SITE SELECTION

The MR+EC is situated on a hillside facing due north. The site offers direct views to the sea and a level
of shelter within the Salt River Bay. The location takes advantage of easterly Trade Winds, and affords
connections to ridge, reef, beach, and mangrove ecosystems. The project utilizes an existing road as its
main point of access.
MASTER PLAN
The campus is organized around a central spine integrated into the sloping topography of the hillside,
and terminating at the Dock facility. Buildings are positioned along this spine based on programmatic
adjacencies, and the degree of their private or public nature. Structures are oriented on an east-west axis
to minimize unwanted solar heat gain and maximize views to the sea. As one moves through the campus,
however, the spaces between the buildings are just as important as the buildings themselves. The cam-
pus opens itself to the pleasant climate, allowing breezes to move through and between its structures.
Courtyards, patios, terraces, and an amphitheater dene the new landscape.
LABORATORY
The Laboratory form began as a two story mass embedded in the hillside with the circulation route of
the central spine continuing through it. The form was carved and opened to permit day-lighting, natural
ventilation, views, and outdoor living spaces. The program is stacked within the two oors to simplify con-
struction, minimize cost, and provide a logical plan for its users. The building is entered from the main
courtyard on the upper oor. The main staircase brings visitors from the main entry through the cantile-
vered portion of the upper oor to the outdoor classroom/breakout space on the lower oor. Two different
roof types dene two unique, and interlocking forms. The buttery roof is angled to maximize solar har-
vesting with both photovoltaic and solar thermal panels on its south-facing roof, and to collect rainwater
that is then transferred to the below ground cisterns, via the pool in the faculty courtyard. The upper oor
is passively cooled and ventilated, and the lower oor is conditioned only in the wet laboratory space.
The Laboratory is connected to the Dock and Boathouse with a public path that begins at the buildings
western entry, and passes through the Dining terrace.
The four elevations are each a response to the sites solar patterns. East and West facades are shaded
with a teak louver system, while substantial overhangs on both levels protect the glazing of the South fa-
ade. The North faade is predominately glazing, with a large outdoor terrace on the upper level. Large
storm shutters that, when open, overlap the non-glazed portions of the North faade, slide along a track
to protect the glazing in the event of a severe storm.
The Laboratory is an exposed steel structure powder-coated and painted black to protect against cli-
matic conditions. The oors are exposed concrete, except for the wood ooring of the entry and lobby
spaces. The material palette is simple and limited so that the structure frames its surroundings rather
than imposing itself upon them.
Project Title:
MR + EC
Faculty Sponsor:
Ulrike Heine, Clemson University
Students:
Caitlin Ranson, Clemson University
Dianah Katzenberger, Clemson University
Jurors Comments:
This project demonstrates sensitive site planning and
architectural design, including a compact use of the
site. It takes advantage of natural resources in its use
of solar thermal design, photovoltaic panels, day light-
ing, and rainwater collection. The project also adapts
to extreme weather conditions and incorporates pas-
sive design with a clear building performance analy-
sis. There is a logical hybrid system approach to nat-
ural and conditioned spaces.
SUSTAINABLE LAB COMPETITION
2011-2012 INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE LABORATORY
STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION
WINNING PROJECT
C
A
N
10 20 30
B
D
H
G
F
E
J
K
L
SALT RIVER BAY
Eagle Beach
Lagoon
V
I
E
W
S
Trade Winds
I
MR+EC
MARINE RESEARCH + EDUCATION CENTER
RIDGE TO REEF MASTER PLAN
COMMUNITY
OUTREACH
ARR
IV
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L
A
D
M
IN
IS T R A T I O N L
E
C
T
U
R
E
T
E
A
C
H
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N
G
D
I
N
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N
G
STUDENT
STAFF
HOUSING
OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER
D
O
C
K + DIVE
GATHERING
LAB
HOUSING
REEF
R
ID
G
E
V
IE
W
S
V
IE
W
S
V
IE
W
S
LABORATORY
COMMON/ CIRCULATION
CLASSROOMS
FACULTY/ ADMINOFFICES
COLLECTIONS
RESTROOMS
OUTDOORCOURTYARDS
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+
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D
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A
X
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LABORATORY
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E
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STEELSTRUCTURE
CONCRETESLABS
A EXISTING RESIDENCE
B EXISTING ROAD / PARKING
STAFF HOUSING 2,000 SF
COURTYARD
LABORATORY/COLLECTIONS 17,500 SF
STUDENT HOUSING 11,700 SF
COMMUNITY OUTREACH / 14,500 SF
LECTURE + TEACHING
AMPHITHEATER
THEATER 1,500 SF
DINING 2,000 SF
DOCK + DIVE 3,000 SF
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SCHEMATIC SITE MODEL scale: 1/64 = 1-0
LABORATORY
St Croix, USVirginIslands
Salt River Bay
SALT RIVER BAY SITE MODEL scale: 1/64 = 1-0
SECTION B
physical model
1/2 = 1-0
18-9
metal roof decking
concrete floor slab with
corrugated metal decking
(formdecking)
1 x 1 steel column
afternoon sun
western facade
shading screen
2 x 6 teak slats
double glazed
operable windows
photovoltaic panels
stainless steel gutter
standing seamcorrugated
roofing panels
concrete slab on grade
14 south facing roof
optimizes solar gain
rigid foaminsulation
tapered steel girders
powder coated steel i-beam
concrete footer
FIRE STAIR
FACULTY OFFICE
steel channel
connected to
screen system
5

