After 50 years of business and educating customers on the benefits of sustainable buildings, ZGF Architects, LLP of Portland, Oregon designed their new home in a new 23-story downtown building.
Located on SW Washington Street in Portland, this building hosts five underground parking levels, one retail level, four floors allocated to ZGF, and 18 floors for apartment living.
Alan Gerencer, an Associate Partner with ZGF, and his team challenged themselves to design an office space that was as energy efficient as it was transparent. Energy and atmosphere are vital for LEED achievements. The building was designed with operable windows and spaces with passive chilled beams. Passive chilled beams are smaller, inconspicuous mechanical units. The beams have no moving parts and complement an effective energy-efficient solution. They also play a strategic role in compensating for the solar load from the 12-foot windows.
This project was the first time ZGF had utilized passive chilled beams in their plans. Linx Industries was chosen due to the architect’s preference and Lindab’s radiant capabilities. Scott Davey of Air Commodities called Lindab’s cooling beam product line a “hybrid”. Where other beams have 90-95{51e82d741173777ca8eaad4557d41c850302ef0f5661489f0c0136adfcd0e604} convection, Lindab sets itself apart by being almost 50/50 radiant and convection. For ZGF, the choice was simple; Lindab passive chilled beams were the “best looking”. Lindab’s Carat passive chilled beams are independent convection chilled beams. They can be exposed free hanging or installed above a perforated suspended ceiling. There are 242 passive beams installed in plain sight and yet are still inconspicuous. While on office tours, the beams often have to be pointed out. Chilled beams come in a variety of colors; however, white was used in the common office areas while black was chosen for the offices with wood panel ceilings.
With the help of Lindab’s chilled beams, ZGF can be proud to say they have a sustainable office and a “living laboratory” to demonstrate the benefits of energy efficiency and transparency to their clients.