Sustainability Consulting
LEED Services
Building Commissioning
Energy Consulting
June 2, 2010
Barbara A.W. Clarke, AIA, LEED AP
Drexel University Planning, Design and Construction
3201 Arch Street, Suite 320
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Regarding:
Green Globes Stage One Assessment for New Construction
Drexel Recreation Center
Drexel University
34th Street and Race Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Dear Ms. Clarke:
Thank you for the opportunity to conduct a third-party, Green Globes Stage I Assessment of the new
Drexel Recreation Center project at Drexel University.
The Drexel Recreation Center is a three-story, 85,292 square foot, steel frame addition to Daskalakis
Athletic Center with both metal panel and curtain wall façade. It was designed by Sasaki Associates of
Watertown, MA. The civil engineers were Pennoni Associates, Inc. of King of Prussia, PA, and the MEP
engineers were Ewing Cole of Philadelphia, PA.
The documents we reviewed for this Assessment included the following:
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Architecture drawings A 0.01 through A 10.11, (94) drawings, dated 08-04-08, issued as
“Permit/Construction” (some dated later with addenda).
Civil drawings C0201 through C8502, (15) drawings, dated 08-04-08, issued as
“Permit/Construction” (some dated later with addenda).
Mechanical drawings H1.001 through H7.03, (24) drawings, dated 08-04-08, issued as
“Permit/Construction” (some dated later with addenda).
Electrical drawings E0.01 through EX1.04, (61) drawings, dated 08-04-08, issued as
“Permit/Construction” (some dated later with addenda).
Plumbing drawings P0.01 through P6.01, (14) drawings, dated 08-04-08, issued as
“Permit/Construction” (some dated later with addenda).
Project Manual (Specifications) dated 08-04-08
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New Construction Stage I Assessment
Overall, the building appears to have integrated green design features as a result of good design
practices. Our preliminary assessment is that you should receive a Two (2) Green Globe Rating if you
continue through a Phase II Site Assessment and provide the documentation necessary to verify some of
the items listed within the Stage I Assessment.
Our conclusion is that unless there is an energy model that submitted, Three (3) Green Globes may
not be possible. In addition, the energy model would need to project significantly better energy
performance than that of a similar baseline “average” building in that geographical location, as
determined by the EPA Energy Star Target Finder.
Stage I of a New Construction (NC) Assessment is a review of documentation of the design of the facility
and includes but is not limited to: construction documents, landscape designs, water and energy
analysis, life cycle cost documentation, commissioning reports, and other design considerations.
In the case of the Drexel Recreation Center, the design of the project as shown in the construction
documents was reviewed based upon your online application submitted to the Green Globes web site.
Online information entered for the Construction Document Stage was used for the Stage I Assessment
of the design.
The Stage I Assessment indicates whether the building appears to be on target to achieving a certified
rating. It also indicates any additional information needed prior to or at the time of Stage II of the thirdparty assessment. Normally after construction, the Stage II Assessment can be completed. It includes an
onsite walk through, review of additional documentation that may have been missing in the Stage I
Assessment or not available until the construction phase of the project, and interview of key team
members. For more information regarding the Stage II Assessment, please consult the pre-assessment
checklist on the Green Building Initiative website (www.thegbi.org) accessed through your project login.
The online application for Drexel Recreation Center listed the Overall Rating at a 66% (602 points scored
out of 909 available). However we found areas where points were applied for but could not be verified
in the Construction Documents. There are (64) points in this category, which include (40) points scored
for an energy use simulation model that was not submitted. Note that these points, if left unverified,
would not affect the building rating of Two (2) Green Globes. We also found areas where points are
verifiable but not applied for in the application. There are (65) points in this category. If remedial work
is done such that all points currently claimed can be verified during the Stage II Assessment and
verifiable points are applied for, your present score would increase to 73% (666 points scored out of 909
available) and a third Green Globe is possible.