tension cable
corten steel outrigger
attached to mullion
finish grade
2
7

WET LABORATORY
NEED
annual power consumption...............................767,000.00 kwh/yr
x conservative factor of 1.5
average monthly................................................95,875.00 kwh/mo
average daily.....................................................3,152.05 kwh/day
x design safety factor of 2
conservative estimate........................................14,184.25 kwh/day
AVAILABLE
solar insolation..................................................5.4 kwh/sq meter/day
NET ZERO SYSTEM
square feet of panel needed.............................28,273 sf
1,600 modules
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C
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L
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C
T
I
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NEED
total daily consumption.....................................49 gallons/person/day
potable daily consumption................................39 gallons/person/day
AVAILABLE
annual precipitation..........................................39.39
campus roof area.............................................26,000 sf
campus annual volume.....................................636,760 gallons
lab roof area.....................................................10,133 sf
lab annual volume.............................................248,165 gallons
max monthly precipitation................................november
6.14
38,782 gallons lannual lab collection
99,509 gallons annual campus collection
min monthly precipitation.................................march
1.60
10,106 gallons annual lab collection
25,931 gallons annual campus collection
SYSTEM
collection and storage.......................................500,000 gallon below-grade cistern

SYSTEMS
CALCULATIONS
S
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A
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T
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M
A
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HOT WATER FOR RESIDENCES
40 undergraduate students
12 graduate students
director, faculty
NEED
approximately 88 sf for every 8 people
SYSTEM
32 panels at 8 x 4
LAB ENTRY
SOLAR STUDIES
8
A
M

