Thermal Envelope Archives

Byron G. Rogers Federal Building: Denver, Colo.

Modernizing Denver’s 1960s-era Byron G. Rogers Federal Building capitalized on a decision made in 1850 by the original city planners to lay out the downtown streets at 45 degrees to the four cardinal points. Without considering the solar orientation, the design respected the street orientation and the result placed the main buildings facing southwest. While this is great for watching the sun set over the mountains, the building becomes a giant solar heat collector.

Biosciences Research Building: National University of Ireland, Galway

Natural ventilation is usually not the first technique considered when designing a research lab. But the National University of Ireland, Galway, built a highly energy efficient lab at a low cost using passive strategies as the cornerstone.

UC Davis Health and Wellness Center: Davis, CA

The daylight-filled three-story UC Davis Health and Wellness Center offers physical and mental health services from dermatology to stress reduction strategies for the campus’ 30,000 students.

Mercy Corps World Headquarters: Portland, OR

Responding to international crises isn’t easy when your colleagues are scattered across six separate office spaces. Mercy Corps found its solution in Portland, Ore.’s neglected Packer-Scott Building.

Shenzhen Institute of Building Research Headquarters Building: Shenzhen, China

A tropical garden with water features flourishes on the sixth floor on the Shenzhen IBR Headquarters Building.

Oak Forest Neighborhood Library: Houston, TX

What's a community to do when a beloved, but aging neighborhood library is deemed undersized, inefficient and inaccessible?

Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory Research Support Facility: Golden, CO

When the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) decided to move 800 staff out of leased space into a new office building on its Golden, Colo., campus, it used that opportunity to build a living lab for best practices in net zero energy performance based on DOE and NREL research.

High Tech High: Chula Vista, CA

High Tech High Chula Vista is organized into neighborhoods to promote team teaching as well as provide a sense of ownership and place.

Museum And Visitor Center April 2008 For Print

The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center: Gettysburg, PA

The largest collection of Civil War artifacts and a cyclorama depicting the Battle of Gettysburg require carefully monitored indoor conditions.

Uf Hough Hall Exterior South Side Farther Awaya

University of Florida's William R. Hough Hall: Gainesville, FL

The University of Florida has been incorporating sustainable design in its new construction projects since 2001, but it tried a new approach in 2011 ...

Evie Garrett Dennis Campus: Denver, CO

When Denver Public Schools identified the need for additional schools to serve a growing suburban area, it decided to pursue a net zero energy multi-school campus ...

Cold Climate Housing Research Center: Fairbanks, AK

The Cold Climate Housing Research Center in Fairbanks, Alaska, is a living lab that researches building techniques and materials, tests heating and energy ...

A Grander View: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

The main lesson to be learned from A Grander View, headquarters of Enermodal Engineering, is that mechanical systems don't have to be complicated to work.

The Christman Building: Lansing, MI

Adaptive reuse is ideal for older cities that have a large stock of historic buildings. But how much does it cost to design, renovate and operate a repurposed building ...

Chemeketa Health Sciences Complex Addition: Salem, OR

Taking a chance on an unconventional design reaped dividends for Chemeketa Community College. The result is a sustainable building that uses ...

Rice Fergus Miller Office and Studio: Bremerton, WA

Instead of choosing new construction, Rice Fergus Miller's owners decided to completely renovate an abandoned Sears Automotive Center for the architecture firm's new office and studio space.