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The La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS) has a 5 star Green Star Design rating. Image: Dianna Snape. 19MAY 2015 • ECOLI BR I U M

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Molecular spectacularA new learning and research facility has confirmed

La Trobe University’s status as an international leader in

the fields of molecular science and biotechnology research.

As Sean McGowan reports, this state-of-the-art building is set

to inspire generations of Australian scientists.

At a cost of $100 million, the new

La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science

(LIMS) building at La Trobe University’s

Bundoora campus hasn’t come cheap.

But then it’s hard to put a price on

the future of cell and molecular science

research, and its potential application

in medicine, nanotechnology and

biotechnology. This is particularly the

case when you consider the exodus of

Australia’s best early and mid-career

researchers to overseas locations due

to a lack of opportunity.

Indeed, such is the importance of this

facility that it not only cements La Trobe’s

position in the top echelon of molecular

science research worldwide, but also

creates 220 research positions that will

help to stem this tide.

Taking up a central position on

the university’s sprawling campus in

Melbourne’s northern suburbs, the LIMS

building combines teaching and research

in the same building.

Designed by project architect and

principal consultant Lyons Architects,

the building comprises six floor levels

– the lower three dedicated to scientific

teaching and levels 4 to 6 dedicated

to scientific research.

“Often you design and build a teaching

building separate to a research building,

so it’s quite unusual to join teaching

and research together,” says Carey Lyon,

director at Lyons.

“To create this type of learning and research environment means the process has to be very collaborative.”

Engaged by La Trobe University under a direct consultancy engagement, with coordination from Lyons, NDY was responsible for the major engineering building services disciplines. These included mechanical, electrical, hydraulics and fire protection. The firm was subsequently appointed to also provide ESD, acoustics and specialist audio-visual services.

The project design phase commenced in October 2009.

According to NDY director Ben White, the firm worked closely with Lyons from these early stages, as well as other key stakeholders. Watpac Constructions was appointed builder in January 2011.

“Coordination was very critical and the efforts made to closely liaise, communicate and conduct site workshopping exercises were quite exhaustive,” says White.

During these early stages, NDY worked with the university to refine a number of its environmental objectives and targets on a more holistic level. Eventually a 5 star Green Star Design certified rating target was set for the project, and this has subsequently been achieved.

As the first La Trobe University project to be delivered and designed with specific environmental credentials, the university was committed to reducing

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chiller and associated cooling towers – the latter able to be isolated when not required.

The main air conditioning plant is accommodated within the main plant room located at roof level of the LIMS building. Auxiliary mechanical services plant rooms are located on levels 1, 2 and 3.

The water-cooled electric chiller was selected in part to enable a level of redundancy, particularly at times when the campus cogeneration plant and associated reticulated HTHW system is unavailable (for example, due to maintenance or failure).

It was also designed to be used at times of peak cooling demand.

“Three heat exchangers connected to the existing campus HTHW system are employed to provide heating hot water to the building,” explains NDY’s Hanley.

The building has been designed with a mixed-mode air conditioning system serving office areas on the top three levels, as well as common areas on levels 2 and 3.

This system incorporates automated operable windows on the northern façade for natural cooling and ventilation. Multi-zone variable-air-volume (VAV) air-handling units (AHUs) serve the perimeter and interior zones of the office areas.

The mixed-mode system employs a dedicated weather station monitoring system, which is interfaced with the BMS. This is the primary control facility to determine the adequacy of external ambient temperature, humidity and wind conditions against predetermined set-points and operating bands.

Hanley says activation of the natural ventilation mode triggers windows and blinds on the northern façade to open

automatically, and VAV boxes on the perimeter of the office areas to shut down. The speed of associated AHUs is reduced to a minimum.

Air conditioning units serving the common areas on levels 2 and 3 are also shut down during natural ventilation mode.

NATURAL CHALLENGESOne of the challenges of implementing a mixed-mode system on this building was created by the unusual architecture of its façade. This features perimeter glazing made up of fixed panes, operable louvres and openable sash windows.

Many of the openable windows are of a non-standard shape and design to marry with the creative building architecture and building aesthetic.

The successful delivery of an automated operable window system as part of the mixed-mode air conditioning and ventilation strategy required very close coordination with the architect and fire engineer, Arup.

The fire-engineered smoke-relief system was employed as part of the engineered, fire protection building strategy.

Hanley says extraordinary management and coordination with multiple building trades was also required to ensure the system worked, as was occupant instruction.

“A significant degree of repetitive instruction to building users was also required so that they obtained the required level of conversancy with the system (to understand) how it was designed to work in a predominantly automated mode of operation,” he says.

In particular, it was important for building occupants to know when and how they could and should override the automated control functionality of the system.

“The fluidity with which this was affected required a high level of coordination and patience, and the final successful delivery of this was a minor triumph in itself,” Hanley says.