SUMMER SPRING
4
P
M

FALL WINTER
Selected site and building orientation provide ideal conditions for solar energy
harvesting. Ample glazing on the North facade maximizes views to the sea,
while the glazing on the South facade is shaded with overhangs on both levels.
East and West facade glazing is shaded with teak slats.
Open laboratory promotes collaboration and team-based learning.
Flexible classrooms provide interior and exterior breakout spaces.
C A
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LOWER LEVEL LAB
UPPER LEVEL LAB
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10
11
2
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4
5
4
9
13
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14
16
N
4
1
7
9
2
3
8
10 10
5
9
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A
13
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6
15
12
LABORATORY PLANS
SCALE: 1/16 = 1- 0
DRY LAB: 1500 SF
WET LAB: 4500 SF
CLASSROOM: 3000 SF
COLLECTIONS: 2500 SF
OFFICES: 1400 SF
15
6
OPEN TO BELOW
COMMUNITY OUTREACH / LECTURE + TEACHING
DINING
COURTYARD/OUTDOOR DINING
ENTRY
LOBBY
CIRCULATION
COMPUTER LAB
RESTROOMS
FACULTY OFFICES
ADMINISTRATION
DRY LAB
FIRE STAIR
TEACHING LAB
TERRACE
STORMSHUTTERS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
6
8
5
CLASSROOMBREAKOUT
CLASSROOM
RESTROOM
CLASSROOMSTORAGE
MECHANICAL
LAB PREP AREA
LOUNGE
POOL
FACULTY OFFICES
FACULTY COURTYARD
COLLECTIONS/STORAGE
WATER/ENERGY STORAGE
FIRE STAIR
COURTYARD
DINING
DOCK ACCESS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
B
B
A
SECTION A
physical model
1/16 = 1-0
courtyard
collections
faculty courtyard
wet lab
terrace
dry lab
computer lab
entry
INTEGRATE ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE
TO LEARN FROM THE SITE
TO SUSTAIN THE SITE
ELEVATIONS
EAST
NORTH
SOUTH
WEST
Elevation design in response to solar studies.
RIDGE TO REEF MASTER PLAN
COURTYARD
COLLECTION
POOL
CISTERN
FROM CISTERN
SALT WATER
RAINWATER COLLECTION
STORAGE + RE-USE
SOUTH SUN
EAST/W
EST SUN
OPTIMAL
FIXED ANGLE
PV/SOLAR THERMAL
SOUTHERN OVERHANGS
EAST/WEST SHADING
DAYLIGHTING
SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES
S
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N
A
I
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W
A
T
E
R
EVAPORATIVE COOLING
CONVECTION
VENTURI EFFECT
INTEGRATE ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE
TO LEARN FROM THE SITE
TO SUSTAIN THE SITE
SITESELECTION
The MR+ECis situated on a hillside facing due north. The site offers direct views to the sea and a level of shelter
within the Salt River Bay. The location takes advantage of easterly Trade Winds, andaffords connections to ridge,
reef, beach, andmangroveecosystems. The project utilizes anexistingroadas its mainpoint of access.
MASTERPLAN
The campus is organized around a central spine integrated into the sloping topography of the hillside. The path
steps down the hillside to connect the ridge andthe reef, terminating at the dock facility. Buildings are positioned
along this spine basedonprogrammatic adjacencies, andthe degree of their private or public nature. Structures
are oriented on an east-west axis to minimize unwanted solar heat gain and maximize views to the sea. As one
moves through the campus, however, the spaces between the buildings are just as important as the buildings
themselves. The campus opens itself to the pleasant climate, allowing breezes to move through and between its
structures. Courtyards, patios, terraces, andanamphitheater definethenewlandscape.
LABORATORY
TheLaboratoryformbeganasatwostorymassembeddedinthehillsidewiththecirculationrouteof thecentral
spinecontinuingthroughit. Theformwascarvedandopenedtopermit day-lighting, natural ventilation, views, and
outdoor living spaces. The programis stacked within the two floors to simplify construction, minimize cost, and
provide a logical plan for its users. The building is enteredfromthe main courtyardon the upper floor. The main
staircase brings visitors fromthe main entry through the cantilevered portion of the upper floor to the outdoor
classroom/breakout space onthe lower floor. Twodifferent roof types define twounique, andinterlockingforms.
The butterfly roof is angled to maximize solar harvesting for both photovoltaic and solar thermal panels on its
south-facingroof, andtocollect rainwater that is thentransferredtothebelowgroundcisterns, viathepool inthe
faculty courtyard. The upper floor is passively cooledandventilated, andthe lower floor is conditionedonly inthe
wet laboratory space. The Laboratory is connected to the Dock and Boathouse with a public path that begins at
the buildings westernentry, andpasses throughtheDiningterrace.
Thefour elevations areeacharesponsetothesites solar patterns. East andWest facades areshadedwithateak
louver system, while substantial overhangs on both levels protect the glazing of the South faade. The North
faade is predominately glazing, witha large outdoor terrace onthe upper level. Large stormshutters that, when
open, overlap the non-glazed portions of the North faade, slide along a track to protect the glazing in the event
of aseverestorm.
The Laboratory is anexposedsteel structure of columns, beams andgirders powder-coatedandpaintedblack
toprotect against climaticconditions. Concreteshear walls at therestrooms andfirestair providelateral stability.
The floors are exposedconcrete, except for the woodflooringof the entry andlobby spaces. The material palette
is simpleandlimitedsothat thestructure frames its surroundings rather thanimposingitself uponthem.