Western Washington University to Officially Debut New Net-Zero Building
By Fay Harvey
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Western Washington University’s Kaiser Borsari Hall — a 54,000-square-foot state-of-the-art electrical and computer engineering, energy science and computer science building — is anticipating a January 2025 opening after construction began in March 2023. The building was established to respond to growing workforce demands in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields while also creating new multidisciplinary learning environments on campus. Now complete, the Kaiser Borsari Hall will be the first publicly funded zero-energy academic building on a university campus in Washington State.
When complete, Kaiser Borsari Hall will serve as an example of efficient energy use and reduced carbon emissions, functioning as a “living laboratory” where students learn from the building itself about innovative materials and energy technologies The project team of global architecture firm Perkins&Will, with design consulting by International Living Futures Institute founder Jason McLennan, designed the building to exceed LEED standards. The $73.6 million structure will be culturally and physically accessible and is on track to achieve Living Building Challenge Energy Petal Certification through the International Living Future Institute, which focuses on water, energy and materials use.
The building’s four-story structure is defined by sustainable and locally sourced mass and cross-laminated timber that promotes durability and circular design through material reuse. Construction manager Mortenson Construction maximized the advantages of mass-timber construction by prefabricating the Glulam beams and columns and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) decks offsite for seamless assembly at the project site.
Pursuing both International Living Future Insititute Zero Carbon and Zero Energy Certifications, which required university officials to work closely with the project team to align sustainability goals with the project’s budget, the building will incorporate multiple biophilic elements. Shou sugi ban wood siding (a Japanese technique of burning boards to increase durability and resistance to fire and insects) wraps the building’s exterior as a complement to the surrounding forest and offers significant carbon reduction properties. In addition to the building’s all-electric mechanical system, more than 75% of the roof is covered by solar panels, estimated to reduce energy consumption by 82%. Incorporating native plants in the landscaping will reduce outdoor water usage by 78%. Advanced battery technology will provide on-site energy storage.
The highly sustainable facility will house a number of STEM-related programs, including the nation’s only interdisciplinary undergraduate energy program, and a sky bridge will connect the building to the nearby Communications Facility to promote greater academic collaboration. To help meet STEM workforce needs, the building’s design aims to foster innovation and imagination, serving as a place where industry experts and students can co-create modern technological solutions through Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) courses. The building will also offer event spaces, administrative offices, a robotics lab, learning commons, a multicultural lounge and study spaces.
While still in the design phase, the project also won the Bronze Award in the 2023 Holcim Award for Sustainable Design Excellence. Jury members noted that the design “considers functionality and sustainability, successfully pushing boundaries for the integration of engineering systems and smart energy storage.” The award committee also commended the project team for its approach to addressing these challenges, resulting in a well-executed solution able to set a new standard for future campus projects.