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Engineering Case Studies
Portland, Oregon
One of the first buildings to rise in a former shipyard
in Portland is one of the most resource efficient large-scale
buildings in the region, and one of the greenest in
the country—the Center for Health & Healing.
In fact, when the project was awarded a LEED Platinum
Certification in 2007, the project received a total
of 55 credits—three more than necessary for the
designation. And with complete responsibility for the
MEP design of the base building, tenant improvements,
underground garage and central utility plant, as well
as commissioning, Interface Engineering played a significant
role in this achievement.
sustainable-world.pdf
(PDF 5MB) »
Stockton, CA
Originally designed in 1994, Interface responded to
the need to bring the site-adapted building up to current
Title 24 requirements by performing site work and applying
energy measures that actually exceeded the stringent
code standards by 21 percent. The majority of these
energy savings were realized by exterior lighting and
interior lighting modifications. Heating, ventilating
and air conditioning (HVAC) contributed five percent
of the energy savings compared to a base case HVAC.
Additionally, Interface provided plumbing, fire sprinkler,
site and building power distribution, lighting meter
clock and classroom technology systems design for this
project.
gw-bush-elementary.pdf
(131KB) »
Clackamas, OR
Originally designed in 1996, the Clackamas High School
project was considered "green" by sustainability
standards of that time. Completed in 2002, the design
for the 265,000 SF structure yielded a projected 57%
energy savings over conventional lighting, thanks to
Interface prescribing advanced lighting systems and
controls that recently became available. This feature
helped Clackamas High School earn a LEED® Silver
certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The new system works in concert with a design that takes
advantage of the abundant daylighting specified by BOORA
Architects. Interface also provided electrical design
and commissioning services for this landmark project.
clackamas.pdf
(191KB) »
Salem, OR
Courthouse Square makes good use of taxpayer dollars
while providing a clean environment for people who work
in or visit the facility. By adapting existing technology
to conform to LEED standards, Interface met client needs
and designed a building that considered a benchmark
for sustainable design. The team designed an innovative,
advanced heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC)
system that allows for temperature and ventilation control
through occupancy sensors so that less energy is used
when individual spaces within the building are empty.Interface
designed plumbing systems to save water, recovered waste
heat and specified high-efficiency glazing for windows
in realizing significant energy savings.
courthouse-square.pdf
(103KB) »
The Dalles, OR
Interface Engineering worked to find some very innovative
solutions to daunting opposing forces—a patchwork
of dilapidated buildings on a piece of land slowly sliding
down the hill toward the Columbia River, and a district
with limited funds not the least of them. The BOORA
Architects/Interface Engineering collaboration designed
a facility built to LEED standards, reducing energy
consumption up to 60 percent by working with nature
instead of against it. Interface's design also saved
The Dalles School District an estimated 57 percent in
overall lighting energy demand compared with an Oregon
code building.
dalla-middle-school.pdf
(134KB) »
Portland, OR
Updating the Ecotrust building by 100 years, Interface
Engineering gave it a design that is estimated to be
22% more efficient than the 1995 Oregon Energy Code,
and won it the US Green Building Council's LEED®
Gold certification in 2001, the first in the western
U.S. Among numerous cost-saving design features, Interface
prescribed occupancy sensors, low-e glazing on windows,
daylighting controls, carbon dioxide sensors to control
ventilation rates and a first-rate building automation
system to control all the sensors and energy-using systems
for the 70,000 SF structure. Interface provided full
MEP design services for this historic renovation.
ecotrust.pdf
(151KB) »
Portland, OR
Working with Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects, Interface
Engineering fulfilled its promise of sustainable design
with numerous solutions to existing environmental challenges.
The 360,000 SF building designed with a "super
tight skin" required dedicated make-up air provided
to each condominium and carefully placed equipment for
smoke control. Among the significant energy-saving specifications
Interface contributed were carbon monoxide sensors in
the garage and a water-loop system that transfers heat
to places where it is most useful.
elizabeth-loft.pdf
(119KB) »
Salem, OR
In 2002 $3.2 million was earmarked for a "Three-Act"
restoration project for the Elsinore Theatre. Interface
designed the HVAC system with a complete remodel. Interface's
excellent partnership with the architect, mechanical
contractor and plumbing contractor benefited the project
by a synergistic meeting of the minds, leading to innovative
solutions. Keeping it simple was everyone's mantra,
making for the best low cost solution. Considering the
elements of a theatre, it is no surprise that noise
level was a major concern. The ventilation system historically
used tunnels under the auditorium with ducts large enough
to walk in, making balancing air distribution a challenge.