114 New Street, K2 | Decatur, GA 30030 | 404.378.7800 | energyace.com | Green Made Simple™
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A Two Green Globes Rating requires a minimum compliance level of 55% which means you have already
comfortably achieved the Two Green Globes Rating.
Following is a Section-by-Section discussion of the points verifiable but not applied for as well as points
which were applied for but could not be verified in the Construction Documents Stage. Only the points
which need either to be further defined or to be applied for are discussed. If the point is not mentioned
below, the Stage One Assessment essentially agrees with the answers provided by the design team to
the various questions.
Item No.
Section
Project
Management
Question
“Design Intent”
and “Basis of
Design” has been
reviewed.
Answer
Yes
Project
Management
Commissioning
requirements are
included in the
Construction
Documentation.
No
Project
Management
Does Division 1
include the
project’s
environmental
goals and
procedures with
regard to
emergency
response?
Yes
Comment
This
documentation
did not appear
to be a part of
the CD’s. This
could deduct (3)
points from your
evaluation score.
Commissioning
requirements
are listed in
section 01660 of
the
specifications.
This could add
(3) points to
your evaluation
score.
This
documentation
did not appear
to be a part of
the CD’s. This
could deduct (5)
points from your
evaluation score.
Action Item
Submit the
“Design Intent”
and “Basis of
Design” for
review.
Revise answer to
“yes.”
Submit the
environmental
goals and
procedures with
regard to
emergency
response for
review.
114 New Street, K2 | Decatur, GA 30030 | 404.378.7800 | energyace.com | Green Made Simple™
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Item No.
Section
Energy
Question
Have the energy
performance
targets been
achieved?
Answer
Yes
Comment
An energy model
was not
submitted. This
could deduct
(40) points from
your evaluation
score. However,
the building has
been in
operation for
more than a
year, so actual
energy use data
could add to
your evaluation
score.
Energy
Indicate the VT
value:
No answer;
left blank
Specifications
call for glazing to
be Viracom
VREI-54 with a
VT of 0.46. This
could add (8)
points to your
evaluation score.
Action Item
Submit an
energy model
that shows the
projected energy
consumption
meets or
exceeds a level
of performance
20%, 30%, 40%
or 50% better
than that of a
similar baseline
“average”
building in that
geographical
location, as
determined by
the EPA Energy
Star Target
Finder.
Revise answer to
“0.46.”
114 New Street, K2 | Decatur, GA 30030 | 404.378.7800 | energyace.com | Green Made Simple™
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Item No.
Section
Energy
Question
Is electrical
lighting
integrated with
day lighting,
taking into
account daily
and seasonal
variations?
Answer
Yes
Energy
Is the building’s Yes
energy
efficiency
increased
through the use
of the following
energy-efficient
equipment: High
efficiency
boilers
Comment
Electrical
drawings appear
to require that
this integration
is required.
However the
installed light
fixtures do not
appear to
contain
dimming
ballasts. This
could deduct
(10) points from
your evaluation
score.
The HVAC plans
appear to
specify a Cleaver
Brookes water
tube boiler,
which at 81%
efficient is not
“high
efficiency.” This
could deduct (8)
points from your
evaluation
score.
Action Item
Submit a work
order for
retrofitting the
lighting with
dimming
ballasts,
indicating that
day lighting and
electrical
lighting are
integrated, for
review.
Verify the
manufacturer
and model no.
of the installed
boilers and
check their
efficiencies.
114 New Street, K2 | Decatur, GA 30030 | 404.378.7800 | energyace.com | Green Made Simple™
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Item No.
Section
Energy
Question
Do the
construction
documents
indicate the
integration of
renewable
energy sources?
Answer
Renewable
energy will
supply more
than 5% and
less than 10%
of the total
load
Water
Do water
consumption
estimations
meet an
established
target?
No target has
been set
Water
Is an on-site
wastewater
treatment
system
specified?
Yes
Comment
We found no
reference to
renewable
energy sources.
Action Item
Review the
construction
documents for
use of
renewable
energy
technology
(solar, wind,
biomass,
geothermal or
photovoltaic
etc.). Check that
calculations are
included that
demonstrate the
total renewable
energy
contribution.
