4EA Building Science

Our next FREE webinar is on Invisible Improvement: Air Tightening an Office in a Historic Timber Pier, presented by Jeff Speert: Historic structures provide a significant cultural value and in the case of the Seattle waterfront, link the maritime period around Seattle’s founding to the current tourist and commercial center of the city. In addition to contributing to the local heritage and historic fabric, existing buildings generally also contribute disproportionately to the energy consumption of our building stock. Pier 56 was constructed in 1900 over Elliott Bay as a timber structure and for much of its history was a base for nautical transportation. Today, the lower floor of the building houses several retail and restaurant tenants. The upper floor, approximately 30,000 square feet, is leased by the architecture firm Mithun. Mithun leased the space in 2000 and as part of a lease renewal in 2020, completed tenant improvements including air sealing. The goal of the air tightening measures was to reduce energy use and improve occupant comfort, which was a challenge for a vaulted exposed timber structure with no cooling and no perimeter heat distribution. This session is a case study covering the pre-improvement multi-fan air barrier testing, diagnostics completed during testing to determine leak locations, remedial work completed during construction, and the final air barrier test. We will also include post-occupancy energy use comparison and occupant descriptions of comfort improvements. Click the link to register: https://lnkd.in/gRE5xgTp #airbarriers #airbarrierassociation #buildingenvelope #buildingscience

We want to thank the AIA Seattle Mass Timber Committee and The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP for coordinating Saturday’s Mass Timber Newhouse Building Tour. The Newhouse Building isn’t an ordinary project. It’s part of the legislative campus modernization, but while it’s being modernized, a critical component of the project is maintaining the campus’ neo-classical architectural style and honoring the strength and spirit of Washington State. One of the project team’s shared values is sustainability, and we collectively set out to make this project as sustainable as possible by salvaging most of the materials from deconstruction and using locally sourced lumber and dowel-laminated timber (DLT). Because Newhouse is a taxpayer funded project, utilizing local wood products was also a specification requirement. Miller Hull designed Newhouse for net-zero readiness at the current LEED Silver level. We anticipate substantial completion of construction will be November 15 and the first Senate meeting in the new building is scheduled for December 11. We can’t wait to show you final pictures, but in the meantime here’s a sneak preview from Saturday’s tour.   For more project information: https://lnkd.in/gitSnbDr https://lnkd.in/gkPDT-im https://lnkd.in/gZ7CDhp5   Client: Washington State Department of Enterprise Services Architect: The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP Contractor: Hoffman Construction Company Structural Engineer: Lund Opsahl Civil Engineer: Reid Middleton MEP Engineer: PAE

The new Innovation Hall in Bothell is the first academic building in the country shared by a university (University of Washington Bothell) and a community college (Cascadia College). Using a progressive-design build delivery, the project team led by Lewis and Mithun maximized space for instruction and research while weathering a variety of unforeseen challenges: from a concrete strike to pandemic-related cost hikes. With labs and classrooms for chemistry, biology, physics, computer science, and mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as study areas and faculty offices, Innovation Hall expands STEM learning and research opportunities —especially among historically underserved populations—while meeting the ever-growing need for STEM graduates in Washington state. https://lnkd.in/dJJ2XiFx 📷: Lara Swimmer

Join AIA Seattle this month for a Mass Timber tour of our Newhouse Building Replacement. Constructed in 1934, the original building faced life-safety and seismic issues that required its replacement. Our design integrates the neo-classical style of the campus while incorporating elements specific to the Washington state region and resource stewardship, using state-sourced materials like mass timber to support an ecological footprint. The hybrid part-steel part-timber design features dowl-laminated timber (DLT), a product where acoustic materials are embedded into the wood, resulting in neat wooden strips threaded over one another. Miller Hull Architect Nick Clesi, AIA, and Japneet Pahwa will lead the tour with co-leaders from Lund Opsahl and Hoffman Construction Company. The tour takes place on July 20th and will begin at the Newhouse Building in Olympia before making its way to Milgard Hall at UW Tacoma. Click the link to learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4bqI89f. Client: Washington State Department of Enterprise Services Architect: The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP Contractor: Hoffman Construction Company Structural Engineer: Lund Opsahl Civil Engineer: Reid Middleton MEP Engineer: PAE Landscape Architect: Murase Associates Envelope : 4EA Building Science Security: Hohbach-Lewin Structural and Civil Engineers Lighting Designer: Dark Light Design Signage: Mayer/Reed, Inc. Vertical Transportation: The Greenbusch Group Transportation: Heffron Transportation, Inc. Acoustics: BRC Acoustics and Technology Consulting Building Code: Pielow Consulting Cost Estimating: JMB Consulting Group Historic Preservation: BuildingWork Photographer: Hoffman Construction Company