Read how Interface addressed the noise factor with a
two-pronged attack.
elsinore-theatre.pdf
(123KB) »
Hillsboro, OR
Knowing sustainability is a vital part of the future,
Hillsboro leaders chose Specht Development, LRS Architects
and Interface Engineering to create a LEED-certified
168,000 SF building—more than twice the size of
their previous quarters. Overall savings are projected
to be more than 38% water use reduction and 42% energy
savings. A mixed-use goal resulting from new zoning
regulations, plus a desire to appeal to a wide range
of patrons, led to incorporating a multi-use 250-seat
auditorium.
hillsboro-civic-center.pdf
(170KB) »
Brush Prairie, WA
Commenting on how well the project went, Principal Andy
Frichtl noted, "Within budget, on time... a flawless
job." We should add, "as usual." Interface
Engineering contributed their engineering expertise
with HVAC and plumbing design services, as well as energy
life-cycle cost analysis. Prior to constructing their
new 100,000 SF high school, Brush Prairie residents
had no place to hold theatrical performances or to run
on an indoor track. Now they have this, plus classrooms
to accommodate the town's 850 students and an easy expansion
option for the future.
hockinson.pdf
(91KB) »
Arcata, CA
Humboldt State University's design for its new Behavioral
& Social Sciences building began as a design-build
competition. The contractor-led entry not only met all
the criteria, but included environmental responsibility
as a key element in its design. Interface provided electrical
service and distribution, heating, ventilation and air
conditioning, plumbing, lighting, fire alarm and technology
design for the 88,000 SF building with numerous sustainability
features including 100% rainwater harvesting. Humboldt
State expects that their LEED Gold certification will
be a dramatic statement of the University's commitment
to sustainable design principles and actions.
humbolt.pdf
(114KB) »
Wilsonville, OR
Attention to employee comfort and expressed preferences
led Interface to design a lighting system that uses
less than 80% of the energy than that allowed by code
for this 140,000 SF building. Lower mandated lighting
levels and T5-HO lamp-based indirect lighting allowed
the Interface team to space luminaires up to 16 feet
on center in some cases and still satisfy IES-recommended
criteria for ceiling uniformity. Interface provided
full MEP design services and also commissioned the building,
ensuring that the HVAC control and lighting systems
were fine-tuned and balanced for continued employee
comfort and energy savings.
in-focus.pdf
(178KB) »
Portland, OR
A LEED-CI® pilot project,
Interface incorporated indoor environmental quality
guidelines and energy efficiency for its new 20,000
SF headquarters in 2002. For example, more then 50%
of the work spaces have adequate daylighting for critical
visual tasks, and more than 90% of the work spaces have
a direct line-of-sight to vision glazing. Energy-efficient
"direct/indirect" lighting fixtures, and occupancy
sensors and time clocks ensure that lights are off when
spaces are not in use. Interface's in-house expert commissioning
technicians tested and balanced the firm's two floors
for continued energy savings.
interface-ti.pdf
(178KB) »
Portland, OR
Designing to the General Services Administration requirements,
Interface contributed details in high security design
for the government offices of National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms,
the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Hearings
and Appeals, the Office of Historical Trust Accounting,
the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of
Reclamation.
lloyd.pdf
(199KB) »
Portland, OR
Interface contributed mechanical, electrical, plumbing
and lighting design specifications, with special effects
in the Ladies' clothing departments for Fred Meyer's
latest 140,000 SF retail store. Built on the same site
as a previous store, site restrictions required it to
be designed to a newer two-story prototype. Interface
has contributed design services for 35 Fred Meyer stores
along with other big box retailers, such as WinCo Foods
and Safeway stores, in California, Oregon and Washington.
fred-meyer.pdf
(108KB) »
La Pine, OR
Striving to be Central Oregon's first super-efficient
LEED-certified building, Midstate turned to the design
skills of Steele Associates Architects and Interface
Engineering to aim for a Silver rating for their 13,000
SF administration building. Interface provided sustainable
solutions with HVAC, water, new electrical and lighting
design innovations. In addition, Interface is performing
the commissioning work that will ensure that future
savings will still be in place as the cooperative grows.
midstate-electric.pdf
(89KB) »
Milwaukie, OR
A LEED-EB Pilot Project, the ODS Plaza shows what can
be done with updating an older building for adaptive
reuse. Providing full MEP services for renovating a
1956 industrial building, Interface’s designers
secured savings of approximately $50,000 in capital
costs by designing the general office lighting to 30
footcandles instead of the standard 50 footcandles for
the 50,000 SF building. The innovative lighting has
a suspended trunking system with luminaires that criss-cross
each other at various angles and on several planes.
