Joe Crowley Student Union | About the Project

Project Timeline | Green Building | Project Renderings



Here you can read indepth information about the design process, building features, and and green development of the the new student union.

Hover over the links above to bring up their related content.

Project Renderings



South


The Sierra Wall on 1st Floor at ASUN Bookstore


The Sierra Wall on 3rd Floor


The Sierra Wall on 4th Floor


Northwest


Northeast


East


Southwest




Green Building


Building Features 
  • High Efficiency Glass
  • Low 'E'
  • Visible transmittance, "U" Value, and shading coefficient to vary per building exposure
  • Exterior Materials - Durable/Sustainable
    • Light-colored, highly reflective painted metal panels
    • High thermal mass to reduce susceptibility to exterior temperature swings
    • Natural or Cast Stone
    • Oversized Brick - reduces manufacturing energy and construction waste
  • Roof Insulation - Minimum R30
  • Daylight Harvesting Strategy
    • Maximize use of natural daylighting through a series of sunscreens and light shelves coupled with automatic lighting controls to minimize energy usage
  • Skylights where possible to reduce artificial light usage to minimize energy consumption
  • Wall insulation - R15 to R20
  • Reflective "Cool" Roof
    • EPMD or PVC -Single Ply, white reflective color
    • 60 mil. Thickness
    • Mechanically fastened
    • Fire / Windstorm Class 1 A90
  • Carpet - Recycled Backing
    • Low VOC
  • Furniture - Recycled Materials - Metals, Plastic, etc.
  • Light Reflective Ceiling Materials
  • Sealed Building Envelope
    • Flashing
    • Sealed Joints
  • Interior Materials are Low Combustible and Low Smoke Producing
  • Enhancing Natural Views
    • Buried Utilities
    • Clear Glass Windows
    • Sunscreens to shade view glass
  • Vestibule Entrances
    • Reduce dust and air-born pollutants
  • Walls
    • Paint Products
      • Low VOC
    • Wall Covering
      • Long Lifecycle
      • Low VOC
      • Some Content is Recycled
  • Flooring Products
    • Post Industrial Recycled Content
    • Some materials with Organic Content
    • Low VOC Emitter
    • Recycle Carpet at End of Lifecycle
    • All Excess Waste is Recycled
  • Millwork Products
    • 40% Recycled Paper Content
  • Tile
    • Post Industrial Recycled Material Content
    • Recycled glass products being considered for some flooring
  • Ceiling Tiles
    • 45 - 61% recycled content
  • Light Color Interior Material Reduces Cooling Loads and higher reflectivity aids daylight harvesting
  • Structural Steel and other Metal Products (decking, studs, etc.) includes High Percentage of Recycled Metal

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Site Development

  • Drip Irrigation at planting beds
    • Possible use of "gray water" cistern for irrigation
  • Drought tolerant landscaping materials
  • Most paved surfaces to be light colored or shaded to reduce heat island effect
  • Recycling container enclosure
  • Improved Drainage / Erosion Control
  • Enhancement of campus density
    • Located near bus route
    • Onsite bicycle storage racks
  • Drainable/Gravel Ground Cover where appropriate at Equipment Enclosures
  • Enhancements to entire campus precinct due to replacement of site disturbance

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Mechanical/Plumbing

  • Plumbing Fixtures - Water Efficiency
    • Ultra-Low Flush Toilets
    • Ultra-Low Flush Urinals
    • Reduced Flow Faucets
    • Reduced Flow Shower Fixtures
    • High Efficiency Natural Gas Heated Water
  • Filtered Air Systems
  • High Efficiency Cooling Tower
  • High Efficiency Chiller
  • High Efficiency Water Heater
  • High Efficiency food service equipment
  • Building Management DDC Control of Heating, Cooling, Lighting Economizer Reduces Energy
  • Buidling Supply Ductwork Sized for Lower Velocity - Lowers Horse Power & Energy Consumption
  • Design Engineer & Architect Coordinated Glass & Insulation Specificatios to Optimize Energy Savings for HVAC
  • Variable Frequency Drives on Fan & Pump Systems - Reduces Energy Requirements at Non-Peak Periods
  • Water for heating from campus loop system utilizes excess capacity already in system
  • Extension of water heating system to Knowledge Center for off-peak heating season usage
  • Low Noise Fans for Air Handler Eliminate need for Alternator - Reducing Fan Size & Energy Consumption

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Electrical

  • Day lighting control of light fixtures
  • Light pollution control - cut off type exterior light fixtures
  • Efficient metal halide exterior lighting
  • Efficient indirect lens lighting at office space
  • "LED" Lamps Used in Exit Signs - Reducing Power Consumption
  • Occupancy Sensors provided at Interior Spaces - Turning Lights off when Room not in use
  • Photocell & Time Clocks included to Control Exterior Light Usage
  • Public & Common Spaces Controlled with Occupied / Unoccupied Mode
  • Electrical Conductors are Oversized to Reduce Energy - Loss due to Voltage Drop
  • University of Nevada, Reno is investigating the inclusion of a photovoltaic energy producing system:
    • Provision for location of an electrical inverter
    • Provision for conduit path through building
    • Provision of added structural capacity of roof structure to support solar panels

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Daylighting Design

The University of Nevada, Reno Student Union was designed by WTW Architects. As part of the design process, WTW wanted to increase the utilization of natural light in the building. The goal of this study was to provide WTW with an analysis of the current design, and provide recommendations to improve the indoor environmental quality of the building. Green Design Collaborative has been commissioned to coordinate with David Nelson Associates to provide optimal daylighting configurations for this project. This was a preliminary report to inform the development of the design.