This building
Calculate and
features a storm submit the
water reclaim
estimated water
system with the usage with
reclaimed water storm water
being cycled
recycling
through the
compared
toilets and
against
could add up to estimated water
(30) points to
consumption
your evaluation for a similar
score.
building.
Yes, an on-site
Revise the
storm water
answer to “no.”
treatment
system is
specified, but
not an on-site
waste water
treatment
system. This
could deduct (3)
points from
your evaluation
score.
114 New Street, K2 | Decatur, GA 30030 | 404.378.7800 | energyace.com | Green Made Simple™
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Item No.
Section
Emissions
Question
Do the
construction
documents
indicate that the
building’s air
conditioning
system complies
with the
requirements of
ASHRAE 151994?
Answer
Not answered
Indoor
Environment
Will the
ventilation
system be
designed with
the following
features to
avoid entraining
pollutants into
the ventilation
air path? – Air
intakes suitably
protected.
Not answered
Comment
The
construction
documents
indicate that the
building’s air
conditioning
system complies
with ASHRAE
15-1994. This
could add (5)
points to your
evaluation
score.
The
construction
documents
indicate that the
building’s
ventilation
system is
designed with
air intakes
suitably
protected. This
could add (2)
points to your
evaluation
score.
Action Item
Revise answer
to “yes.”
Revise answer
to “yes.”
114 New Street, K2 | Decatur, GA 30030 | 404.378.7800 | energyace.com | Green Made Simple™
Sustainability Consulting
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Item No.
Section
Indoor
Environment
Question
Will the
ventilation
system be
designed with
the following
features to
avoid entraining
pollutants into
the ventilation
air path? –
Ventilation
lining that will
avoid the
release of
pollution and
fibers into the
ventilation path.
Answer
Not answered
Indoor
Environment
Will the
ventilation
system be
designed with
the following
features to
avoid entraining
pollutants into
the ventilation
air path? –
Ventilation
lining that will
avoid the
release of
pollution and
fibers into the
ventilation path.
Yes
Comment
The
construction
documents
indicate that the
building’s
ventilation
system is
designed
without lining
that will avoid
the release of
pollution and
fibers into the
ventilation path.
This could add
(2) points to
your evaluation
score.
The
construction
documents
indicate that the
building’s
ventilation
system is
designed
without lining
that will avoid
the release of
pollution and
fibers into the
ventilation path.
This could add
(2) points to
your evaluation
score.
Action Item
Revise answer
to “yes.”
Revise answer
to “yes.”
114 New Street, K2 | Decatur, GA 30030 | 404.378.7800 | energyace.com | Green Made Simple™
Sustainability Consulting
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Item No.
Section
Indoor
Environment
Question
Will sufficient
ventilation be
provided to
obtain
acceptable IAQ,
in accordance
with
ASHRAE/ANSI
62.1 – 2004?
Answer
Not answered
Comment
Action Item
The
Revise answer
construction
to “yes.”
documents
indicate that the
building’s
ventilation
system is
designed in
accordance with
ASHRAE/ANSI
62.1 – 2004.
This could add
(10) points to
your evaluation
score.
You are well on the way to having a Green Globes certified building. If all of the design parameters
verified during this Stage I Assessment are installed and in place at the end of construction, after the
Stage II Assessment you should receive a Two Green Globe rating for this Recreation Center.
Congratulations.
We hope to have the opportunity to meet you on site for a Stage II Assessment. During that Assessment,
please have available for review, the Action Items listed in the above table. Attached please find a copy
of the Green Globes report generated by the Web site based upon your answers to the online survey
application. If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to
contact us at (404) 789-2716. We look forward to working with you through the finalization of the Green
Globes rating process.
Sincerely,
Michael K. O’Brien, PE, LEED AP
cc: Kristi Martin, The Green Building Initiative
114 New Street, K2 | Decatur, GA 30030 | 404.378.7800 | energyace.com | Green Made Simple™