portland community college newberg center by hennebery eddy architects
portland-based hennebery eddy architects has designed the portland community college newberg center as the first net-zero post-secondary education building in oregon and the second in the united states. generating as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year, the building achieves net-zero certification by reducing power consumption by 80% compared to standard academic buildings in america. its remaining energy needs are met with a 100KW rooftop-mounted,
into a sloped ceiling system designed to provide even and diffused illumination without the need for electricity.
in the large commons area, tall glass walls allow daylight deep into the building. natural ventilation and cooling provide fresh air
through blinds located on the exterior walls of the building.
northeast elevation
when additional aeration is needed, the louvers automatically open. with the help of roof-mounted ventilation turbines, cool air from outside is drawn in through slats while hot air is released through the five stacks along the building’s central spine in what is known as the ‘stack effect’ – the tendency for hot air to rise. this system encourages such actions by spinning at minimal wind speeds where the motion creates a vacuum on its leading edge that helps pull hot air out of the building.
in addition to creating an efficient building, energy savings has been achieved by expanding the thermal comfort range by one degree by providing temperature ranges that achieve 68 degrees fahrenheit (20 degrees celsius) for heating and 78 degrees fahrenheit (26 degrees celsius) for cooling. fans in the classrooms, offices, and commons help keep the building comfortable on hot days by making the building feel 3 degrees cooler through air movement.
entryduring the warmer months of the year, exposed concrete walls and floor act as thermal mass, absorbing heat from the surrounding air during the day to keep the indoor temperature cool. at night, the louver system opens to allow the cool night air to move through the building, expelling hot air out through the stacks and removing the built-up heat from the concrete. heat is provided through a radiant slab system, where warm water circulating through the tubes warms the floor to provide a consistent temperature.
ventilation stacksthrough sustainable design, the building uses 55.5% less energy than allowed by the oregon energy code, generating electricity through a 100kw rooftop photovoltaic system that covers an outdoor courtyard and alongside a 75kw array mounted on the standing seam roof. the building systems and equipment were selected to use only electricity for power without natural gas. its super insulated envelope is based of using structurally insulated panels — thick sections of foam insulation sandwiched between two layers of oriented strand board.
the panels provide high R-values for insulating the building, reduce thermal bridging, and create a tight vacuum to prevent heat loss through air infiltration. the patterning of solid and glass in the building’s glass walls help maximize daylight while maintaining appropriate levels of insulation.
commons
reception
student services
classroom
classroom natural lighting
plan and plan diagram
environmental control systems
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