Marc, today's charrette was terrific. Thank you for your truly generous collaboration. You've caused me to turn a mental corner. Until recently, I thought that that to do really intelligent buildings, we'd need the right clients, the right engineers, and a premium budget. Thanks to you, I now believe that to do intelligent buildings all we need is INTELLIGENCE!—and the guts to ask the simple questions until we get the answers, and the courage of our convictions to persuade others...

We can do this and it will change things. You've empowered us. Thanks. –Ellen

College of the Atlantic Student Housing

Architectural design: Coldham & Hartman

Integrated systems design for 51 beds of student housing in three duplex buildings. Energysmiths led a visioning process for the school and helped manage the selection process for the design team. These buildings use an innovative exterior air barrier approach that will got them to 850 CFM50 for each 6,500 sf building (that’s tight!!). Energysmiths provided on site blower door and fog testing to vet the effectiveness of the air barrier. Walls are 12 inches of dense pack cellulose, roofs are 14 inch I joists also filled with cellulose, and the windows are fiberglass frame with triple low-e argon-filled glazing. Ventilation is provided by a heat recovery ventilator coupled to a tiny site-constructed forced air heating system (275 CFM for each “house”). A central wood pellet-fired boiler plant provide heat and hot water for the project as well as an adjacent building under renovation. Drainwater heat recovery is provided on the showers, and waste is handled by composting toilets. Materials and finishes are chosen to provide long life with minimal maintenance. South facing roofs have been kept unobstructed for future solar electricity installation. Occupied Fall 2008.

Reference: Millard Dority 207 288-5015
Bruce Coldham 413 549-3616