Kaiser Borsari Hall was designed by Perkins&Will as a net-zero facility for multidisciplinary collaboration on Western Washington University’s campus.
© Perkins&Will

Kaiser Borsari Hall, says Ryan Bussard, is an upcoming 54,000-square-foot mass-timber building on Western Washington University’s campus in Bellingham, USA. It integrates otherwise fragmented academic departments under one roof. It is the first higher education STEM building in the United States to pursue the Zero Energy and Zero Carbon certifications from the International Living Future Institute.

The use of timber will shrink the building’s embodied carbon footprint by 68%.
© Perkins&Will

The project uses a cross-laminated timber structure to reduce embodied carbon, and on-site energy generation and storage to decrease operational emissions. Over 105% of its energy use will be produced through renewables on and off site.

Named after Singapore’s first president, NUS Yusof Ishak House has been a social and cultural hub for the students of NUS for over fifty years.
© Special Projects / National University of Singapore

NUS Yusof Ishak House, explains Erik L’Heureux, is an adaptive reuse project on the NUS campus. The building has been serving as a student centre since the 1970s. The new design amplifies the existing structure’s architectural language while championing net-zero energy and decarbonisation.

Large openings will allow for natural ventilation, while also connecting the students to the tropical landscape surrounding NUS Yusof Ishak House.
© Special Projects / National University of Singapore

To minimise energy consumption, the building’s existing six vaulted arches are amplified and elongated so they draw in the equatorial air, creating generous naturally ventilated spaces. Additionally, a hybrid cooling system uses fans to accelerate air that is cooled in strategic locations. A rooftop photovoltaic array generates energy.

Two key aspects make a net-zero-energy building successful: first, the design must bring about significant cuts in energy usage; and secondly, it must produce enough power on site to cover its operational requirements. The process of designing and delivering such a building, therefore, looks significantly different.

Multiple systems work in sync to maximise energy and resource efficiency at Kaiser Borsari Hall.
© Perkins&Will

Ryan points to the importance of a co-design process in which all stakeholders — including architects, engineers, specialists, end users, and building operations and maintenance staff — should be at the table from the beginning to find alignment. Erik seconds the idea, but also emphasises the role of the architect as the driver of the conversation, with the ability to synthesise voices.

To diminish energy consumption, both Ryan and Erik underline the importance of passive design as the first tier of response. For instance, the openings in Kaiser Borsari Hall’s facade were optimised to to decrease solar gain while maximising daylight and views; they take up only 34% of the vertical surface area but illuminate 90% of the interiors.

The hybrid cooling system at NUS Yusof Ishak House disassociates temperature from comfort, using ceiling fans to accelerate 100% fresh air.
© Special Projects / National University of Singapore

The second tier of response, suggests Erik, is pushing and managing expectations, particularly those of the end-users and facilities managers. For instance, pushback about the exclusion of vending machines from NUS Yusof Ishak House was reconsidered after communication about the reduction of plug loads and energy goals.

Solar panels cover over 75% of the roof area at the Kaiser Borsari Hall to maximise the energy potential of the site.
© Perkins&Will

Earning stakeholders’ trust, it turns out, is key to the success of a high-performing building. Both Ryan and Erik stress that the relationship needs to be cultivated and requires constant upkeep, which increases efficiency over time.

A new brise-soleil sunscreen has been introduced at NUS Yusof Ishak House to improve the solar shading performance of the building envelope.
© Special Projects / National University of Singapore

The good news is that buildings focused on efficiency and impact are becoming increasingly affordable. By being smart about the dollars, says Ryan, such structures can be built within traditional budgets. Erik estimates that costs related to net-zero goals for NUS Yusof Ishak House will be recovered within its first eight years of operation.

For Ryan, Kaiser Borsari Hall is also an essential teaching tool — it makes visible its mechanical and structural systems for all to see. For Erik, the learning simply lies in the building’s performance. A well-functioning space, he believes, invites more people in, and in turn, increases the demand for such high-performance buildings.