CONTROLLED SPACESVarious levels of modelling at the design stage were required to deliver the appropriate levels of ventilation and air conditioning control to the 34 individual research and support laboratories. Also necessary was fine-tuning in the early stages of building occupancy and use.

For instance, the permitted temperature range in areas such as the Crystallography Room and the Controlled Temperature Room is dictated by their functional requirements, and differs from the building’s general internal thermal comfort conditions of 22.5°C ± 1.5°C.

In more flexible areas, such as offices, administration and teaching/learning areas, the permitted temperature range is wider to enable the system to provide significant energy savings.

The exclusive use of an underfloor air distribution (UFAD) system in the first floor 200-seat main auditorium provides further energy savings, as does the use of dynamic occupancy control.

Of course, for a facility such as this, fume and biohazard cupboards as well as biological safety cabinet facilities are found in high numbers and dominate many of the extensive laboratory areas of the building – especially in chemistry teaching and all scientific research levels.

These cupboards are locally controlled, with automated sash controls selected for all fume cupboards.

A high level of interfacing with the BMS system was required to meet adequate fume cupboard exhaust system requirements,

To create this

type of learning

and research

environment

means the process

has to be very

collaborative

There are 34 research and support labs throughout the LIMS building, with temperature ranges dictated by functionality.

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the energy consumption and associated CO2 emissions of the LIMS building.

“Environmental sensitivity and sustainable design features underpinned the overall requirements for the facility,” says White, “principally in response to La Trobe University’s commitment to the environment and recently developed environmental protocols, objectives and targets.”

HIGH DEPENDENCEFrom the outset, it was clear that the building and overall facility would need to be highly functional, as well as highly dependent on a diverse number of building services. Indeed, the building services component was identified as representing more than 30 per cent of the total investment.

To achieve efficiencies in the design of these services, a 3D design platform for evolving and documenting the project was adopted.

Agreement to base the design (drawing) documentation on the use of REVIT 3D design software was established across the design team.

This design led to a regular transfer cycle of REVIT files during the pre-tender design phase, with files transferred between the project architect and

engineering consultants on a one-to-two week turn-around cycle.

The use of a 3D design also proved advantageous during the early stages of construction. Here, coordination of the installation followed an agreed managed process led by the mechanical contractor, before trickling down to other services trades, including electrical, hydraulics and fire protection.

This was particularly crucial in the reticulation of services within ceiling voids, which presented significant challenges.

These spaces were required to accommodate assorted HVAC ductwork and piping, hydraulics piping systems, power and lighting cabling and tray systems, communications, security and AV services cabling, and fire sprinkler protection pipework.

They also needed to negotiate structural obstructions such as beams, without compromising the structural integrity of the building, or the extensive services functionality, particularly throughout very expansive laboratory areas of the facility.

“The management of these services and systems within confined areas was assisted by the use of the REVIT 3D drawing software,” says NDY associate and senior electrical engineer, John Hanley.

“The team participation in this context can unequivocally be called a triumph.”

Because the LIMS building was required to be a fully air conditioning facility, it was recognised early on that the extensive amount of building services meant these had to work in harmony with the building architecture, or else overwhelm it. It was an understanding that underpinned the design.

“Aesthetically, the architectural preference was for the concealment of services generally,” says White. “This was achieved in all laboratory and most office areas within ceiling spaces and assigned services reticulation zones therein, with minimal use of services bulkheads.”

However, a decision was made to expose (express) ductwork services specifically in some circulation areas and corridors aligned with office and write-up laboratory support areas. Containment requirements associated with laboratory areas precluded – or at least restricted – the ability to adopt exposed ductwork services in many laboratory areas.

TAPPING INThe university’s central cogeneration plant was identified early on as a potential source of free energy for the new LIMS building.

And as it turned out, the availability of high-temperature hot water (HTHW) as an existing waste-heat recovery product was pivotal in the determination and selection of main mechanical services plant for the LIMS building.

New absorption chiller plant was selected as the primary mechanical plant for building cooling. The existing HTHW service was also used to provide building heating and building hot water applications.

New, central roof-mounted chilled-water refrigeration plant was installed. This is comprised of two absorption chillers augmented with one water-cooled screw

Aesthetically,

the architectural

preference was

for the concealment

of services

generally

REVIT 3D software helped designers negotiate structural obstructions without compromising the building’s integrity or extensive services.

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laboratory user-occupant comfort levels, and to maintain exacting energy target levels. The latter was established for sustainability objective purposes.

Some ventilation systems in the building also incorporate CO2 and temperature sensors where required, to ensure systems run only as required to maintain conditions acceptable for each space.

“The marriage of these requirements and achieving the desired outcomes was both particularly challenging and satisfying upon their successful delivery and the acknowledgement by university personnel,” says Hanley.

ON LOOPThe use of a closed-loop process-cooling water system was identified as a key sustainability initiative in the early stages of the LIMS project design.

It provides a means of replacing, upgrading and expanding upon the more wasteful system of running tap water (drained to the wastewater part of the installed plumbing system).

