Descripción general
University of Monterrey Pabellón Amarillo (ESTOA)
The project, built on what was formerly a parking lot, is located to the west of campus and serves as the University's new main entrance and has approximately 250,000 square feet of construction, which includes lecture halls, auditoriums, offices, student co-working spaces, student social area, cafeteria area, front/student offices and multiple spaces/rooms for academic purposes, such as retail space, as well as outdoor areas and landscaping.
The team's effort to create a sustainable project stems from the University's objective to contribute to sustainable architecture through the strategic planning of its buildings. Therefore, maximum efficiency in energy use was sought, achieving a savings of 42.36% through an efficient lighting system, efficient HVAC equipment and envelope studies. The project's lighting system, which considered daylight, uses 100% LED technology in the luminaires, including lighting controls and occupancy sensors through an integrated control system.
The VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) air conditioning system, which integrates a HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation) system, ensures thermal comfort, air quality and energy efficiency of the spaces by using the expelled air to pre-condition the renovation air. The envelope consists of precast concrete panels with insulation in walls and ceilings, and efficient low-emissivity windows. The green roof and arches are planted with native vegetation. This vegetation and drip irrigation with treated water resulted in water savings of 83.06%, as well as water-saving equipment and the use of treated water in bathrooms.
The project also pursued Green Education credit, leveraging the educational value of the building with an educational outreach program that showcases sustainable living strategies. Using the project as an example, students learn firsthand the impact that responsible design can offer.
Company
UDEM
The University of Monterrey (UDEM) is a private institution of higher education located in San Pedro Garza García, a city in the state of Nuevo León, Mexico. The university was founded in 1969 and has become one of the most prestigious universities in the country.
The university is known for its strong commitment to academic excellence, innovation and social responsibility - it seeks to contribute to sustainable architecture through strategic planning of its buildings.
Project
Sustainable social and environmental commitment
The ESTOA building is a multi-purpose building and is the new main entrance to the Universidad de Monterrey campus. The building has 250,000 square feet of construction, including conference rooms, auditoriums, offices, student areas, social areas, cafeteria, student services offices, academic rooms and gardens.
Efficient systems were used to ensure savings in energy consumption, treated water sources and efficient equipment were used to reduce water consumption, and materials and resources were used that, together with good construction practices, significantly reduced the impact on the environment.
Challenges
Challenges to overcome
ESTOA sought - from the beginning - to reduce the environmental impact in areas such as energy, water saving and even in its construction.
It also sought to take care of indoor air quality, as well as constant air renewal to maintain thermal comfort, the education of the occupants and the recovery of nearly four hectares so that the entire area would function as a green lung in the western part of the metropolitan area and reduce the heat island effect.
Solution
Energy savings were achieved through the lighting system, efficient HVAC equipment and envelope studies.
The lighting system uses 100% LED technology, in addition to lighting and occupancy control sensors integrated into a control system. Thermal comfort, air quality and energy performance is ensured through a variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system.
Constant air renewal was achieved through injectors connected directly to the HVAC equipment, in addition, interior courtyards with vegetation and direct access to the sky were included.
During the design process, the people involved received constant training on LEED strategies, methods and processes.
The parking space was moved to subway levels for acreage reclamation.
