings, and afterward, our dwellings shape our lives."
- Sir Winston Churchill

Why does Brown need better buildings?
What are High Performance Buildings and why are they better?

How can Brown build better buildings?

The success of a high performance, resource efficient building is measured by how well the interests of the owner, the occupants, and the natural environment have been balanced. Done correctly, the result will be a building that is

• functionally superior
• aesthetically pleasing
• environmentally sensitive
• economically sound

There are many ways to improve Brown's campus buildings without increased costs or program sacrifices. Top-level administrators and trustees must support Facilities Management to insist on higher performance in all new campus construction projects. Learning from other universities will allow Brown to adopt cost-effective new technologies, processes, and materials that dramatically reduce buildings' environmental impacts and improve human health while increasing efficiency of operation. These superior design and construction methods result in "High Performance Buildings," designed to provide long-term user satisfaction and use resources responsibly. Brown will benefit from increased implementation of high performance building design (HPBD).

Brown University Trustees and Administrators will need to demonstrate significant support for respecting the natural environment and building occupants. The common misperception that HPBD is cost-prohibitive is a major barrier to generating solid support. When these key decision makers understand the benefits of HPBD and its relationship to Brown's values, they should recognize the need to implement HPBD policies as soon as possible. Executing HPBD is a strategy for achieving a delightful, safe, and healthy campus environment. It is hard to argue against HPBD's value and applicability to Brown University's mission.

Building increasingly higher quality, effective buildings requires improving Brown's overall planning and design process. The first step is to adopt and insist on high performance design guidelines. Agreed upon by the Corporation's Facilities and Design Committee, the Provost's Space Committee, the Department of Facilities Management, and the Campus Planning Advisory Board, these guidelines should be utilized during every major campus construction project. Complementing high performance guidelines, the designer of a new campus building should consider the direct relationship between a facility's capital costs and operating costs. Strategies to incorporate these life cycle costs should be in place before the design phase commences. In addition, Brown should hire a full time energy manger. There are many energy conservation opportunities around campus; an energy manager could significantly reduce Brown's electricity costs and also participate in the high performance design of new campus buildings. In forming a design team, Brown should only select experienced design team members who are qualified to design a High Performance Building and willing to work as a team. HPBD produces the best results if it is a goal from the beginning of the project process, ideally in a charrette setting, and if an integrated design process approaches the building as a whole.

Completing the following recommendations will allow Brown to assemble comprehensive project teams that work together to produce resource-effective buildings where users are delighted to work, study, and live.

• Adopting High Performance Building Design Guidelines

• Considering Life Cycle Costs

• Including High Performance Experience Criteria in Design Team Selection

• Hiring a Full time Energy Manager

• Implementing an Integrated Design Process

These strategies require explicit support and enthusiasm from top-level administrators.

Please use this website thesis to increase your awareness of high performance building design opportunities. The best place to start is with the Basics.Whenever you see this image, click it to follow along to the next page.

You can also use the Site Map at the top of each page to visit sections you are most interested in.