Waterless urinals, a geothermal heating and cooling system and other "green" innovations mean Bellevue Community College's newest classroom building will be one of the most environment-friendly structures in the region.

The innovations are expected to save more than 4 million gallons of water, 24 million cubic feet of natural gas and $1 million in operating costs over the 30-year depreciable life of the building.

The R Building's three-story classroom wing and two-story office wing will form the largest building on BCC's campus -- providing 29 classrooms and faculty/staff offices to help accommodate the College's rapid growth. The 68,000 square-foot, L-shaped structure also will provide meeting rooms, common areas for informal study and social interaction, and a dance studio.

"The R Building is designed not only to provide a quality learning environment but also to be kind to the natural environment," said John Carroll, BCC's Director of Campus Operations. "We are especially grateful to the City of Bellevue for their willingness to consider new ways to meet these goals."

Waterless urinals
Waterless urinals have evolved from fixtures developed for marine applications. Using gravity and a chemical seal, they save water while also improving hygiene and reducing maintenance costs. These fixtures, in combination with electronic faucets, are expected to cut water use in the building by approximately one-half, saving 137,000 gallons per year compared to conventional fixtures.

Geothermal heating and cooling
The R Building's geothermal heating/cooling system works by circulating water through a grid of 97 wells installed below the main entry plaza. Each well reaches down 300 feet, to a depth where the earth's temperature is a constant 57 degrees Fahrenheit. When the building needs to be cooled, the circulated water absorbs heat from the building and sheds it through the underground wells. When the building needs to be heated, cold water from the building picks up warmth from the ground. Heat pumps in various sections of the building distribute the heating and cooling energy according to the needs of each space.

The geothermal system is expected to reduce energy costs by 30 percent or more (compared to a conventional variable-air-volume system). That reduction will save approximately 800,000 cubic feet of natural gas annually while also minimizing emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

Natural lighting
The R Building's classrooms will have numerous, large insulated windows to admit natural light, and sensors that automatically switch off electric lights when sufficient daylight is present. Greater reliance on natural lighting not only reduces electricity use but also has been shown to improve academic and work performance.

Natural ventilation
All R Building classrooms and offices will have operable windows, allowing occupants to control their own environment. In addition, the building's ventilation system will draw outside air into each classroom through the exterior wall rather than through a duct supplied by a central fan. This approach is intended not only to save energy but also to improve comfort and reduce the materials required for ductwork.

Recycled and environmentally-neutral materials
The R Building's exposed concrete frame and steel lobby structure are partially composed of recycled material. Other materials in the building, including carpet, linoleum, adhesives and paint, meet the stringent indoor air quality standards of the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. They also meet BCC's own strict requirements for ease of maintenance and compatibility with environmentally neutral cleaning products.

Reduction of "heat islands"
Most of the paved areas around the R Building will be shaded by trees and other vegetation. In addition, the building uses an Environmental Protection Agency-designated Energy Star roof design to reflect heat away from the structure. These features will help to reduce "heat islands" -- temperature differences between developed and undeveloped areas -- thus minimizing the building's impact on microclimates and human and wildlife habitat.

Storm drainage mitigation
The R Building's storm drainage system is designed to preserve water quality by filtering and slowing storm water runoff. The system minimizes the number of suspended particles in the water, which otherwise could be harmful to salmon.

Architectural Features
The R Building's structural concrete frame provides its major architectural expression and lends continuity with existing buildings throughout the BCC campus. The three-story classroom wing and two-story office wing are linked by a steel-framed, glass-enclosed lobby featuring wood ceiling tile and a slate floor. Its insulated metal panels and style of brick match those used in many other buildings on campus.

The R Building's courtyard will feature a sculpture entitled "Pacific Ring" by artists Jim Hirschfield and Sonya Ishii. The courtyard also links the building's lobby to the campus' central pedestrian concourse, a pleasant mall approximately three city blocks in length connecting the college's 10 existing educational and administrative buildings.

Architects and general contractor for the $20 million project are LMN Architects, Seattle, and M.A. Mortenson, Bellevue, respectively.


SOURCE: Bellevue Community College