Lassonde Studios, University of Utah

Atelier Ten’s analysis of daylight, thermal comfort, glare, views, and energy influenced the innovative design of this student housing project. Atelier Ten is commissioned to provide Verification services during post occupancy to further improve comfort and reduce operating and energy costs.

The Lassonde Studios at the University of Utah campus is a distinctive mixed use building that includes residential space, student entrepreneur activities, and common living areas. To support healthy lifestyles, daylight is required so students can track their time naturally. Atelier Ten worked with the design team to optimize daylight access for high-quality interior spaces and to reduce energy consumption.

Atelier Ten is working with the design team and the University to assess LEED energy performance and meet the University’s target of 40% energy cost savings. The current design exceeds the energy performance goals with 48% energy cost savings. This savings is due to energy efficiency measures including heat recovery, high efficiency condensing boilers, well insulated opaque envelope, high performance glazing with external shading, and highly efficient lighting design.

Working closely with the University, Atelier Ten developed a Verification plan based on the needs of the building operations staff. Measured building data will be used to calibrate the whole building energy model after the first year of operation to calculate the actual building energy savings. Verification will help the building operations staff compare how the building was designed to how it is actually used.