David Brower Center

Architect: Daniel Solomon Design Partners

Client: David Brower Center & Equity Community Builders
Program: Office space, Gallery Space, Event Center
Location: Berkeley, Ca

+Thermals Mass isolation from concrete

+South facing orientation for passive solar direct gain
+Sun-shading louvers for windows
+Wind protected outdoor spaces
+Radiant flooring for efficient heating and cooling
Floor 1

Floors 2-4
David Brower Center -
Envelope Analysis

Wall-to-Window Ratio- 2:1, This ensures a large amount of natural

light penetration, with a sufficent amount of insolation.

Wall Properties- Lateral Structure system that used post tensioning

cables w flexural wall and frames. Allows it to be damage resistant.
LS acts as spring, bend and flex- but return to original alignment.

Materials- High slag concrete instead of cement (decreases us by

70%) in foundations, and (decreases use by 50%) in superstructure.

Envelope System- The exterior wall primarily consists of concrete

with radiant tubing that goes throughout. This tubing allows for
warm/cold water to circulate through the wall to either heat it up or
cool it down. Exterior cladding is placed on top of the concrete to
prevent thermal bridging between the two materials.

Thermal Mass- Warm weather, pre-cooled at night through slabs

with cooling tower and radiant in-slab system. Drawback is that it
increases off peak electricity use. Benefit is that it decreases peak
electricity use, which lessens burden on local utilities. Cold weather
high efficiency condensing boilers that operate at lower supply
water temperature (increases efficiency). Water temperature returns
between (90-110 degrees Fahrenheit). The low return is important in
maximizing the boiler efficiency and is possible because of radiant
slabs, low face velocity air handler.

General Floor- Varying occupant ventilation loads, use high

efficiency water source heat pump, uses cooling tower for heat
rejection, and boiler for heat injection.
 The David Brower Center scored above
average in occupant satisfaction for nearly all
of the categories. The only category it fell
below the average satisfaction level is the
acoustic quality, which can be attributed to
the open floor plan of the building used to
allow daylight to radiate throughout the
space and the exposed solid concrete walls
used for thermal mass.
http://buildingdashboard.com/clients/brower/

The Brower center implemented a variety of

design strategies in regards to thermal
comfort, lighting, and ventilation. Some
examples include the louvers and light shelves
that help bring natural daylight into the
building while avoiding too much direct light,
the natural and underfloor ventilation systems
that provide fresh air, and the radiant heating
and cooling system that maintains the
temperature at a suitable level.

http://buildingdashboard.com/clients/brower/

Most of the complaints were in regards

to the sound quality, but people were
generally satisfied with the building.

CASE STUDY REPORT: DAVID BROWER CENTER - Center for the Built Environment (CBE)
 inhabitat.com
Shading devices are not required on the north façade because of the lack of direct lighting

Latitude: 38 Degrees North

Longitude: 122 Degrees West

Daylighting seems sufficient based on the Post Occupancy Evaluation

results , correlating with the systems used in the building.

Louvers prevent intense daylighting in the summer, while the winter

lights are permitted inside. Solar panels allow for energy to be collected
throughout the day and reduce energy taken from the grid. This helped
the building attain a net-zero energy score. Light Shelfs allow for the
building to illuminate during the winter season. Light directing glass http://www.nzdl.org/
allows for dark rooms to be illuminated. Summer solstice altitude: 77 degrees
Winter solstice altitude: 30 degrees

Shading devices on the south and east facades include

louvers, overhangs, and light shelves to provide as much
ambient daylighting on the inside without causing visual
and thermal discomfort from direct sunlight. The
overhangs allow sunlight to enter the building during
the winter when the sun is low in the sky, and blocks it
during the summer when the sun has a higher altitude.