Leading in Sustainable Construction by Example
The Malvern Innovation Center hosts laboratories and office spaces for materials scientists at Saint-Gobain North America. The first phase of interior renovations focused on creating a sustainable, bright, biophilic, and engaging workspace area that includes a lively multipurpose "cafe" space with a view out to campus and the surrounding tree canopy. The design and construction utilized many CertainTeed and Saint-Gobain products, as well as salvaged and low toxicity materials.
This phase is already LEED Platinum for Commercial Interiors certified, and has been recognized for several architectural design and sustainability awards: AIA Philadelphia Design Excellence Merit Award & Sustainability Citation, AIA Pennsylvania COTE Finalist, and Green Building United Groundbreakers Honorable Mention.
Fast Facts About The Design
With over 200 unique, low-embodied carbon, full transparency materials used in the design, and a rooftop solar photovoltaic panel array that produces 35,000 kWh of energy annually, here are some more facts about the project's sustainability.
What is the Living Building Challenge?
The Living Building Challenge, created by the International Living Future Institute in 2006, is a philosophy, certification, and advocacy tool for built environment projects to become truly regenerative. It focuses on seven performance areas, referred to as "petals": place, water, energy, health and happiness, materials, equity, and beauty.
"Core" is a new certification through ILFI that outlines the 10 best practice achievements that a building must obtain to be considered a green or sustainable building, and it is both prescriptive and performance-based. It represents an entry point for projects to being their journey toward fully regenerative building practices.
Petal 1: Place
The intent of the Place Petal is to restore a healthy relationship between nature, place and community.
To better support commuters who bike to work, dedicated and covered bicycle racks, showers, and changing facilities are available. We also engage in several best practices to reduce single occupant vehicles, including a commuter benefits profile, participation in the Transportation Management Association of Chester County, and a shuttle to transport commuters traveling on SEPTA to work. This not only improves community connectivity, but also helps connect the campus more to the existing nearby Chester Valley Trail.
Petal 2: Water
The intent of the Water Petal is to create developments that operate within the water balance of a given place and climate.
By using low-flow fixtures and flow restrictors for faucets, toilets and showers, this building is anticipated to use 50% less water than a typical building, saving approximately 55,000 gallons per year.
Petal 3: Energy
The intent of the energy petal is to rely on renewable energy resources to reduce operational carbon emissions and increase energy resilience.
The Malvern Innovation Center uses several energy conservation measures to reduce consumption and meet the target of 35% reduction in energy. Lighting is the primary energy driver in interior renovation projects that utilize base-building HVAC systems.
Lighting
Solar Array
Energy-Usage Monitoring
Petal 4: Health & Happiness
The intent of the Health & Happiness Petal is to foster environments that optimize physical and psychological health and well-being.
Creating a healthy workspace that supports circadian rhythm has proven physical and mental health benefits. With that in mind, the design of this project prioritized natural daylight and views of the beautiful Malvern campus as well as other features that focus on occupant health.
Air Quality
MERV 13 filters in the existing ventilation system supply outside air. CO2 monitoring is provided in all densely occupied spaces within the project, which includes meeting and flex spaces.
Low VOC Products
All flooring, insulation, paints, and coatings in this building have been tested according to California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.2–2017 and wet-applied products comply with the VOC limits per South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113.
Healthy Indoor Environment
The ventilation levels, HVAC, plumbing, and exterior maintenance all improve indoor air quality, as well as maintaining a no-smoking campus.
The Importance of Occupant Health
At Saint-Gobain, we believe a healthy workplace is the key to well-being at work. Occupant health can be strongly affected by indoor environments and it starts with a well-designed work place. We asked our employees their thoughts on the renovation.
Petal 5: Materials
The intent of the Materials Petal is to build with products that are safe for all species through time.
Throughout the Malvern Innovation Center, you'll find over 200 low embodied carbon, low toxicity, and full transparency materials, utilizing Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed products whenever possible. Of the 211 unique materials installed, 10 products are certified with Declare labels, including CertainTeed's EZ Stab Classic System.
Petal 6: Equity
The intent of the Equity Petal is to support a just and equitable world.
This space was designed for people of all abilities, following the principles of universal design. For example, a nurture room was added to be used as a mothering or relaxation space, circulation spaces are designed with generous widths and sightlines, and daylight and views were “democratized” to be available to all staff regardless of position or seniority.
Further, the project supported equity through thoughtful inclusion of diverse stakeholder groups on the design and construction teams as well as through a project donation to a regional equity-focused organization.
Petal 7: Beauty
The intent of the Beauty Petal is to celebrate design that uplifts the human spirit.
Biophilic design elements are incorporated throughout the design to bring the outdoors in. The project ultimately brings occupants in touch with nature both directly and indirectly. Occupants of the Malvern Innovation Center worked with our architects on a design exploration, and those high priority items that came out of it were incorporated into the project.
The project has embraced a mission to educate the public about regenerative design and construction through the publication of this case-study as well as an annual open-day to the public to experience the project in person.
