Energetics is the energy and daylighting consultant for the new Community Commons at the University of Denver. Located at the heart of the DU campus, this building is designed to be a central hub bringing together faculty, staff, students, and community members. The Commons will feature a central food hall, an array of student services, meeting and work spaces designed to foster collaboration and wellbeing, and a series of indoor/outdoor programming spaces including rooftop venues with sweeping mountain and campus views.

Energetics provided energy and daylight modeling for the Xcel EDA program, 2015 IECC compliance, Denver Green Buildings Ordinance compliance, and LEED v4 energy compliance. Extensive daylighting analysis focused on atrium and clerestory design, glazing/shading recommendations, and lighting control zoning for optimal daylighting savings.

The building is targeting LEED Silver Certification under LEED V4, and is currently projected to achieve 33% energy cost savings relative to the LEED baseline. The building will be connected to the campus chilled water and steam plants, so to achieve the savings goals, the projects is utilizing direct-indirect evaporative cooling, displacement ventilation, over 40% lighting power density reduction, extensive daylighting controls, and Energy Star kitchen equipment.

Images: Anderson Mason Dale Architects