Hartford Downtown Campus, University of Connecticut

Integrated into the historic façade of the Hartford Times office, the new University of Connecticut building will host a variety of academic programs in an energy efficient building.

The lighting design for the UConn Downtown Hartford Campus supports the project’s mission to create a hub for students in downtown Hartford that inspires learning and fosters interaction. By reinforcing key architectural elements, light helps to define a sense of place that invites students into the educational oasis. The combination of daylighting and architectural lighting creates a dynamic environment that supports the marriage between the historic and the modern while enhancing visual quality, energy efficiency, and sustainability. An all-LED luminaire selection allowed Atelier Ten to illuminate the building to IESNA standards while maintaining an installed Lighting Power Density of 0.60 W/ft2, beating the current state code by 40%.

To maximize the energy performance of the new academic building in the center of Downtown Hartford, Atelier Ten conducted energy analysis and advised target envelope performance measures specific to different orientations of the building. This included assessing the roof insulation, glazing performance, and external shading with a canopy design for the main atrium space. For daylighting analysis, Atelier Ten ensured adequate daylight availability in the courtyard and in the perimeter building spaces to maximize energy savings and maintain visual comfort. Additionally, condensation risks were evaluated, given the complications with the HVAC system and the historical enclosure. Overall, the recommended energy efficiency measure contributed to 21% energy savings compared to the standard baseline.

Atelier Ten performed a holistic analysis of the project, including not only the building performance, but also site and landscape design with a courtyard, green roof, water conservation measure.

As a part of the LEED benchmarking process, Atelier Ten provided materials guidance and selection to ensure compliance with LEED qualifications throughout the construction phase. Furthermore, Atelier Ten arranged the project’s qualifications for the local incentive program, the Connecticut Energy Conscious Blueprint, which provides incentives based on source energy use reduction.