Some general daylighting suggestions include:

  • Appropriately adjust the size of the shading devices to avoid having direct beam light and glare on the display and work surfaces, and allow for passive solar heat gain in the winter
  • Use interior reflection devices to project light deep into the space
  • Wherever possible, provide bilateral illumination or daylight from at least two sides of the room to help create balanced light levels
  • Consider top lighting and lightwells where appropriate to provide ambient light

Entire Daylighting Report - Click Here

With Green Design Collaborative coordinating with David Nelson Associates have provided video clips and images documenting the daylight study




DAYLIGHTING IMAGES

To see a larger version of these images, click on the image.

DAYLIGHTING CLIPS

In order to view these clips, you need to have Quicktime installed on your computer.

   
Ballroom
MarSept BR
3rd Floor Circulation
AprAug
3rd Floor Stairwell Area
Dec
         
   
4th Floor Stairwell Area
June, skylights on wall & diffusing
East Side
June East Window with verts and shelf

PreFunction Space
FebOct S interior lower with brow







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Environmental Policy

 

MISSION
The University of Nevada, Reno is a constitutionally established, land-grant university serving the sutdents and citizens of Nevada since its founding in 1874. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs which emphasize those programs and activities which best serve the needs of the state, region and nation.

"In performing its mission, the university seeks to contribute to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge that will help to improve society. Environmental issues dominate the public consciousness and are key to the future of our region. Educating students and the public about the environment is an essential manifestation of the western land-grant mission in the 21st century and will be a focus at this university," University of Nevada President Lilley, 2002.

To educate students of the university in how best to work with our environment, it is important to institute environmentally responsible procedures in all campus activities. This entails building a cultre of environmental responsibility that educates students whenever they are on campus including not only curriculum changes, but changes in energy use, purchasing, recycling, waste disposal and capital investment. Furthermore, the university strives to conduct its affairs in a manner that safeguards the environmental health and safety of students, faculty, staff and our local community.

POLICY
Natural Features
The university will strive to protect, restore, and enhance natural features, biological diversity, and ecological processes on campus.

Energy
The univeristy will strive to minimize energy consumption in accordance with the State Energy Plan, reduce emissions and reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and other non-renewable energy resources.

Water Consumption
As we live in an arid environment, the university will strive to minimize the use of water both in its buildings as well as in the future landscape design and in the maintenance of the current landscaping. Efforts will be made to use the best available technology to minimize the use of water, encourage the use of reclaimed water and prevent the wasting of water.

Transportation
The university will strive to reduce vehicle emissions and to minimize energy consumption and the use of fossil fuels for transportation. To this end, we will encourgae use of alternative fuels, alternative transportation, acquisitiong of fuel-efficient and low emissions vehicles, and incorporate strategies in campus master planning to enable efficient transportation systems.

Solid Waste
The university will strive to minimize solid waste production and make reasonable accommodations to divert solid waste to appropriate recycling or composting programs. The university will strive to establish and maintain a campus-wide recycling program supervised by a Recycling Coordinator.

Buildings
The university will strive to minimize the ecological impact of the demolition, construction, renovation, maintenance and operation of campus buildings. As new buildings are designed, it will be a priority of the university to incorporate Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) principles, in accordance with the university's Sustainable Building Policy.

Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Life Cycle Cost Analysis is an inclusive approach to costing a program, facility, or group of facilities that encompasses planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance over the useful life of the facilities and finally any decommissioning or disassembly costs. Life Cycle Cost Analysis considers the net present value of design options as investments. The goal is to achieve the highest, most cost-effective environmental performance possible over the life of the project. Nevada Revised Statues 338.190 sets the requirements of Life Cycle Cost Anaylsis that must be performed prior to construction or renovation.

Indoor Environmental Quality
The university will strive to promote healthy indoor environments and to support the selection and use of materials and products that minimize off gassing or chemicals and other pollutants.

Purchasing
The unviersity will strive to minimize the ecological impact of the products purchased in support of campus operations and to seek fiscally viable alternatives for any products that are environmentally detrimental. In general, the university will strive to purchase products that include post-consumer recycled content, products that are durable, products that are amenable to repair and products that can be recycled after they are no longer useful.

 

Project Timeline


2001-2002 The University, Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN), the Division of Student Affairs, and the Jot Travis Student Union strategic plans state the need for a new student union.
2002-2003 ASUN President Alicia Lerud presents Senate Recommendation RC-0203-D - Student Life Enhancements (January 22, 2003)
2003

ASUN and Graduate Student Association (GSA) Presidents worked with the administration to create the Education and Survey Working Group, which consisted of both dissatisfied and interested students, faculty, and staff.

The University hired Brailsford & Dunlavey as outside consultants to complete a thorough feasibility study.
Fall 2003

Two surveys were developed with the working group, the ASUN Senate, and the GSA.

There were two student surveys; The first indicated that 78% of the students support the new student union fee with ±1.6% margin of error. The second was a Yes/No survey regarding the exact fee to determine if students would pay it- 72% of those surveyed supported the fee.

Spring 2004 Board of Regents unanimously approve the new student union and related fees
June 2004

WTW and Lundahl & Associates selected as the new student union architects.
Fall 2004

Schematic Design by Architect

Schematic Design Review & Approval
Winter 2004 - Spring 2005 Construction Documents Development
Summer 2005

New Student Union site preparation.  Aerial site picture
Fall 2005 Construction Documents
Winter 2005 - Spring 2006 Construction Bids Received & Reviewed
Spring 2006 Contractor Hired - Penta Building Group
Construction Begins
Fall 2007 Semester Building Opens!

*Timeline subject to change
Maintained by Eddie Harrington ~ University of Nevada, Reno         Link to UNR