“Although principally an environmental initiative,” says White, “the concept gained rapid support and traction with the university.”

Such was the university’s enthusiasm that this functionally superior service was employed throughout all laboratories, as opposed to selected rooms, as originally conceived.

“Examination of scientific processes, experiments and applications employed within the laboratories by the university was necessary for appropriate design of the cooling water system,” says White.

This necessitated provision of cooling water with a defined temperature band and tolerance. It also meant a mechanism was required to remove heat effectively and efficiently from the cooling water system – as this was absorbed by the system as part of the process cooling function.

Ultimately, the design team elected to take advantage of the chilled-water system as the cold-water supply platform, which would serve the closed-loop process-cooling water system. In conjunction with plate heat exchangers, the required temperature conditions of the system are able to be maintained.

“Fundamentally the system is considerably more water-efficient than

an open-loop alternative,” NDY’s White says. “The design provided is also energy-efficient, and makes use of chilled-water services already being provided for mechanical HVAC cooling purposes.”

This design has led to a reduction in the consumption of mains supply potable water, as well as minimised polluted water discharge from the building to the municipal sewerage system.

Overall, the LIMS building is estimated to save over 1,800L per day compared to a conventional building.

BUILDING MANAGEMENTThe BMS is a pivotal part of the overall building engineering services infrastructure, and critical to the successful ongoing operation of the LIMS building.

It provides a strategic function in terms of control management of the majority of mechanical services systems and sub-systems, as well as some hydraulic services controls and the integration of key mechanical and electrical facilities – namely HVAC, lighting and building occupancy responses.

The BMS at LIMS employs a direct-digital-control (DDC) system that enables close control of mechanical plant and systems. It is also used to provide comprehensive monitoring of energy and water use specifically related to mechanical, electrical (lighting and power), hydraulic, fire and lift services.

A high level of interface occurs between HVAC and lighting systems – all driven by the DDC system.

The HVAC and lighting systems use dual-function motion sensors installed as part of the lighting installation and lighting control system. They have a “handshaking” arrangement between the localised lighting

Building users are

encouraged to

embrace the ‘hands-

off’ design nature

of the building

and resist using

manual controls

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F E A T U R E

control/occupancy sensing and the BMS. This is used for the zoned control of air conditioning and ventilation services.

Hanley says the lighting system “owns” the occupancy sensing devices. Therefore, these govern the operation of artificial lighting in response to adjustable detection and time delay parameters.

A second level of lighting control is employed using the same lighting/occupancy sensors combined with integral photoelectric sensing to automatically adjust lighting (dimming or turning off) where available daylighting levels are satisfactory.

“Manual lighting controls are also provided,” Hanley says. “But building

users are encouraged to embrace the ‘hands-off ’ design nature of the building and resist using manual controls, which are generally not required during normal hours of operation.”

CO2 monitoring is used to reduce the amount of outside air introduced to the spaces during periods of low occupancy.

TWO YEARS ONFollowing a construction period of 23 months, practical completion of the LIMS building was achieved in February 2013.

A 12-month period of building tuning followed from February 2013 to January 2014.

This included the fine-tuning of mechanical services as well as the integrated performance with other automated services, including lighting and occupancy control and BMS monitoring.

“Performance monitoring of the installation was carried out on a monthly basis over the tuning period, with quarterly reports and comprehensive reporting interrogation carried out to validate optimal performance of various systems and subsystems,” says White.

This period also provided an opportunity to compare the building’s environmental performance against prescribed benchmarks and targets.

Overall, it was determined that the building performed within anticipated levels. The building’s response to external and internal environmental factors was also found to meet the design objectives and outcomes.

“The successful outcome of these design objectives has been able to be demonstrated and measured as part of the two-year occupancy of the facility,” says Hanley.

“And this is supported by the high degree of satisfaction acknowledged by the university with the product, and feedback obtained from the building users.”

By combining form, function and sustainability to create a state-of-the-art learning and research environment, LIMS is set to inspire generations of future scientific leaders.

And that’s an outcome worth talking about. �

The personnel

■ Briefing architect: S2F

■ Project architect: Lyons Architects

■ Builder: Watpac Constructions

■ Building surveyor: Gardner Group

■ Client: La Trobe University (Bundoora)

■ Electrical, fire protection and hydraulics: NDY

■ Fire engineering: Arup

■ Mechanical services: NDY

■ Mechanical contractor: James L Williams

■ Project managers: APP Corporation

■ Quantity surveyors and cost planners: Slattery

■ Structural engineers: Meinhardt Group

■ Sustainability consultant: NDY

HVAC equipment

■ Absorption chillers: Broad

■ Air-handling units: G.J. Walker

■ BMS: Siemens

■ Electric chillers: Carrier

■ Fan-coil units: G.J. Walker

■ Fire dampers: Celmec

■ Plate heat exchangers: Alfa Laval

■ Pumps: Baker-flow

LIMS AT A GLANCE