Page 4 • July 31, 2019 • • Georgia...

Page 4 • July 31, 2019 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Georgia State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

The DetailsThe building will consist of approximately 47,000 sq. ft.

of programmable space, which includes nearly 37,000 sq. ft.of enclosed space. Public outdoor learning space includes anoutdoor porch area (2,618 sq. ft.) and an accessible roof deck(1,000 sq. ft.). The roof garden (4,347 sq. ft.) will contain thehoneybee apiary, pollinator garden and blueberry orchard.The remaining space (1,905 sq. ft.) is for loading and bikestorage. The estimated cost per square foot is $397, based ontotal programmed space. Exactly 915 solar panels are being installed on the canopy

over the building’s roof as the permanent power source. Theprojected energy use intensity is 34 kBTU/SF/YR, which is66 percent more efficient than the average building of thesame size and occupancy. The 330 kW (DC) solar array is expected to provide more

than 450,000 kWh per year, which is more than 105 percentof the power needed for the building. The photovoltaic arrayis designed to generate 40 EUI, which will offset the build-ing’s 34 EUI. By producing more energy than the buildingconsumes, the systems generate a net-positive energy facili-ty, making this one of the first net-positive buildings in theSoutheast.A potable water system will collect rainwater on the roof

and send it to the basement for treatment, after which it willbe stored in a 50,000-gal. cistern until needed.

By the NumbersGeorgia Tech manages the project on its campus, welcom-

ing input from The Kendeda Fund, architects Lord AeckSargent of Atlanta and Seattle’s Miller Hull Partnership, andthe construction team headed by Skanska USA. Additionalinput comes from landscaper Andropogon; mechanical,electrical and plumbing engineer PAE and Newcomb &Boyd; greywater systems specialist Biohabitats; civil engi-neer Long Engineering; and structural engineer Uzun &Case.Subcontractors include Dennis Taylor and Company for

excavation, Greater Georgia Concrete, Batchelor & Kimballfor HVAC and plumbing, Southeastern Steel and UniversalTimber Structures.

Work began in February 2018 on the Atlanta campus, witha daily average of about 50 workers on site and a peak of100, according to Matthew Williams, Skanska project man-ager. Skanska used a 120-ton road crane to set the rooftop air

handling unit, and a smaller crane to set the structure,Williams reports. Several telehandlers were used, rangingfrom 60-ft. booms to a 120-ft. boom for installation of skinelements around the tight project site. Additional equipment utilized on the site for excavation

and concrete activities included compactors, excavators, afront loader, concrete trucks, pumper trucks and skid steers.One of the challenges of the project has been space, of

which there is little on site. “To overcome this challenge, we’ve coordinated subcon-

tractors to share lifts and equipment on site to reduce the clut-ter of large machinery and scheduled the logistics of bringingequipment in and out constantly,” Williams said.

Wet site conditions also have been a challenge. “We’veisolated areas after rain events and utilized stone as much aspossible to minimize de-mucking tasks,” Williams added.

TimelineFortunately, wet weather has not impacted the timeline of

the Living Building. Work proceeds on schedule, with sub-stantial completion expected in 2019. Classes begin inJanuary 2020 and certification is expected in 2021, or afterat least 12 months of consecutive performance after fulloccupation.“There were no requirements for work around university

classes,” Williams said, “but we were asked to perform sitetours for Georgia Tech staff and public groups who signed upthrough Georgia Tech. We’ve worked long hours and week-ends to complete the project.”

MaterialsIn order to meet Living Building Challenge requirements,

the team is following Materials Petal guidelines in sourcingRed List-free materials. The intent of the Materials Petal is touse non-toxic, ecologically restorative supplies. In additionto avoiding Red List items, imperatives include trackingembodied carbon from construction; using salvaged materi-als and responsibly sourced wood and stone; striving to elim-inate waste during construction; and sourcing materials fromlocal industries. Thus, the Kendeda Building intentionallyselected a limited materials palette — mostly wood, withlimited use of steel and concrete — and chose to leave sev-eral systems exposed in order to limit unnecessary andpotentially harmful materials.The Red List is a list of 22 worst-in-class materials or

chemicals that pose the greatest risk to human and ecosystemhealth. Some commonly recognizable items includeasbestos, formaldehyde, lead, mercury and PVC. The goal isto eliminate their use. Living Building Challenge-certifiedprojects cannot contain Red List materials or chemicals. To avoid the use of these materials, the design-build team

thoroughly vetted the proposed materials during designphases by selecting and specifying products that are docu-mented as being free of Red List materials or chemicals.

Ga. Tech Anticipates 3.1 Living Building Challenge Cert

see TECH page 6

TECH from page 1

Work began in February 2018 on Georgia Tech’s Atlanta campus, with a daily averageof about 50 workers on site and a peak of 100, according to Matthew Williams, Skanskaproject manager.

Nearly complete, the “Living Building” at Georgia Tech University is set tobecome the first structure in the state certified under the Living BuildingChallenge, the world’s most rigorous green building certification standard.

Wood is the primary structural element of the buildingbecause it has one-sixth of the embodied carbon ofsteel or concrete.