J.Craig Venter Institute

Architecturally, the building is a metaphor for a ship—it is self-sustaining and environmentally stable, powered by sun and water. The holistic approach to the design revolved around energy performance, water conservation, and a multitude of other efforts that will make JCVI a good neighbor in the community. Every system is tied to all the other systems, so that if one changes, the others will automatically react in order to keep the building functioning at an optimum level.

As one of the greenest buildings in the country, the new facility achieved LEED-Platinum certification and a net-zero energy footprint. Two arrays, comprising 26,124 SF of photovoltaic surface across 1,488 Sunpower E20/327 panels are predicted to exceed the building demand, pushing excess power generated back into the grid. Sensors automatically detect when artificial lighting is required, yet variable brightness settings ensure that no more lighting is provided than needed. Instead of using air-cooling equipment, the freezer room uses a more efficient water-cooled system that consumes less energy. Induction diffusers deliver air to laboratories and offices, but also have a heating/cooling coil, which delivers either hot water or cool water to heat or cool the building. Virtually all site and building water is collected and funneled into three interconnected cisterns, and then UV-filtered and recycled for all non-potable water functions within the building, which is expected to reduce the building’s domestic water demand by 70 percent. Native low-water landscaping and roof gardens support the building’s sustainability systems by assisting in rainwater collection, fighting material degradation, and keeping the building naturally cooler. With a LEED-Platinum rating and a net-zero energy footprint, the building is expected to be one of the greenest in the country.