This "intentional disorganization" actually
produces a uniform placement of direct lighting fixtures
that accentuate the original dark wood, helping to make
the ODS building a place that makes people say "Wow!"
The building also features extensive daylighting and
daylighting controls.
ods.pdf
(141KB) »
Portland, OR
Interface contributed engineering design of HVAC, plumbing,
lighting and fire protection for a complete remodel
of Opsis' existing two-story brick building into three
retail spaces, including a small parking area, storage,
lobby and the architects' second-floor offices. Originally
built in 1910, the Marshall-Wells Hardware Company stables
provided a sturdy shell for a multitude of sustainability
improvements. Daylight was a key component of the lighting
strategy with a coordinated combination of design components.
And, Interface took an inventive approach to providing
indoor comfort with economical approaches to air flow.
Specifically, this required telecommunications infrastructure
cabling, technology low voltage systems, HVAC and electrical.
Included were water-cooled air conditioning units for
the 24-hour operating computer rooms, and secure core
walls to prevent any floor to floor penetration.
opsis.pdf
(84KB) »
Forest Grove, OR
Interface participated in providing the lighting and
illumination for a glass wall artwork in the Pacific
University Library that is part of the sweeping curved
stairs. Much more than a library, it will function as
the telecommunications hub for the entire campus. Interface
Engineering contributed its tele-communications expertise
along with the mechanical, electrical, fire alarm, security
and lighting control design services. The energy-efficient
lighting and daylighting controls help reduce energy
use to 20 percent below Oregon code.
pac-u-library.pdf
(98KB) »
Portland, OR
The 322,000 SF Pinnacle was designed as a welcoming
attraction to visitors with a 14-floor night-lit glass
curtain and 8,000 SF of retail space. Interface was
responsible for designing the HVAC, plumbing, electrical,
lighting and fire alarm systems. The high-efficiency
HVAC equipment is expected to run from 84 percent to
98 percent efficiency with overall energy performance
slightly better than code.
pinnacle-lofts.pdf
(91KB) »
San Jose Airport, CA
When you build a high-rise in the flight path of an
airport, certain things must be taken into consideration.
Height and noise come to mind. Among the design-build
specifications Interface provided ensuring a safe living
environment were an on-site fire suppression water storage
tank and pump, firefighter breathing air system every
third floor and pressurized stairs for negative air
flow to control smoke buildup. Capital and operating
costs for the 320 condominiums on 22 floors are kept
in check with high-efficiency gas boilers, supplying
domestic hot water and a water-source heat pump system.
san-jose.pdf
(93KB) »
Sisters, OR
Building for multiple uses with a sustainability focus
led to a program that created energy savings of 25 percent
more than the Oregon energy code requires. The school
is 50 percent larger than the former high school, yet
uses just slightly more energy. A major reason for the
energy savings is linked to the community's intention
to follow LEED guidelines. Selected for our expertise
with LEED projects and extensive experience designing
for high schools, Interface assisted the Sisters School
District in realizing considerable savings. In spite
of an exceptionally cold winter and the HVAC system
not yet being optimized, the high school is operating
within five percent of Interface's estimated energy
budget through the first full school year.
sisters.pdf
(71KB) »
Hillsboro, OR
A six-month design and construction schedule is highly
unusual, especially when it is for a $15 million, 88,000
SF building. But Interface employed new ways of approaching
this task that would normally be allocated to a 12-to-18-month
timeframe. We used both new and existing technology
in better and different ways to solve extreme high-density
power requirements, excessive heat loads in the manufacturing
area and special lighting needs. Providing redundancy
through backup HVAC equipment, a looped design for ductwork
and 13 HVAC units operating in parallel are just a few
examples of how Interface provided a versatile HVAC
system for the heat-generating server testing area.
With “time to market” a key consideration,
Interface’s MEP design team pulled off the six-month
fast-track schedule.
sun-micro.pdf
(167KB) »
Wilsonville, OR
Solving engineering design problems is Interface's forte.
For example, to address the need for a duct distribution
system to accommodate specialized production subprocesses,
Interface designed a system that uses fabric "ductsox"
that saves substantial upfront costs, as well as offering
long-term energy savings. Going beyond the completed
building design, Interface responsed to a special request
to increase the speed of the ribbonizer process; Interface
designed and commissioned a ribbonizer system that doubled
its process speed. Providing full MEP services, Interface
Engineering worked closely with the architect and Precision
Interconnect to deliver an energy-efficient building
that is also people friendly.
tyco-precision.pdf
(154KB) » |
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